Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A Generalized Model for Periodic Transducers with Arbitrary Voltages

A technique for analyzing periodic interdigital transducers with arbitrary voltages applied to the electrodes is described. The analysis predicts the harmonic as well as the fundamental response including nearest neighbor interactions. Previous works have identified the charge under one electrode as the “element factor. ” This paper uses the charge induced in a shorted array by a voltage applied to one electrode as the “element factor. ” With this definition the transducer spectral response conveniently separates into the product of an “element factor” and an “array factor” yielding a significant conceptual and numerical simplification. The analysis is applicable to withdrawalweighted transducers with shorted elements, multiphase UDT’s, apodized transducers with shorted dummies, and capacity weighted transducers.
Skin Inflammation Induced by the Synergistic Action of IL-17A, IL-22, Oncostatin M, IL-1α, and TNF-α Recapitulates Some Features of Psoriasis

Keratinocytes play a crucial role in the regulation of skin inflammation, responding to environmental and immune cells stimuli. They produce soluble factors that can act in an autocrine or paracrine manner on immune cells or directly on aggressors. A screening of the activities of 36 cytokines on keratinocyte gene expression identified IL-17A, IL-22, oncostatin M, TNF-α, and IL-1α as potent cytokines in inducing cutaneous inflammation. These five proinflammatory cytokines synergistically increased production of CXCL8 and β-defensin 2 (BD2). In addition, ex vivo studies on human skin explants demonstrated upregulation of BD2, S100A7, and CXCL8 expression in response to the same combination of cytokines. In vivo intradermal injection of these five cytokines in mouse increased CXCL1, CXCL2, CXCL3, S100A9, and BD3 expression, associated with neutrophil infiltration. We confirmed and extended this synergistic effect using quantitative real-time PCR analysis and observed increased expression of nine chemokines and 12 antimicrobial peptides. Production of CXCL, CXCL5, and CXCL8 by keratinocytes stimulated in the presence of this cytokine combination was associated with increased neutrophil chemotactic activity. Similarly, high production of BD2, BD3, and S100A7 was associated with an increased antimicrobial activity. Finally, the transcriptional profile observed in this in vitro model of inflammatory keratinocytes correlated with the one of lesional psoriatic skin. Our results demonstrate the important potentiating activities of IL-17A, IL-22, oncostatin M, TNF-α, and IL-1α on keratinocytes. This is particularly interesting in the context of psoriasis where these cytokines are overexpressed and could synergize to play an important role in upregulation of chemokines and antimicrobial peptides production.
Adaptive threshold architecture for spectrum sensing in public safety radio channels

Cognitive radio make use of spectrum sensing techniques to detect licensed users transmissions and avoid causing interference. The major drawback in current spectrum sensing techniques is the use of static decision thresholds to detect such transmissions, which may be infeasible in public safety radio channels. More precisely, the cognitive radio may find different noise or interference levels when switching among these channels. This can lead to a wrong picture of the channel occupancy status, which in turn can increase the interference caused to licensed users. In this paper we propose an Adaptive Threshold Architecture, which uses machine learning algorithms to dynamically adapt the decision threshold, enabling the detection of licensed users transmissions in public safety radio channels. Results showed that the proposed architecture increased the sensing accuracy up to 2 times, providing results up to 6 times faster when compared to other solutions of the literature.
Increase in Plasma Matrix Metalloproteinase-9 in Acute Stroke Patients With Thrombolysis Failure

Background and Purpose— Platelet-rich thrombi are resistant to thrombolytics. Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) may be involved in platelet aggregation and contribute to thrombolysis failure in stroke patients. Methods— Plasma samples from 23 stroke patients who had received thrombolytics and from 47 healthy volunteers were examined for MMP-2 and MMP-9 by both enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays and zymography. Results— The arteries were recanalized in 15 patients but not in the other 8. The MMP-9 plasma level was significantly higher in patients whose arteries were not recanalized. Conclusions— MMP-9 may be associated with the formation of a thrombolytics-resistant thrombus.
Characterization of two RNA polymerase activities induced by mouse hepatitis virus

RNA-dependent RNA polymerase activity was found in mouse hepatitis virus strain A59 (MHV-A59)-infected cells. The enzyme was induced in the infected cells and could not be detected in the MHV-A59 virion. Two peaks of RNA polymerase activity, one early and the other late in infection, were detected. These polymerase activities were in temporal sequence with early and late virus-specific RNA synthesis. Both of them were found to be associated with membrane fractions. There were significant differences in the enzymatic properties of the two polymerases. The early polymerase, but not the late polymerase, could be activated by potassium ions in the absence of magnesium ions and also had a lower optimum pH than the late polymerase. It was therefore probable that the enzymes represent two different species of RNA polymerase and perform different roles in virus-specific RNA synthesis. The effects of cycloheximide on MHV-specific RNA synthesis were determined. Continuous protein synthesis was required for both early and late RNA synthesis and might also be required for shutoff of early RNA synthesis.
A low power and high conversion gain 94 GHz up-conversion mixer with excellent I/O matching and LO-RF isolation in 90 nm CMOS

A 94 GHz up-conversion mixer using standard 90 nm CMOS technology is reported. The components of this mixer include an enhanced double-balanced Gilbert cell with PMOS negative resistance compensation (NRC) for conversion gain (CG) enhancement and modified derivative superposition (DS) in the transconductance (GM) stage for linearity improvement, a Marchand balun for converting the single LO input signal to differential signal, another Marchand balun for converting the differential RF output signal to single signal, and an output buffer amplifier for loading effect suppression, CG enhancement and power consumption reduction. The mixer consumes low power of 8.5 mW and achieves excellent LO-port input reflection coefficient better than -10 dB for frequencies of 81.4~110 GHz, and RF-port input reflection coefficient better than -10 dB for frequencies of 33.8~105.5 GHz, i.e. the input matching bandwidth is 71.7 GHz. The mixer achieves maximal CG of 3.6 dB at 97 GHz, and CG of 2.1±1.5 dB for frequencies of 77.5~100.2 GHz. That is, the corresponding 3 dB CG bandwidth is 22.7 GHz. In addition, the mixer achieves LO-RF isolation of 41.3 dB at 94 GHz. To the authors' knowledge, the CG, LO-RF isolation, power dissipation and matching bandwidth results are one of the best data ever reported for a W-band (75~110 GHz) up-conversion mixer.
CARBON AND NITROGEN ABUNDANCES IN EARLY-TYPE GALAXIES

For the first time, we undertake a systematic examination of the nitrogen abundances using the NH3360 feature for a sample of 35 early-type galaxies spanning a range of masses and local environment. The nitrogen-sensitive molecular feature at 3360 Å has been employed in conjunction with a suite of atomic- and molecular-sensitive indices to provide unique and definitive constraints on the chemical content of these systems. By employing NH3360, we are now able to break the carbon, nitrogen, and oxygen degeneracies inherent to the use of the cyanogen (CN) index. We demonstrate that the NH3360 feature shows little dependency upon the velocity dispersion (our proxy for mass) of the galaxies, contrary to what is seen for carbon- and magnesium-sensitive indices. At face value, these results are at odds with conclusions drawn previously using indices sensitive to both carbon and nitrogen, such as CN. With the aid of stellar population models, we find that the N/Fe ratios in these galaxies are consistent with being mildly enhanced with respect to the solar ratio. We also explore the dependence of these findings upon environment, by analyzing the co-added spectra of galaxies in the field and the Coma cluster. We confirm the previously found differences in carbon abundances between galaxies in low- and high-density environments, while showing that these differences do not seem to exist for nitrogen. We discuss the implications of these findings for the derivation of the star-formation histories in early-type galaxies, and for the origin of carbon and nitrogen themselves.
Redundancy, antiredundancy, and the robustness of genomes

Genetic mutations that lead to undetectable or minimal changes in phenotypes are said to reveal redundant functions. Redundancy is common among phenotypes of higher organisms that experience low mutation rates and small population sizes. Redundancy is less common among organisms with high mutation rates and large populations, or among the rapidly dividing cells of multicellular organisms. In these cases, one even observes the opposite tendency: a hypersensitivity to mutation, which we refer to as antiredundancy. In this paper we analyze the evolutionary dynamics of redundancy and antiredundancy. Assuming a cost of redundancy, we find that large populations will evolve antiredundant mechanisms for removing mutants and thereby bolster the robustness of wild-type genomes; whereas small populations will evolve redundancy to ensure that all individuals have a high chance of survival. We propose that antiredundancy is as important for developmental robustness as redundancy, and is an essential mechanism for ensuring tissue-level stability in complex multicellular organisms. We suggest that antiredundancy deserves greater attention in relation to cancer, mitochondrial disease, and virus infection.
Acquisition and extinction of flavour preferences conditioned by caffeine in humans

Previous research has shown that moderate caffeine users develop a liking for the flavour of a novel caffeinated drink only if they experience this drink in a caffeine-deprived state. This study tested how sensitive these conditioned-flavour preferences are to subsequent changes in deprivation state and the continued presence or absence of caffeine. Thirty-six moderate caffeine consumers were given 4 training days during which they evaluated a novel flavoured caffeinated drink consumed mid-morning after 12 h caffeine deprivation. Subjects were then divided into four groups depending on whether or not they remained caffeine-deprived and whether the test drink continued to contain caffeine. They then re-evaluated the novel drink over a further 4 test days. As expected, liking for the test drink increased across the 4 training days, and this increased liking was maintained across the 4 test days in the group who continued to receive the caffeinated version of the drink in a caffeine-deprived state. Liking decreased in the test phase in the caffeine-deprived group who no longer received caffeine (extinction). It is surprising that both groups who were tested in a non-deprived state showed a marked decrease in liking on all 4 test days relative to the last training day. This implies that conditioned-flavour preferences may not be expressed in the absence of the relevant motivational state (caffeine deprivation). Together, these data suggest that flavour preferences conditioned by caffeine are very sensitive to changes in the contingent relationship between deprivation state and caffeine content of the drink.
Unifying the Mind: Cognitive Representations as Graphical Models

Our ordinary, everyday thinking requires an astonishing range of cognitive activities, yet our cognition seems to take place seamlessly. We move between cognitive processes with ease, and different types of cognition seem to share information readily. In this book, David Danks proposes a novel cognitive architecture that can partially explain two aspects of human cognition: its relatively integrated nature and our effortless ability to focus on the relevant factors in any particular situation. Danks argues that both of these features of cognition are naturally explained if many of our cognitive representations are understood to be structured like graphical models. The computational framework of graphical models is widely used in machine learning, but Danks is the first to offer a book-length account of its use to analyze multiple areas of cognition. Danks demonstrates the usefulness of this approach by reinterpreting a variety of cognitive theories in terms of graphical models. He shows how we can understand much of our cognition -- in particular causal learning, cognition involving concepts, and decision making -- through the lens of graphical models, thus clarifying a range of data from experiments and introspection. Moreover, Danks demonstrates the important role that cognitive representations play in a unified understanding of cognition, arguing that much of our cognition can be explained in terms of different cognitive processes operating on a shared collection of cognitive representations. Danks's account is mathematically accessible, focusing on the qualitative aspects of graphical models and separating the formal mathematical details in the text.
Robust Recovery of Signals From a Union of Subspaces

Traditional sampling theories consider the problem of reconstructing an unknown signal x from a series of samples. A prevalent assumption which often guarantees a unique signal consistent with the given measurements is that x lies in a known subspace. Recently, there has been growing interest in nonlinear but structured signal models, in which x is assumed to lie in a union of subspaces. An example is the case in which x is a finite length vector that is sparse in a given basis. In this paper we develop a general framework for robust and efficient recovery of such signals from a given set of samples. More specifically, we treat the case in which x lies in a finite union of finite dimensional spaces and the samples are modelled as inner products with an arbitrary set of sampling functions. We first develop conditions under which unique and stable recovery of x is possible, albeit with algorithms that have combinatorial complexity. To derive an efficient and robust recovery algorithm, we then show that our problem can be formulated as that of recovering a block sparse vector, namely a vector whose non-zero elements appear in fixed blocks. To solve this problem, we suggest minimizing a mixed l2/l1 norm subject to the measurement equations. We then develop equivalence conditions under which the proposed convex algorithm is guaranteed to recover the original signal. These results rely on the notion of block restricted isometry property (RIP), which is a generalization of the standard RIP used extensively in the context of compressed sensing. A special case of the proposed framework is that of recovering multiple measurement vectors (MMV) that share a joint sparsity pattern. Specializing our results to this context leads to new MMV recovery methods as well as equivalence conditions under which the entire set can be determined efficiently.
The Acute Effects of Supramaximal High-Intensity Intermittent Exercise on Vascular Function in Lean vs. Obese Prepubescent Boys.

PURPOSE To determine the acute effects of high-intensity intermittent exercise (HIIE) on vascular function. METHODS Lean (n = 18, BMI = 17.1 ± 0.7) and obese (n = 17, BMI = 25.4 ± 0.8) prepubescent boys aged 10.2 ± 0.2 years were studied. HIIE consisted of 8 sets of 20 s of cycle ergometry at 100, 130, and 170% of VO2peak alternating with 10 s of rests. RESULTS The obese group had higher (p < .05) body mass, BMI, body fat percentage, waist-hip ratio than the lean group. Carotid artery wall thickness and arterial stiffness as assessed by brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV) were greater in the obese than in the lean group (p < .05). Brachial artery flow-mediated dilation (FMD) was not different between the groups. Total energy expenditure increased gradually as the exercise intensity increased in both groups (p < .05). The obese group had significantly greater total energy expenditure in all three HIIE intensities than the lean group. FMD tended to be higher and baPWV lower as the exercise intensity increased in both groups. Only the HIIE at 170% demonstrated greater FMD compared with the baseline in both groups. baPWV decreased significantly after HIIE at 130 and 170% VO2peak in both groups. CONCLUSION Supramaximal HIIE can be a feasible exercise modality for improving vascular function in obese prepubescent boys. Future exercise intervention studies are warranted.
Utility of MRI after inconclusive ultrasound in pediatric patients with suspected appendicitis: retrospective review of 60 consecutive patients.

OBJECTIVE The purpose of this study is to examine the utility of appendix MRI in evaluation of pediatric patients with right lower quadrant pain and inconclusive appendix sonography findings. MATERIALS AND METHODS A search of the radiology electronic database was performed for all appendix MRI examinations performed of pediatric patients within 24 hours after inconclusive appendix sonography from December 1, 2009, through April 26, 2012. Sixty patients underwent appendix MRI within 24 hours of inconclusive sonography and represented the study cohort. MRI examinations were reviewed independently by two radiologists blinded to the diagnosis and were graded as "positive," "negative," or "indeterminate" for acute appendicitis. The final diagnosis was established by review of the surgical and pathology reports and patients' electronic medical records. RESULTS Ten of 60 patients (17%) had acute appendicitis. Both readers graded the same 12 examinations as positive and the same 48 examinations as negative for acute appendicitis, with a kappa value of 1.00 (expected agreement, 0.695). No MRI examination was interpreted as indeterminate. The sensitivity and specificity of MRI for acute appendicitis in children with inconclusive appendix ultrasound findings were 100% (95% CI, 0.72-1.00) and 96% (95% CI, 0.87-0.98), respectively. The positive predictive value for the examination was 83%, the negative predictive value was 100%, and overall test accuracy was 97%. CONCLUSION Our study shows that MRI has a sensitivity of 100% and specificity of 96% for appendicitis in pediatric patients after inconclusive appendix sonography. We think that MRI may supplant CT as the secondary modality to follow inconclusive appendix sonography.
Introducing Cognitive Analytic Therapy: Principles and Practice

The Scope and Focus of CAT The Main Features of CAT Development of the Self: Background Considerations Normal and Abnormal Development of the Self and its Implications for Psychotherapy Selection and Assessment of Patients for Individual CAT The Reformulation Sessions The Therapy Relationship The Detailed CAT Model of Therapist Interventions and its use in Supervision CAT in Various Conditions and Contexts The Treatment of Personality Disorders The 'Difficult' Patient and Contextual Reformulation
RESPIN++ - deterministic embedded test

RESPIN++ is a deterministic embedded test method tailored to system chips, which implement scan test at core level. The scan chains of one core of the system-on-a-chip are reused to decompress the patterns for another core. To implement the RESPIN++ test architecture only a few gates need to be added to the test wrapper. This will not affect the critical paths of the system. The RESPIN++ method reduces both test data volume and test application time up to one order of magnitude per core compared to storing compacted test patterns on the ATE. If several cores may be tested concurrently, test data volume and test application time for the complete system test may be reduced even further. This paper presents the RESPIN++ test architecture and a compression algorithm for the architecture.
Reverse Total Shoulder Arthroplasty as Treatment for Rotator Cuff-Tear Arthropathy and Shoulder Dislocations in an Elderly Male with Parkinson's Disease

We report the case of a 70-year-old male with Parkinson's disease (PD) and recurrent traumatic left shoulder dislocations. This case is rare because (1) he had a massive irreparable rotator cuff tear and end-stage arthritis (i.e., rotator cuff-tear arthropathy) of the same shoulder and (2) his shoulder was ultimately reconstructed with a reverse total shoulder arthroplasty (RTSA). His first dislocation occurred after a fall. Recurrent shoulder dislocations occurred despite successful closed reduction and physical therapy. Initial surgical treatment included an open capsular-labral reconstruction; RTSA was not an ideal option because of the presumed risk of failure from PD-related dyskinesias. However, the capsular-labral reconstruction failed after he lost balance and stumbled but did not fall. A RTSA was then done which restored the patient's shoulder stability and greatly improved his pain. At final follow-up two years later, he reported pain relief and improved function. This was partially attributed to the fact that he had moved to an assisted living center. He also began using an electric wheelchair one year after the RTSA. We report this case because of the unusual set of conditions and circumstances, namely, the implantation of a RTSA in a patient with PD and shoulder instability.
Robust LIDAR localization using multiresolution Gaussian mixture maps for autonomous driving

This paper reports on a fast multiresolution scan matcher for local vehicle localization of self-driving cars. State-of-the-art approaches to vehicle localization rely on observing road surface reflectivity with a 3D light detection and ranging (LIDAR) scanner to achieve centimeter-level accuracy. However, these approaches can often fail when faced with adverse weather conditions that obscure the view of the road paint (e.g. puddles and snowdrifts), poor road surface texture, or when road appearance degrades over time. We present a generic probabilistic method for localizing an autonomous vehicle equipped with a three-dimensional (3D) LIDAR scanner. This proposed algorithm models the world as a mixture of several Gaussians, characterizing the z -height and reflectivity distribution of the environment—which we rasterize to facilitate fast and exact multiresolution inference. Results are shown on a collection of datasets totaling over 500 km of road data covering highway, rural, residential, and urban roadways, in which we demonstrate our method to be robust through heavy snowfall and roadway repavements.