Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Ultra-low Power CMOS Cells for Temperature Sensors

Temperature sensors and voltage references require cells that generate both PTAT (proportional to absolute temperature) and NTC (negative temperature coefficient) voltages. We present a novel theoretical approach based on a quasi-constant current to obtain these voltages in standard CMOS technology using no resistors. A test circuit was fabricated in a 0.8 mum, CMOS process. We performed measurements in a 305 K to 375 K temperature range which verify the expected results. The circuit draws under 50 nA from a 1.6 V to 3.0 V supply
Deep Brain Stimulation of the Pallidum is Effective and Might Stabilize Striatal D2 Receptor Binding in Myoclonus–Dystonia

Purpose: To assess clinical efficacy of deep brain stimulation (DBS) of the pallidum in Myoclonus–Dystonia (M–D) patients, and to compare pre- and post-operative striatal dopamine D2 receptor availability. Methods: Clinical parameters were scored using validated rating scales for myoclonus and dystonia. Dopamine D2 receptor binding of three patients was studied before surgery and approximately 2 years post-operatively using 123-I-iodobenzamide Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography. Two patients who did not undergo surgery served as controls. Results: Clinically, the three M–D patients improved 83, 17, and 100%, respectively on the myoclonus rating scale and 78, 23, and 65% on the dystonia rating scale after DBS. Dopamine D2 receptor binding did not change after surgery. In the two control subjects, binding has lowered further. Conclusion: These findings confirm that DBS of the pallidum has beneficial effects on motor symptoms in M–D and suggest this procedure might stabilize dopamine D2 receptor binding.
Iterative pedestrian segmentation and pose tracking under a probabilistic framework

This paper presents a unified probabilistic framework to tackle two closely related visual tasks: pedestrian segmentation and pose tracking along monocular videos. Although the two tasks are complementary in nature, most previous approaches focus on them individually. Here, we resolve the two problems simultaneously by building and inferring a single body model. More specifically, pedestrian segmentation is performed by optimizing body region with constraint of body pose in a Markov Random Field (MRF), and pose parameters are reasoned about through a Bayesian filtering, which takes body silhouette as an observation cue. Since the two processes are inter-related, we resort to an Expectation-Maximization (EM) algorithm to refine them alternatively. Additionally, a template matching scheme is utilized for initialization. Experimental results on challenging videos verify the framework's robustness to non-rigid human segmentation, cluttered backgrounds and moving cameras.
Block-matching stereo with relaxed fronto-parallel assumption

In this paper, we present a new scheme for block-matching stereo. The main intention is to relax the inherent assumption that within a block the disparities are constant, because this assumption is often violated. Instead of using the matching cost of one disparity within a matching block, the best matching for several disparities are first selected for each pixel and then these best matches are combined to the final block-matching value. Results on the KITTI benchmark show that this scheme increases the performance of block-matching stereo especially for large matching windows, however, there is also a significant increase for smaller block sizes. Furthermore, we show that a straightforward combination with the appearance-aligned block-matching stereo leads to results that surpass the performance of both single techniques.
Metabotropic glutamate receptors (mGluR5) activate transient receptor potential canonical channels to improve the regularity of the respiratory rhythm generated by the pre‐Bötzinger complex in mice

Metabotropic glutamate receptors (mGluRs) are hypothesized to play a key role in generating the central respiratory rhythm and other rhythmic activities driven by central pattern generators (e.g. locomotion). However, the functional role of mGluRs in rhythmic respiratory activity and many motor patterns is very poorly understood. Here, we used mouse respiratory brain‐slice preparations containing the pre‐Bötzinger complex (pre‐BötC) to identify the role of group I mGluRs (mGluR1 and mGluR5) in respiratory rhythm generation. We found that activation of mGluR1/5 is not required for the pre‐BötC to generate a respiratory rhythm. However, our data suggest that mGluR1 and mGluR5 differentially modulate the respiratory rhythm. Blocking endogenous mGluR5 activity with 2‐Methyl‐6‐(phenylethynyl)pyridine (MPEP) decreases the inspiratory burst duration, burst area and frequency, whereas it increases the irregularity of the fictive eupneic inspiratory rhythm generated by the pre‐BötC. In contrast, blocking mGluR1 reduces the frequency. Moreover, the mGluR1/5 agonist 3,5‐dihydroxyphenylglycine increases the frequency and decreases the irregularity of the respiratory rhythm. Based on previous studies, we hypothesized that mGluR signaling decreases the irregularity of the respiratory rhythm by activating transient receptor potential canonical (TRPC) channels, which carry a non‐specific cation current (ICAN). Indeed, 3,5‐dihydroxyphenylglycine (DHPG) application reduces cycle‐by‐cycle variability and subsequent application of the TRPC channel blocker 1‐[2‐(4‐methoxyphenyl)‐2‐[3‐(4‐methoxyphenyl)propoxy]ethyl]imidazole (SKF‐96365) hydrochloride reverses this effect. Our data suggest that mGluR5 activation of ICAN‐carrying TRPC channels plays an important role in governing the cycle‐by‐cycle variability of the respiratory rhythm. These data suggest that modulation of TRPC channels may correct irregular respiratory rhythms in some central neuronal diseases.
Gender Classification using Shape from Shading

The aim in this paper is to show how to use the 2.5D facial surface normals (needle-maps) recovered using shape from shading (SFS) to improve the performance of gender classification. We incorporate principal geodesic analysis (PGA) into SFS to guarantee the recovered needle-maps is a possible example defined by a statistical model. Because the recovered facial needlemaps satisfy data-closeness constraint, they not only give the facial shape information, but also combine the image intensity implicitly. Experiments show that this combination gives better gender classification performance than using facial shape or texture information alone.
Cyclophosphamide-induced chimerism.

BALB/c mice were injected with cyclophosphamide (Cytoxan) (180–280 mg/kg) i.p., and with 3 × 107 (BALB/c ♀ × DBA ♂) F1 (CDF) spleen cells i.v. The recipients were bled periodically and their sera tested for DBA γ-globulin. All mice had levels of donor γ-globulin at 2 weeks; 17/24 still had detectable levels at 6 months. A greater proportion of mice had detectable donor γ-globulin for a longer time and in higher titer when treated with the highest dose of Cytoxan. All mice received CDF skin grafts 2 weeks after Cytoxan and CDF spleen infusion. Marked prolongation of skin graft survival was observed. In general, skin graft rejection correlated well with loss of donor γ-globulin. However, 4 mice which rejected skin grafts within one month continued to have detectable donor γ-globulin for 6 months. The results are similar to those reported for X-irradiation-induced chimeras.
Selection of visual information for lightness judgements by eye movements

When judging the lightness of objects, the visual system has to take into account many factors such as shading, scene geometry, occlusions or transparency. The problem then is to estimate global lightness based on a number of local samples that differ in luminance. Here, we show that eye fixations play a prominent role in this selection process. We explored a special case of transparency for which the visual system separates surface reflectance from interfering conditions to generate a layered image representation. Eye movements were recorded while the observers matched the lightness of the layered stimulus. We found that observers did focus their fixations on the target layer, and this sampling strategy affected their lightness perception. The effect of image segmentation on perceived lightness was highly correlated with the fixation strategy and was strongly affected when we manipulated it using a gaze-contingent display. Finally, we disrupted the segmentation process showing that it causally drives the selection strategy. Selection through eye fixations can so serve as a simple heuristic to estimate the target reflectance.
A transform approach to linear network coding for acyclic networks with delay

The algebraic formulation for linear network coding in acyclic networks with each link having an integer delay is well known. Based on this formulation, for a given set of connections over an arbitrary acyclic network with integer delay assumed for the links, the output symbols at the sink nodes at any given time instant is a Fq-linear combination of the input symbols across different generations, where Fq denotes the field over which the network operates. We use finite-field discrete Fourier transform (DFT) to convert the output symbols at the sink nodes at any given time instant into a Fq-linear combination of the input symbols generated during the same generation. We call this as transforming the acyclic network with delay into n-instantaneous networks (n is sufficiently large). We show that under certain conditions, there exists a network code satisfying sink demands in the usual (non-transform) approach if and only if there exists a network code satisfying sink demands in the transform approach. Furthermore, assuming time invariant local encoding kernels, we show that the transform method can be employed to achieve half the rate corresponding to the individual source-destination mincut (which are assumed to be equal to 1) for some classes of three-source three-destination multiple unicast network with delays using alignment strategies when the zero-interference condition is not satisfied.
The modified Dempster-Shafer approach to classification

This paper describes "modified Dempster-Shafer" (MDS), an approach to object identification which incorporates Bayesian prior distributions into an altered Dempster-Shafer rule of combination. The MDS combination rule reduces, under strong independence assumptions, to a special case of Bayes' rule. We show that MDS has rigorous probabilistic foundations in the theory of random sets. We also demonstrate close relationships between MDS and Smets' "pignistic" probabilities (1990), which in the MDS framework become true posterior distributions. We describe the application of MDS to a practical classification algorithm which uses an information-theoretic technique to limit the combinatorial explosion of evidence. We also define a non-ad hoc, MDS-based classification "miss distance" metric used to measure the performance of this algorithm.
Optimizing JMS Performance for Cloud-Based Application Servers

Many business-oriented services will be gradually offered in the Cloud. Java Message Service (JMS) is a critical messaging technology in Java-based business applications, particularly to those that are based on the Java Enterprise Edition (Java EE) open standard. Maintaining high performance in the horizontally scaled, and elastic, cloud environment is critical to the success of the business applications. In this paper, we present practical considerations in optimizing JMS performance for the cloud deployment, where some of the findings may also serve to improve the design of JMS container so it adapts well to cloud computing. Our work also includes performance evaluation on the proposed strategies.
Gender specific effect of LIPC C-514T polymorphism on obesity and relationship with plasma lipid levels in Chinese children

Hepatic lipase (LIPC) is a key rate‐limiting enzyme in lipoprotein catabolism pathways involved in the development of obesity. The C‐514T polymorphism in the promoter region is associated with decreased LIPC activity. We performed a case‐controlled study (850 obese children and 2119 controls) and evaluated the association between LIPC C‐514T polymorphism, obesity and plasma lipid profile in Chinese children and adolescents. Additionally, we conducted a meta‐analysis of all results from published studies as well as our own data. A significant association between the polymorphism and obesity is observed in boys (P = 0.042), but not in girls. And we observed a significant relationship of the polymorphism with total cholesterol (TC) and high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL‐C) independent of obesity in boys. The T allele carriers have higher levels of low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL‐C) in obese boys, and triglyceride (TG), TC and LDL‐C in non‐obese girls (all P < 0.05). In the meta‐analysis, under dominant model the T allele increased body mass index (BMI) level in boys, while it decreased BMI in girls, and increased the levels of TC both in the overall and subgroups, TG and HDL‐C in the overall and boys, and LDL‐C in the overall (all P < 0.05). Our results suggest that the T allele might carry an increased risk of obesity in Chinese boys. The meta‐analysis suggests that T allele acts as a risk allele for higher BMI levels in male childhood, while it is a protective allele in female childhood. And the polymorphism is associated with the levels of plasma lipids, which may be modulated by obesity and gender.
Quark- and gluon-jet emission from primordial black holes. II. The emission over the black-hole lifetime.

The emission produced over the lifetime of black holes with masses less than M*≃4-6×10 14 g is investigated by convolving the Hawking emission formulas with a Monte Carlo QCD jet code. Such emission may be astrophysically important if, for example, holes form from initial density perturbations in the early Universe. The quark and gluon decay products contribute significantly to the M* emission and dominate the lifetime emission from holes with initial masses less than about 10 14 g. The M* emission shows little sensitivity to the uncertainties in particle-physics models around 100-300 MeV and above 100 GeV. A more precise determination of the mass of a primordial black hole which just expires today is also given as a function of the cosmological matter density and Hubble constant
Hypertensive Mechanisms Associated with Centrally Administered Aldosterone in Dogs

The mechanism by which intracerebroventricularty administered aldosterone increases arterial pressure was investigated in trained, conscious dogs with cannulas chronically implanted in a lateral cerebral ventricle. In salt-replete and salt-depleted dogs, artificial cerebrospinal fluid with or without aldosterone (0.05 μg/kg/hr) was infused intracerebroventricularly for 12 days by an osmotic minipump. A similar dose of aldosterone was infused subcutaneously for 12 days. Aldosterone infused intracerebroventricularly increased blood pressure significantly in both salt-replete and salt-depleted dogs. In salt-replete animals the hypertension was associated with increased total peripheral resistance without concomitant changes in blood volume, cardiac output, or in any of the neurohumoral parameters measured. We conclude that this type of hypertension is resistance-mediated from its outset and appears to be relatively independent of salt and water retention. The mechanism by which intracerebroventricularly administered aldosterone increases vascular resistance remains to be determined.
A Stable Sparse Fear Memory Trace in Human Amygdala

Pavlovian fear conditioning is highly conserved across species, providing a powerful model of aversive learning. In rodents, fear memory is stored and reactivated under the influence of the amygdala. There is no evidence for an equivalent mechanism in primates, and an opposite mechanism is proposed whereby primate amygdala contributes only to an initial phase of aversive learning, subsequently ceding fear memory to extra-amygdalar regions. Here, we reexamine this question by exploiting human high-resolution functional magnetic resonance imaging in conjunction with multivariate methods. By assuming a sparse neural coding, we show it is possible, at an individual subject level, to discriminate responses to conditioned (CS+ and CS−) stimuli in both basolateral and centro-cortical amygdala nuclei. The strength of this discrimination increased over time and was tightly coupled to the behavioral expression of fear, consistent with an expression of a stable fear memory trace. These data highlight that the human basolateral and centro-cortical amygdala support initial learning as well more enduring fear memory storage. A sparse neuronal representation for fear, here revealed by multivariate pattern classification, resolves why an enduring memory trace has proven elusive in previous human studies.
Identification of susceptibility loci for scoliosis in FIS families with triple curves

The triple curve pattern (three lateral curvatures of equal severity) has been recognized as a distinct and unique clinical subtype of scoliosis. As part of a large study of familial idiopathic scoliosis (FIS), a subset of five families with a triple curve pattern (at least one member of each family having a triple curve) was evaluated to determine if this curve pattern was linked to any of the markers previously genotyped as part of the STRP‐based previous linkage screen. Model independent linkage analysis (SIBPAL, v4.5) of the initial genomic screen identified candidate regions on chromosomes 6 and 10 when FIS was analyzed both as qualitative and quantitative traits in single‐ and multipoint linkage analyses. Additional fine mapping analyses of this subgroup with SNPs corroborated the findings in these regions (P < 0.001). These regions have been previously linked to FIS, however, this is the first time these regions have been implicated in a clinically well‐defined subgroup and may suggest a unique genetic etiology for the formation of a triple curve. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Design and Test of a Novel Closed-Loop System That Exploits the Nociceptive Withdrawal Reflex for Swing-Phase Support of the Hemiparetic Gait

A novel closed-loop system for improving gait in hemiparetic patients by supporting the production of the swing phase using electrical stimulations evoking the nociceptive withdrawal reflex was designed. The system exploits the modular organization of the nociceptive withdrawal reflex and its stimulation site- and gait-phase modulation in order to evoke movements of the hip, knee, and ankle joints during the swing phase. A modified model reference adaptive controller (MRAC) was designed to select the best stimulation parameters from a set of 12 combinations of four electrode locations on the sole of the foot and three different stimulation onset times between heel-off and toe-off. It was hypothesized that the MRAC system would result in a better walking pattern compared with an open-loop preprogrammed fixed pattern of stimulation (FPS) controller. Thirteen chronic or subacute hemiparetic subjects participated in a study to compare the performance of the two control schemes. Both control schemes resulted in a more functional gait compared to no stimulation (P <; 0.05) with a weighted joint angle peak change of 4.0 ± 1.6 (mean ± Standard deviation) degrees and 3.1 ± 1.4 degrees for the MRAC and FPS schemes, respectively. This indicates that the MRAC scheme performed better than the FPS scheme (P <; 0.001) in terms of reaching the control target.
Quality of Life in the Antiarrhythmics Versus Implantable Defibrillators Trial: Impact of Therapy and Influence of Adverse Symptoms and Defibrillator Shocks

Background—Implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) use reduces mortality in patients with serious ventricular arrhythmias compared with antiarrhythmic drug (AAD) use. However, the relative impact of these therapies on self-perceived quality of life (QoL) is unknown. Methods and Results—Three self-administered instruments were used to measure generic and disease-specific QoL in Antiarrhythmics Versus Implantable Defibrillators trial participants. Generalized linear models were used to assess the relationships between self-perceived QoL and treatment (AAD versus ICD) and adverse symptoms and ICD shocks. To minimize the impact of missing data, only patients surviving 1 year were included in the primary analyses. Baseline characteristics among QoL participants (n=905) and nonparticipants (n=111) were similar, but participants who survived 1 year (n=800) were healthier at baseline than nonsurvivors (n=105). Of the 800 patients in the primary analysis, characteristics of those randomized to AAD (n=384) versus ICD (n=416) were similar. Overall, ICD and AAD use were associated with similar alterations in QoL. The development of sporadic shocks and adverse symptoms were each associated with reduced physical functioning and mental well-being and increased concerns among ICD recipients, whereas development of adverse symptoms was associated with reduced physical functioning and increased concerns among AAD recipients. Conclusions—ICD and AAD therapy are associated with similar alterations in self-perceived QoL over 1-year follow-up. Adverse symptoms were associated with reduced self-perceived QoL in both groups, and sporadic shocks were associated with reduced QoL in ICD recipients.
Unwarranted Variation in the Quality of Care for Patients With Diseases of the Thoracic Aorta

Background Thoracic aortic disease has a high mortality. We sought to establish the contribution of unwarranted variation in care to regional differences in outcomes observed in patients with thoracic aortic disease in England. Methods and Results Data from the Hospital Episode Statistics (HES) and the National Adult Cardiac Surgery Audit (NACSA) were extracted. A parallel systematic review/meta‐analysis through December 2015, and structure and process questionnaire of English cardiac surgery units were also accomplished. Treatment and mortality rates were investigated. A total of 24 548 adult patients in the HES study, 8058 in the NACSA study, and 103 543 from a total of 33 studies in the systematic review were obtained. Treatment rates for thoracic aortic disease within 6 months of index admission ranged from 7.6% to 31.5% between English counties. Risk‐adjusted 6‐month mortality in untreated patients ranged from 19.4% to 36.3%. Regional variation persisted after adjustment for disease or patient factors. Regional cardiac units with higher case volumes treated more‐complex patients and had significantly lower risk‐adjusted mortality relative to low‐volume units. The results of the systematic review indicated that the delivery of care by multidisciplinary teams in high‐volume units resulted in better outcomes. The observational analyses and the online survey indicated that this is not how services are configured in most units in England. Conclusions Changes in the organization of services that address unwarranted variation in the provision of care for patients with thoracic aortic disease in England may result in more‐equitable access to treatment and improved outcomes.