Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Efficient Mapping of Dimensionality Reduction Designs onto Heterogeneous FPGAs

Dimensionality reduction or feature extraction has been widely used in applications that require to reduce the amount of original data, like in image compression, or to represent the original data by a small set of variables that capture the main modes of data variation, as in face recognition and detection applications. A linear projection is often chosen due to its computational attractiveness. The calculation of the linear basis that best explains the data is usually addressed using the Karhunen-Loeve transform (KLT). Moreover, for applications where real-time performance and flexibility to accommodate new data are required, the linear projection is implemented in FPGAs due to their fine-grain parallelism and reconfigurability properties. Currently, the optimization of such a design, in terms of area usage and efficient allocation of the embedded multipliers that exist in modern FPGAs, is considered as a separate problem to the basis calculation. In this paper, we propose a novel approach that couples the calculation of the linear projection basis, the area optimization problem, and the heterogeneity exploration of modern FPGAs under a probabilistic Bayesian framework. The power of the proposed framework is based on the flexibility to insert information regarding the implementation requirements of the linear basis by assigning a proper prior distribution. Results using real-life examples demonstrate the effectiveness of our approach.
Quality of life for adult leukemia survivors treated on clinical trials of cancer and leukemia group B during the period 1971‐1988

To identify predictors of psychosocial adjustment for survivors of adult acute leukemia, the adaptation of 206 survivors (77% with acute myelogenous leukemia, and 23% with acute lymphocytic leukemia) treated on any of 13 Cancer and Leukemia Group B trials during the period 1971‐1988 was examined.
Disruption of the Murine Gammaherpesvirus 68 M1 Open Reading Frame Leads to Enhanced Reactivation from Latency

ABSTRACT Murine gammaherpesvirus 68 (γHV68, or MHV-68) is a genetically tractable, small animal model for the analysis of gammaherpesvirus pathogenesis. The γHV68 genome is colinear with the genomes of other sequence gammaherpesviruses, containing large blocks of conserved genes interspersed by a number of putative genes without clear homologs in the other gammaherpesviruses. One of these putative unique genes, the M1 open reading frame (ORF), exhibits sequence homology to a poxvirus serine protease inhibitor, SPI-1, as well as to another γHV68 gene, M3, which we have recently shown encodes an abundantly secreted chemokine binding protein. To assess the contribution of the M1 ORF to γHV68 pathogenesis, we have generated a recombinant γHV68 in which the M1 ORF has been disrupted through targeted insertion of alacZ expression cassette (M1.LacZ). Although M1.LacZ replicated normally in tissue culture, it exhibited decreased splenic titers at days 4 and 9 postinfection in both immunocompetent and immunodeficient mice. Despite decreased levels of acute virus replication, M1.LacZ established a latent infection comparable to wild-type (wt) γHV68, but exhibited an approximately fivefold increase in efficiency of reactivation from latency. M1.LacZ also caused severe vasculitis of the great elastic arteries in gamma interferon receptor (IFN-γR)-deficient mice with a frequency comparable to wt γHV68, but did not cause the mortality or splenic pathology observed with wt γHV68 infection of IFN-γR-deficient mice. Restoration of M1 ORF sequences into M1.LacZ (M1 marker rescue, or M1.MR) demonstrated that M1.LacZ phenotypic alterations in growth in vivo and latency were not due to the presence of additional mutations located elsewhere in the M1.LacZ genome. Generation of a second M1 mutant virus containing a deletion at the 5′ end of the M1 ORF (M1Δ511), but lacking the LacZ expression cassette, revealed the same latency phenotype observed with the M1.LacZ mutant. However, M1Δ511 was not attenuated for acute virus replication in the spleen. We conclude that (i) the induction of arteritis in γHV68-infected IFN-γR-deficient mice can occur in the absence of splenic pathology and mortality, (ii) replication during acute infection is not the primary determinant for the establishment of latent infection, and (iii) the M1 ORF, or a closely linked gene, encodes a gene product that functions to suppress virus reactivation.
PTP1B triggers integrin-mediated repression of myosin activity and modulates cell contractility

ABSTRACT Cell contractility and migration by integrins depends on precise regulation of protein tyrosine kinase and Rho-family GTPase activities in specific spatiotemporal patterns. Here we show that protein tyrosine phosphatase PTP1B cooperates with β3 integrin to activate the Src/FAK signalling pathway which represses RhoA-myosin-dependent contractility. Using PTP1B null (KO) cells and PTP1B reconstituted (WT) cells, we determined that some early steps following cell adhesion to fibronectin and vitronectin occurred robustly in WT cells, including aggregation of β3 integrins and adaptor proteins, and activation of Src/FAK-dependent signalling at small puncta in a lamellipodium. However, these events were significantly impaired in KO cells. We established that cytoskeletal strain and cell contractility was highly enhanced at the periphery of KO cells compared to WT cells. Inhibition of the Src/FAK signalling pathway or expression of constitutive active RhoA in WT cells induced a KO cell phenotype. Conversely, expression of constitutive active Src or myosin inhibition in KO cells restored the WT phenotype. We propose that this novel function of PTP1B stimulates permissive conditions for adhesion and lamellipodium assembly at the protruding edge during cell spreading and migration. Summary: Here we show that protein tyrosine phosphatase PTP1B cooperates with β3 integrin to transiently repress RhoA-myosin-dependent contractility, stimulating adhesion and lamellipodium assembly during cell spreading and migration.
Fibroblast growth factor 1 induced during myogenesis by a transcription–translation coupling mechanism

Fibroblast growth factor 1 (FGF1) is involved in muscle development and regeneration. The FGF1 gene contains four tissue-specific promoters allowing synthesis of four transcripts with distinct leader regions. Two of these transcripts contain internal ribosome entry sites (IRESs), which are RNA elements allowing mRNA translation to occur in conditions of blockade of the classical cap-dependent mechanism. Here, we investigated the function and the regulation of FGF1 during muscle differentiation and regeneration. Our data show that FGF1 protein expression is induced in differentiating myoblasts and regenerating mouse muscle, whereas siRNA knock-down demonstrated FGF1 requirement for myoblast differentiation. FGF1 induction occurred at both transcriptional and translational levels, involving specific activation of both promoter A and IRES A, whereas global cap-dependent translation was inhibited. Furthermore, we identified, in the FGF1 promoter A distal region, a cis-acting element able to activate the IRES A-driven translation. These data revealed a mechanism of molecular coupling of mRNA transcription and translation, involving a unique process of IRES activation by a promoter element. The crucial role of FGF1 in myoblast differentiation provides physiological relevance to this novel mechanism. This finding also provides a new insight into the molecular mechanisms linking different levels of gene expression regulation.
Tracking long-distance migration to assess marine pollution impact

Animal tracking provides new means to assess far-reaching environmental impacts. In the aftermath of the Deepwater Horizon explosion in the Gulf of Mexico, a long-distance migrant, the northern gannet (Morus bassanus) suffered the highest oiling among beach-wrecked birds recovered. Analysis of bird-borne tracking data indicated that 25 per cent of their North American population from multiple colonies in eastern Canada migrated to the pollution zone. Findings contrasted sharply with available mark-recapture (band recovery) data. The timing of movement into and out of the Gulf indicates that immature birds would have absorbed most oil-induced mortality. Consequently, one of two outcomes is likely: either a lagged (likely difficult to assess) population decrease, or an undetectable population response buffered by age-related life-history adaptations. Tracking research is especially useful when little information on animal distributions in pollution zones is available, as is the case in the Gulf of Mexico. Ongoing research highlights current risks and conservation concerns.
Exogenous ghrelin accentuates the acute hypoxic ventilatory response after two weeks of chronic hypoxia in conscious rats

Aim: Ghrelin has been implicated as a modulator of numerous physiological pathways. To date, there have not been any studies describing the role of ghrelin in modulating the chemoreflex control of pulmonary ventilation. Yet the respiratory system impacts, at least to some degree, on virtually all homeostatic control systems. Chronic hypoxia (CH) can cause fundamental changes in ventilatory control, evident by alterations in the acute hypoxia ventilatory response (HVR). As ghrelin plays an important role in metabolic homeostasis, which is tightly linked to ventilatory control, we hypothesized that ghrelin may modulate HVR, especially following CH.
Sleep Disturbances and Health-Related Quality of Life in Adults with Steady-State Bronchiectasis

Background Sleep disturbances are common in patients with chronic lung diseases, but little is known about the prevalence in patients with bronchiectasis. A cross sectional study was conducted to investigate the prevalence and determinants associated with sleep disturbances, and the correlation between sleep disturbances and quality of life (QoL) in adults with steady-state bronchiectasis. Methods One hundred and forty-four bronchiectasis patients and eighty healthy subjects were enrolled. Sleep disturbances, daytime sleepiness, and QoL were measured by utilizing the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS) and St. George Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ), respectively. Demographic, clinical indices, radiology, spirometry, bacteriology, anxiety and depression were also assessed. Results Adults with steady-state bronchiectasis had a higher prevalence of sleep disturbances (PSQI>5) (57% vs. 29%, P<0.001), but not daytime sleepiness (ESS≥10) (32% vs. 30%, P = 0.76), compared with healthy subjects. In the multivariate model, determinants associated with sleep disturbances in bronchiectasis patients included depression (OR, 10.09; 95% CI, 3.46–29.37; P<0.001), nocturnal cough (OR, 1.89; 95% CI, 1.13–3.18; P = 0.016), aging (OR, 1.04; 95% CI, 1.01–1.07; P = 0.009) and increased 24-hour sputum volume (OR, 2.01; 95% CI, 1.22–3.33; P = 0.006). Patients with sleep disturbances had more significantly impaired QoL affecting all domains than those without. Only 6.2% of patients reported using a sleep medication at least weekly. Conclusions In adults with steady-state bronchiectasis, sleep disturbances are more common than in healthy subjects and are related to poorer QoL. Determinants associated with sleep disturbances include depression, aging, nighttime cough and increased sputum volume. Assessment and intervention of sleep disturbances are warranted and may improve QoL.
Seismic detection of the X‐discontinuity beneath the Ryukyu subduction zone from the SdP conversion phase

The X‐discontinuity, which appears at the depth of approximately 300 km, is an important seismic interface with positive velocity contrasts in the upper mantle. Detecting its presence and topography can be useful to understand phase transformations of relevant mantle minerals under the high‐temperature and high‐pressure circumstance of the Earth's interior. In this study, we detect the X‐discontinuity beneath the Ryukyu subduction zone using five intermediate‐depth events recorded by the dense Alaska Regional Network (AK). The X‐discontinuity is successfully revealed from the robust slant stacking of the secondary down‐going and converting SdP phases. From the depth distribution of conversion points, we find that the X‐discontinuity's depth ranges between 269 km and 313 km, with an average depth of 295 km. All the conversion points are located beneath the down‐dipping side of the Philippine Sea slab. From energy comparisons in vespagrams for observed and synthetic seismograms, the strong converted energy is more likely from a thin high‐velocity layer, and the S‐wave velocity jumps across the X‐discontinuity are up to 5% to 8% with an average of 6.0%. According to previous petrological and seismological studies, the X‐discontinuity we detected can be interpreted as the phase transformation of coesite to stishovite in eclogitic materials within the oceanic crust.
Genome-Wide Analysis Reveals Selection for Important Traits in Domestic Horse Breeds

Intense selective pressures applied over short evolutionary time have resulted in homogeneity within, but substantial variation among, horse breeds. Utilizing this population structure, 744 individuals from 33 breeds, and a 54,000 SNP genotyping array, breed-specific targets of selection were identified using an FST-based statistic calculated in 500-kb windows across the genome. A 5.5-Mb region of ECA18, in which the myostatin (MSTN) gene was centered, contained the highest signature of selection in both the Paint and Quarter Horse. Gene sequencing and histological analysis of gluteal muscle biopsies showed a promoter variant and intronic SNP of MSTN were each significantly associated with higher Type 2B and lower Type 1 muscle fiber proportions in the Quarter Horse, demonstrating a functional consequence of selection at this locus. Signatures of selection on ECA23 in all gaited breeds in the sample led to the identification of a shared, 186-kb haplotype including two doublesex related mab transcription factor genes (DMRT2 and 3). The recent identification of a DMRT3 mutation within this haplotype, which appears necessary for the ability to perform alternative gaits, provides further evidence for selection at this locus. Finally, putative loci for the determination of size were identified in the draft breeds and the Miniature horse on ECA11, as well as when signatures of selection surrounding candidate genes at other loci were examined. This work provides further evidence of the importance of MSTN in racing breeds, provides strong evidence for selection upon gait and size, and illustrates the potential for population-based techniques to find genomic regions driving important phenotypes in the modern horse.
Application of a model for the evaluation of the “Visitor Satisfaction” in a nature reserve of South Italy

Di Franco C.P., Borsellino V. , La Sala L. , Schimmenti E. (2017): Application of a model for the evaluation of the “Visitor Satisfaction” in a nature reserve of South Italy. J. For. Sci., 63: 206–218. The protected natural area represents an important resource because from it sustainable and long-lasting social and economic development processes can start. In fact, the conservation of biodiversity can help create economic values by using natural capital which, if properly valorised, can help the momentum of local sustainable development and create diffuse welfare in terms of employment and income. To such a purpose, the evaluation both of the demand by those who enjoy the services of a protected area and of the level of satisfaction that visitors draw from their experience becomes a priority. The present study aims at investigating the behaviour and the preferences of the visitors to a protected natural area by means of the application of a “Visitor Satisfaction” model, in order to provide the managing institution and the local stakeholders with a method for the evaluation of the services offered, and in particular those services that directly concern the recreational function. The model has been implemented in the Riserva Naturale Orientata “Foce del Fiume Belice e dune limitrofe”, which is part of the provinces of Agrigento and Trapani in the Region of Sicilia (Sicily, South Italy). Our hope is that it can be extended to other protected areas.
Testing Holographic Principle from Logarithmic and Higher Order Corrections to Black Hole Entropy

The holographic principle is tested by examining the logarithmic and higher order corrections to the Bekenstein-Hawking entropy of black holes. For the BTZ black hole, I find some disagreement in the principle for a holography screen at spatial infinity beyond the leading order, but a holography with the screen at the horizon does not, with an appropriate choice of a period parameter, which has been undetermined at the leading order, in Carlip's horizon-CFT approach for black hole entropy in any dimension. Its higher dimensional generalization is considered to see a universality of the parameter choice. The horizon holography from Carlip's is compared with several other realizations of a horizon holography, including induced Wess-Zumino-Witten model approaches and quantum geometry approach, but none of the these agrees with Carlip's, after clarifications of some confusions. Some challenging open questions are listed finally.
Low-power area-efficient high-speed I/O circuit techniques

We present a 4-Gb/s I/O circuit that fits in 0.1-mm/sup 2/ of die area, dissipates 90 mW of power, and operates over 1 m of 7-mil 0.5-oz PCB trace in a 0.25-/spl mu/m CMOS technology. Swing reduction is used in an input-multiplexed transmitter to provide most of the speed advantage of an output-multiplexed architecture with significantly lower power and area. A delay-locked loop (DLL) using a supply-regulated inverter delay line gives very low jitter at a fraction of the power of a source-coupled delay line-based DLL. Receiver capacitive offset trimming decreases the minimum resolvable swing to 8 mV, greatly reducing the transmission energy without affecting the performance of the receive amplifier. These circuit techniques enable a high level of I/O integration to relieve the pin bandwidth bottleneck of modern VLSI chips.
Coagulopathy After Cardiac Surgery May Be Influenced by a Functional Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor Polymorphism

BACKGROUND:Cytokine-mediated inflammation and coagulopathy may occur after cardiac surgery. In this study we investigated the temporal pattern of plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) gene expression after cardiac surgery and its relation with PAI genotype, and obtained preliminary data regarding its relation to perioperative morbidity. METHODS:The relative change in PAI-1 mRNA 1, 6, and 24 h after cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) was measured from mononuclear cells in 82 patients undergoing elective cardiac surgery. DNA was analyzed for carriage of the 4G/5G PAI-1 polymorphism. RESULTS:PAI-1 gene expression decreased after CPB in all patients. A larger reduction in PAI-1 gene expression was observed in homozygous carriers of the 5G allele. Homozygous carriers of the 5G allele were also more likely to receive transfusion of coagulation blood products. There was no relation between change in PAI-1 gene expression and duration of CPB. CONCLUSIONS:PAI-1 gene expression decreased over time after CPB. We found a link between PAI-1 genotype, PAI gene expression, and transfusion of coagulation products after cardiac surgery.
Effects of supplemental oxygen and dexamethasone on surgical site infection: a factorial randomized trial‡.

BACKGROUND Tissue oxygenation is a strong predictor of surgical site infection. Improving tissue oxygenation should thus reduce wound infection risk. Supplemental inspired oxygen can improve tissue oxygenation, but whether it reduces infection risk remains controversial. Low-dose dexamethasone is often given to reduce the risk of postoperative nausea and vomiting, but steroid-induced immunosuppression can increase infection risk. We therefore tested the hypotheses that supplemental perioperative oxygen reduces infection risk and that dexamethasone increases it. METHODS Using a factorial design, patients having colorectal resections expected to last ≥2 h were randomly assigned to 30% (n=270) or 80% (n=285) inspired oxygen during and for 1 h after surgery, and to 4 mg intraoperative dexamethasone (n=283) or placebo (n=272). Physicians blinded to group assignments evaluated wounds postoperatively, using US Centers for Disease Control criteria. RESULTS Subject and surgical characteristics were similar among study groups. Surgical site infection incidence was similar among groups: 30% oxygen 15.6%, 80% oxygen 15.8% (P=1.00); dexamethasone 15.9%, placebo 15.4%, (P=0.91). CONCLUSIONS Supplemental oxygen did not reduce surgical site infection risk. The preponderance of clinical evidence suggests that administration of 80% supplemental inspired oxygen does not reduce infection risk. We did not observe an increased risk of surgical site infection with the use of a single low dose of dexamethasone, indicating that it can be used for nausea and vomiting prophylaxis without promoting wound infections. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION ClinicalTrials.gov number: NCT00273377.
Dermatoglyphic Study in Bipolar Disorder

Background: The word dermatoglyphics means writing on the skin. This includes ridge patterns on skin of palms, digits and soles. Finger patterns are definitely constitutional in nature. Both finger and palm prints give clue to various pathological conditions in human being. Material and methods: The present dermatoglyphic study was conducted on fifty males and fifty females in the age group of 18-60 years, diagnosed as bipolar disorder cases, who attended the psychiatric outdoor or were admitted in the wards of psychiatric department, Jawahar Lal Nehru Hospital, Ajmer, Rajasthan. Results: The Total Finger Ridge Count (TFRC) and a-b ridge counts were found to be decreased in the bipolar diseased group. The mean ‘atd’ angle on both the hands considered together is found to be greater in the bipolar cases compared to the normal i.e. 90.22o in males and 92.46o in females bipolar cases compared to the control with mean angle 80.46o and 82.46o respectively in males and females (in males p= 0.0001, in females p= 0.0002). The frequency of whorls were increased in patients compared to the controls (p<0.001). Conclusion: Dermatoglyphics, a non-invasive method, could serve as a screening indicator for the follow up of individuals in threatened families. The study was aimed at establishing a correlation between occurance of bipolar affective disorder and the dermatoglyphics of hand which depends on genetic factors. On the basis of probability, one can correlate the dermatoglyphic pattern to bipolar disorder.