Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Fast Switching Fractional-N Frequency Synthesizer Architecture Using TDTL

This paper presents an efficient indirect fractional frequency synthesizer architecture based on the time delay digital tanlock loop. The indirect type frequency synthesis systems incorporate a low complexity high performance adaptation mechanism that enables them to remain in a locked state following the division process. The performance of the proposed fractional-N synthesizer under various input conditions is demonstrated. This includes sudden changes in the system input frequency as well as the injection of noise. The results of the extensive set of tests indicate that the fractional-N synthesizer, proposed in this work, performs well and is capable of achieving frequency divisions with fine resolution. The indirect frequency synthesizer also has a wide locking range and fast switching response. This is reflected by the system ability to regain its lock in response to relatively large variations in the input frequency within a few samples. The overall system performance shows high resilience to noise as reflected by the mean square error results.
High levels of HPV-16 DNA are associated with high-grade cervical lesions in women at risk or infected with HIV

Objective:To examine associations between levels of episomal and integrated human papillomavirus (HPV) 16 DNA and the grade of cervical disease. Design:Cross-sectional data were obtained from a cohort of women with and without HIV infection and with high-risk sexual behaviour. Methods:Episomal and integrated HPV-16 DNA loads were measured in cervicovaginal lavages collected from 75 women (58 HIV seropositive, 17 HIV seronegative) using real-time polymerase chain reaction assays, controlling for cell content and the presence of inhibitors. Results:HPV-16 viral loads were significantly higher in women with high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions (n = 6) than in women with normal cytology (n = 44), whether total (108.28 versus 105.10 HPV-16 DNA copies/μg DNA), episomal (107.99 versus 104.61) or integrated (107.95 versus 104.77) HPV-16 viral loads were measured (P < 0.02 for each comparison). Thirty-nine women had colposcopy [11 normal cervix, 16 cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) 1, six CIN 2, six CIN 3] and 24 additional women had three consecutive normal cytology smears. Controlling for age, race, CD4 cell count and HIV status, total (OR 3.5, 95% CI 1.2–10.4; P = 0.02), episomal (OR 2.9, 95% CI 1.2–7.4; P = 0.02,) and integrated (OR 1.6, 95% CI 1–2.6; P = 0.05) HPV-16 DNA loads were significantly associated with CIN 2,3, but the differences between CIN 1 and CIN 2,3 were not significant (P > 0.06). A greater amount of cellular DNA was collected from women with CIN 2,3 (P = 0.007). Conclusion:Higher HPV-16 DNA loads are associated with cervical lesions detected by either histology or cytology. No additional information is gained by measuring integrated or episomal over total HPV-16 DNA loads.
SHORT COMMUNICATION THE SWIMMING PERFORMANCES OF INDIVIDUAL LARGEMOUTH BASS (MICROPTERUS SALMOIDES) ARE REPEATABLE

Previous studies have shown that the critical swimming speed (Ucrit) of largemouth bass, Micropterussalmoides Lacepede, is significantly influenced by a number of factors including body mass'(Beamish, 1970), training (Farlinger and Beamish, 1978), water temperature (Hocutt, 1973;Kolok, 1991)and photoperiod (Kolok, 1991). These studies share a common approach in that they were primarily concerned with comparing mean values of Ucritof fish from different treatment groups, and individual variation within the groups was treated as statistical noise. While this approach is valid, it may overlook a significant source of performance variation - the variation found among individuals. Recent research (for a review, see Bennett, 1987)into the locomotor performance of amphibians and reptiles has suggested that individual variation is substantial and repeatable (i.e. performance variation of an individual forced to perform multiple times will be minor compared to the variation found when a number of individuals are forced to perform once). This research has been conducted on animals at a constant temperature, and also before and after an acute temperature change. No study has been done to determine whether performance repeatability is maintained following a chronic change in temperature. This may be particularly important with respect to fishes because many fish undergo physiological and morphological changes when subjected to chronic changes in water temperature. In the current study, variations in the Ucritof individual bass were quantified, and performance repeatability was established at 11 and 22°C and after an acute and chronic decrease in water temperature from 20 to 100c. Juvenile largemouth bass were obtained from the Wray Fish Hatchery, Colorado Division of Wildlife, during November and August. The fish used during November (N=7) varied from 7.8 to 9.8cm (mean 9.0cm) in fork length and from
Metabolic syndrome in fixed-shift workers

OBJECTIVE To analyze if metabolic syndrome and its altered components are associated with demographic, socioeconomic and behavioral factors in fixed-shift workers. METHODS A cross-sectional study was conducted on a sample of 902 shift workers of both sexes in a poultry processing plant in Southern Brazil in 2010. The diagnosis of metabolic syndrome was determined according to the recommendations from Harmonizing the Metabolic Syndrome. Its frequency was evaluated according to the demographic (sex, skin color, age and marital status), socioeconomic (educational level, income and work shift), and behavioral characteristics (smoking, alcohol intake, leisure time physical activity, number of meals and sleep duration) of the sample. The multivariate analysis followed a theoretical framework for identifying metabolic syndrome in fixed-shift workers. RESULTS The prevalence of metabolic syndrome in the sample was 9.3% (95%CI 7.4;11.2). The most frequently altered component was waist circumference (PR 48.4%; 95%CI 45.5;51.2), followed by high-density lipoprotein. Work shift was not associated with metabolic syndrome and its altered components. After adjustment, the prevalence of metabolic syndrome was positively associated with women (PR 2.16; 95%CI 1.28;3.64), workers aged over 40 years (PR 3.90; 95%CI 1.78;8.93) and those who reported sleeping five hours or less per day (PR 1.70; 95%CI 1.09;2.24). On the other hand, metabolic syndrome was inversely associated with educational level and having more than three meals per day (PR 0.43; 95%CI 0.26;0.73). CONCLUSIONS Being female, older and deprived of sleep are probable risk factors for metabolic syndrome, whereas higher educational level and higher number of meals per day are protective factors for metabolic syndrome in fixed-shift workers.
Op18/Stathmin Mediates Multiple Region-Specific Tubulin and Microtubule-Regulating Activities

Oncoprotein18/stathmin (Op18) is a regulator of microtubule (MT) dynamics that binds tubulin heterodimers and destabilizes MTs by promoting catastrophes (i.e., transitions from growing to shrinking MTs). Here, we have performed a deletion analysis to mechanistically dissect Op18 with respect to (a) modulation of tubulin GTP hydrolysis and exchange, (b) tubulin binding in vitro, and (c) tubulin association and MT-regulating activities in intact cells. The data reveal distinct types of region-specific Op18 modulation of tubulin GTP metabolism, namely inhibition of nucleotide exchange and stimulation or inhibition of GTP hydrolysis. These regulatory activities are mediated via two-site cooperative binding to tubulin by multiple nonessential physically separated regions of Op18. In vitro analysis revealed that NH2- and COOH-terminal truncations of Op18 have opposite effects on the rates of tubulin GTP hydrolysis. Transfection of human leukemia cells with these two types of mutants result in similar decrease of MT content, which in both cases appeared independent of a simple tubulin sequestering mechanism. However, the NH2- and COOH-terminal–truncated Op18 mutants regulate MTs by distinct mechanisms as evidenced by morphological analysis of microinjected newt lung cells. Hence, mutant analysis shows that Op18 has the potential to regulate tubulin/MTs by more than one specific mechanism.
Expression of basic fibroblast growth factor in desmoplastic melanoma

Basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) is an established growth factor for melanocytes and a potent angiogenic factor. The expression of bFGF was investigated in 23 desmoplastic melanomas. (DM) (12 males, median age 64 years, and 11 females, median age 54 years) by immunostaining of formalin‐fixed, paraffin‐embedded sections with high‐affinity purified antibody raised against recombinant human bFGF (Scios Nova, Inc.). The tumors were characterized by level II invasion in 1 case (5%), level IV invasion in 11 cases (48%), level V invasion in 8 cases (35%), and indeterminate in 3 cases. bFGF expression was observed in 22 of 23 tumors (95%), either immune localized to tumor cell nuclei in 17 of 22 tumors (77%), or to the cytoplasm of tumor cells in 5 of 22 tumors (23%). Also in these cases, bFGF was strongly expressed in the nuclei of vascular endothelial cells. Maximal expression was noted in the peripheral blood vessels of 20 tumors (91%) versus intratumoral vessels of 13 DM (59%). In conclusion, the expression of predominantly nuclear bFGF by tumor cells in DM suggests a role in mediating the desmoplastic phenotype. In addition, the localization of bFGF to vascular cndothelium, particularly at the periphery of the tumor, may be relevant to tumor angiogenesis.
Emotion recognition of static and dynamic faces in autism spectrum disorder

There is substantial evidence for facial emotion recognition (FER) deficits in autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The extent of this impairment, however, remains unclear, and there is some suggestion that clinical groups might benefit from the use of dynamic rather than static images. High-functioning individuals with ASD (n = 36) and typically developing controls (n = 36) completed a computerised FER task involving static and dynamic expressions of the six basic emotions. The ASD group showed poorer overall performance in identifying anger and disgust and were disadvantaged by dynamic (relative to static) stimuli when presented with sad expressions. Among both groups, however, dynamic stimuli appeared to improve recognition of anger. This research provides further evidence of specific impairment in the recognition of negative emotions in ASD, but argues against any broad advantages associated with the use of dynamic displays.
COMMUNICATIVE TEXT-BOOKS: ENGLISH LANGUAGE TEXTBOOKS IN IRANIAN SECONDARY SCHOOL

English language teaching materials (textbooks) play an important role in many language classrooms, but recently there have been a lot of debates within the English language teaching profession based on the actual role that materials play in teaching English as a foreign language. Arguments have encompassed both the potential and the limitations of materials used for 'guiding' students through the learning processes and curriculum as well as the needs and preferences of teachers who are using the textbooks that are available. Other issues that have arisen in recent years include textbook design and practicality, methodological validity, the role of textbooks in innovation, the authenticity of materials in terms of their representation of language, communicative textbooks, and balance in presenting the language skills as well as cultural components. The purpose of this article is to report the findings of a study carried out in 2006 into how Iranian textbooks could be made more communicative. The textbooks referred to are three English language textbooks, which are currently used in Iranian Secondary Schools. Although the work has been done within Iranian context, many suggestions could be applied to other foreign/second language situations. I will start my discussion by presenting an overview about the English language teaching in Iran, before and after the revolution. This will be followed by presenting the findings of this research that would include the Iranian ELT curriculum, the questionnaire survey (author's and teachers' perspectives as well as their discomfort will be addressed) as well as introducing the English language coursebooks for secondary schools in Iran (topic, progression, structure of the lessons, types of exercises etc.). I will then present a discussion on findings of this research which would be a detailed exemplary criticism and suggestions for changes to make the materials communicative. The findings of this explanatory case study revealed that there are many inconsistencies between the learners' needs, and the textbooks that are available for learning and teaching the English language though a few of them are reliable. The purpose of this research project is to recommend constructive changes, in order to make the textbooks more communicative as well as compatible with the students' and teachers' needs and expectations.
Omission of in vivo T‐cell depletion promotes rapid expansion of naïve CD4+ cord blood lymphocytes and restores adaptive immunity within 2 months after unrelated cord blood transplant

Umbilical cord blood transplant (UCBT) is associated with impaired early immune reconstitution. This might be explained by a lower T‐cell dose infused, the naivety of cord blood T‐cells and the use of in vivo T‐cell depletion. We studied the pattern of early immune reconstitution and the clinical outcome of children undergoing unrelated UCBT when in vivo T‐cell depletion was omitted. Thirty children affected by malignancies (46%) or immunodeficiencies (54%) underwent an unrelated UCBT. Prospective assessment of immune reconstitution and clinical outcome was performed. We observed an unprecedented CD4+ T‐cell reconstitution, with a median cell count at 30 and 60 d post UCBT of 0·3 × 109/l and 0·56 × 109/l, respectively. Early T‐cell expansion was thymic‐independent, with a rapid shift from naïve to central memory phenotype and early regulatory T‐cell recovery. Viral infections were frequent (63%) but resolved rapidly in most cases and virus‐specific T‐lymphocytes were detected within 2 months post‐UCBT. Acute graft‐versus‐host disease (GvHD) was frequent (grade II = 34%, grade III–IV = 16%) but steroid responsive, and the incidence of chronic GvHD was low (14%). The omission of in vivo T‐cell depletion promotes a unique thymic‐independent CD4+ T‐cell reconstitution after unrelated UCBT in children. We postulate that this relates to the specific immunological and ontological qualities of fetal‐derived lymphocytes.
Loss, Change and Bereavement in Palliative Care

How do professionals meet the needs of bereaved people? How do professionals undertake best practice with individuals, groups, families and communities? What are the implications for employing research to influence practice? This book provides a resource for working with a complex range of loss situations and includes chapters on childhood bereavement, and individual and family responses to loss and change. It contains the most up-to-date work in the field presented by experienced practitioners and researchers and is relevant not only for those working in specialist palliative care settings, but for professionals in general health and social care sectors. Strong links are maintained between research and good practice throughout the book. These are reinforced by the coherent integration of international research material and the latest thinking about loss and bereavement. Experts and clinicians draw upon their knowledge and practice, whilst the essential perspective of the service user is central to this book. "Loss, Change and Bereavement in Palliative Care" provides essential reading for a range of professional health and social care disciplines practising at postgraduate or post-registration/qualification level. It challenges readers, at an advanced level, on issues of loss, change and bereavement. Contributors are Lesley Adshead, Jenny Altschuler, Peter Beresford, Grace Christ, Suzy Croft, Pam Firth, Shirley Firth, Richard Harding, Felicity Hearn, Jennie Lester, Gill Luff, Linda Machin, Jan McLaren, David Oliviere, Ann Quinn, Phyllis Silverman, Jean Walker, Karen Wilman.
A 6K-Deletion Variant of Salmonid Alphavirus Is Non-Viable but Can Be Rescued through RNA Recombination

Pancreas disease (PD) of Atlantic salmon is an emerging disease caused by Salmonid alphavirus (SAV) which mainly affects salmonid aquaculture in Western Europe. Although genome structure of SAV has been characterized and each individual viral protein has been identified, the role of 6K protein in viral replication and infectivity remains undefined. The 6K protein of alphaviruses is a small and hydrophobic protein which is involved in membrane permeabilization, protein processing and virus budding. Because these common features are shared across many viral species, they have been named viroporins. In the present study, we applied reverse genetics to generate SAV3 6K-deleted (Δ6K) variant and investigate the role of 6K protein. Our findings show that the 6K-deletion variant of salmonid alphavirus is non-viable. Despite viral proteins of Δ6K variant are detected in the cytoplasm by immunostaining, they are not found on the cell surface. Further, analysis of viral proteins produced in Δ6K cDNA clone transfected cells using radioimmunoprecipitation (RIPA) and western blot showed a protein band of larger size than E2 of wild-type SAV3. When Δ6K cDNA was co-transfected with SAV3 helper cDNA encoding the whole structural genes including 6K, the infectivity was rescued. The development of CPE after co-transfection and resolved genome sequence of rescued virus confirmed full-length viral genome being generated through RNA recombination. The discovery of the important role of the 6K protein in virus production provides a new possibility for the development of antiviral intervention which is highly needed to control SAV infection in salmonids.
A Supervised Approach for Detecting Boundaries in Music Using Difference Features and Boosting

A musical boundary is a transition between two musical segments such as a verse and a chorus. Our goal is to automatically detect musical boundaries using temporallylocal audio features. We develop a set of difference features that indicate when there are changes in perceptual aspects (e.g., timbre, harmony, melody, rhythm) of the music. We show that many individual difference features are useful for detecting boundaries. By combining these features and formulating the problem as a supervised learning problem, we can further improve performance. This is an alternative to previous work on music segmentation which has focused on unsupervised approaches based on notions of self-similarity computed over an entire song. We evaluate performance using a publicly available data set of 100 copyright-cleared pop/rock songs, each of which has been segmented by a human expert.
Diagnosis and Evaluation of Visual Dysfunction in Premature Infants with Low Birth Weight

Visual impairment of many kinds is common in premature infants with low birth weight. The infant's visual system is quite plastic in the early stages, and early screening may help to discover treatable pathology. Clinical techniques are available that are not used in the routine examination given by the pediatrician. These include optokinetic nystagmus, preferential looking, and visually evoked potential. If such techniques were more widely employed where visual impairment is suspected, nonsurgical remedial intervention might be more successful.
Rift valley fever virus: a real bioterror threat.

Rift Valley fever virus is recognized as an important bioterror and agroterror threat to Western countries including the United States. Once introduced, the virus would be readily spread by native mosquito populations and potentially become endemic. While infection often results in severe morbidity and mortality in both humans and livestock, there are currently no FDA or USDA-licensed vaccines. The development of effective countermeasures and implementing surveillance and diagnostic capabilities are critical. Ultimately, the presence of RVFV would lead to severe long-term negative impacts for healthcare, agricultural and travel economic sectors.
Prevalence of testicular adrenal rest tumours in male children with congenital adrenal hyperplasia due to 21-hydroxylase deficiency.

OBJECTIVE Testicular adrenal rest tumours (TART) are a well-known complication in adult male patients with congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH), with a reported prevalence of up to 94%. In adulthood, the tumours are associated with gonadal dysfunction most probably due to longstanding obstruction of the seminiferous tubules. The aim of our study was to determine the presence of TART and their influence on gonadal function in childhood. DESIGN Retrospective study. PATIENTS AND METHODS Scrotal ultrasound was performed in 34 children with CAH due to 21-hydroxylase deficiency who were between 2 and 18 years old. FSH, LH, testosterone and inhibin B concentrations were measured in serum of 27 patients. RESULTS TART were detected by ultrasound in 8 out of 34 (24%) children. In two of them, bilateral tumours were found. All lesions were located in the rete testis. Seven patients had the salt-wasting type of CAH; one patient had the simple virilising type of CAH. Mean tumour size was 4.1 mm (range 2-8 mm). In none of the patients were the tumours palpable. Two children with TART were between 5 and 10 years old, the other six children were above 10 years old. In all children with TART, LH, FSH, testosterone and inhibin B levels were similar to the patients without TART. CONCLUSION TART can be found in CAH children before the age of 10 years. The absence of gonadal dysfunction in our group of children suggests that gonadal dysfunction as frequently reported in adult CAH patients with TART develops after childhood.