Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A delay budgeting algorithm ensuring maximum flexibility in placement

In this paper, we present a new, general approach to the problem of computing upper bounds on net delays. The upper bounds on net delays are computed so that timing constraints between input and output signals are satisfied. The set of delay upper bounds is called a delay budget. The objective of this work is to compute a delay budget that will lead to timing feasible circuit placement and routing. In our formulation, we find a delay budget so that the placement phase has "maximum flexibility. " We formulate this problem as a convex programming problem and prove that it has a special structure. We utilize the special structure of the problem to propose an efficient graph-based algorithm. We present experimental results for our algorithms with the MCNC placement benchmarks. Our experiments use budgeting results as net length constraints for the TimberWolf placement program, which we use to evaluate the budgeting algorithms. We obtain an average of 50% reduction in net length constraint violations over the well-known zero-slack algorithm (ZSA). We also study different delay budgeting objective functions, which yield 2/spl times/ performance improvements without loss of solution quality. Our results and graph-based formulation show that our proposed algorithm is suitable for modern large-scale budgeting problems.
Autologous Immune Enhancement Therapy for cancer using NK cells and CTLs without feeder layers; our six year experience in India.

BACKGROUND Autologous Natural Killer (NK) cells and Cytotoxic T Lymphocytes (CTLs) based immune-cell therapy, otherwise called as Autologous Immune enhancement therapy (AIET), though has been in clinical practice in several developed nations since early 90s, in India it is in infancy due to lack of technological knowhow. Our institute has been providing the AIET cell expansion services since 2005 and we here in report our experience in 30 such patients of both solid tumours and hematological malignancies. MATERIALS & METHODS The number of AIET transfusions in each patient ranged from one to six. All the patients included had Stage III to IV malignancy. AIET was either given along with the chemotherapy or after the completion of a minimum of six cycles of chemotherapy in all the patients. 70 ml of Peripheral Blood was collected each time. The protocol followed was as per Terunuma et al (Breast Cancer 2010) which uses only the patients' autologous plasma for expansion of the Natural Killer Cells and Cytotoxic T lymphocytes from the peripheral blood. The cells were cultured for a period of 10 to 16 days and then transfused to the patients intravenously. The cells were subjected to Flow cytometry before and after the in vitro expansion. Feeder layers were not used in the procedure of in vitro expansion at any stage. RESULTS The percentage of NK cells and CTLs after expansion by flow cytometry ranged from 60 to 82 %. There were no adverse reactions in any of the patients following transfusion. The mean prolonged survival time was 15 months and 27% of the patients had Static non-progressive disease after the therapy. Two patients reported significant decrease in Cancer marker levels after AIET and among the terminally ill, two had more than two years survival. All the patients reported improvement in quality of life and resumption of appetite following AIET. CONCLUSION Optimal in vitro expansion of NK cells and CTLs of patients with stage III-IV cancer either concurrently or after chemotherapy could be accomplished using autologous serum without use of feeder layers. The In vitro expanded NK cells and CTLs when given intravenously decrease the tumor size and prolong the survival without any adverse effect in our experience.
A CMOS Operational Amplifier with Constant 68° phase margin over its whole range of noise-power trade-off programmability

The problem of variable phase margin of our programmable operational amplifier (OpAmp), which was presented at ESSCIRC 2006, has been solved. The OpAmp is programmable concerning noise and power consumption, while the phase margin is kept at an approximately constant value of 68deg for the whole range of programmability. Experimental results for a 0.35 mum CMOS OpAmp show either low noise of 3.6 nV/radicHz or low power consumption of 59 muW, and a phase margin variation of only Deltaphires = 6deg.
Stable trace formulas and discrete series multiplicities

Let G be a reductive algebraic group over Q, and suppose that Γ ⊂ G(R) is an arithmetic subgroup defined by congruence conditions. A basic problem in arithmetic is to determine the multiplicities of discrete series representations in L2(Γ\G(R)), and in general to determine the traces of Hecke operators on these spaces. In this paper we give a conjectural formula for the traces of Hecke operators, in terms of stable distributions. It is based on a stable version of Arthur’s formula for L2-Lefschetz numbers [3], which is due to Kottwitz [21]. We reduce this formula to the computation of elliptic p-adic orbital integrals and the theory of endoscopic transfer. As evidence for this conjecture, we demonstrate the agreement of the central terms of this formula with the unipotent contributions to the multiplicity coming from Selberg’s trace formula in Wakatsuki [43], in the case G = GSp4 and Γ = GSp4(Z).
Nurses’ Experiences Caring for Incarcerated Patients in a Perinatal Unit

Studies indicate that psychological support of a mother during labor greatly increases the well-being of the mother and the infant. Nurses caring for incarcerated women in birthing centers, provide the only caring support these women have a possibility of receiving. However, there is a dearth of studies that explore nurses’ perception of their role in caring for female offenders. The purpose of this article is to present a study that explored nurses’ perception of caring for incarcerated women in a perinatal setting. Findings of the study indicated that nurses have difficulty working around the shackles that tied a laboring offender to the bed, and found the guards in the room to be intrusive. Some nurses advocated for the patients; others felt that the women were getting what they deserved. Most nurses struggled with the emotions of the incarcerated mom leaving behind her newborn upon return to prison.
Enceladus: Cosmic Graffiti Artist Caught in the Act

As one of the most geologically active bodies in the solar system, Saturn's moon Enceladus not only coats itself with water ice particles, it accounts for the unusually high albedos of the other satellites orbiting within Saturn's vast, tenuous E ring. This effect is evident in Hubble Space Telescope observations obtained at true opposition on 13 and 14 January 2005 that reveal that the mean geometric albedos of satellites embedded within the E ring approximate or exceed unity.
Examining Adoption of Electronic District (e-District) System in Indian Context: A Validation of Extended Technology Acceptance Model

The purpose of this study is to explore the adoption of e"District system for potential adopters in context of Bihar in India. The study validates technology acceptance model (TAM) along with some additional and important factors such as trialability and self"efficacy toward the adoption of e"District systems in context of India. The proposed research model was validated using a sample size of 304 citizens gathered from four districts namely Madhubani, Aurangabad, Gaya, and Nalanda of Bihar in India where the project was in the pilot testing phase. The data were analysed using structural equation modelling (SEM) technique of AMOS 20.0. The empirical outcomes of the proposed model indicated the significant relationships of all six hypotheses proposed between five constructs. The empirical justification, discussion, and managerial implications provided in this research can help the state government to improve upon and fully utilise the potential of the e"District system as a useful tool.
Oral Microflora in Subjects with Reduced Salivary Secretion

It is generally assumed that a decreased salivary secretion rate will promote plaque accumulation and increase the risk for caries, gingival inflammation, and mucosal infections. In this study, the effect of hyposalivation on the oral microflora was examined. The following microorganisms were analyzed in rinsing samples from 14 subjects with hyposalivation: the total number of anaerobically growing micro-organisms, a-hemolytic streptococci, mutans streptococci, lactobacilli, Fusobacterium nucleatum, Prevotella intermedia/Prevotella nigrescens, Staphylococcus aureus, Candida albicans, and enterics. The study group, age 53 ± 7 years, had no history of radiation therapy and showed no signs of inflammation in their salivary glands on biopsy. All were dentate with a mean of 24 ± 3 teeth. Their salivary secretion rates were 0.03 ± 0.02 mL/min (unstimulated) and 0.84 ± 0.65 mL/min (stimulated). The control group was matched to the hyposalivation group according to age, sex, and number of teeth. There was a significantly increased number of lactobacilli, and a tendency, not statistically significant and with large variations within the groups, toward a higher proportion of mutans streptococci and a lower proportion of a-hemolytic streptococci in the hyposalivation group. The presence of micro-organisms associated with gingival inflammation and mucosal infections was comparable with that in the healthy controls. The results indicated that a low salivary secretion rate mainly promotes a flora associated with the development of caries.
Increased exposure to Plasmodium chabaudi antigens sustains cross-reactivity and avidity of antibodies binding Nippostrongylus brasiliensis: dissecting cross-phylum cross-reactivity in a rodent model

SUMMARY Mounting an antibody response capable of discriminating amongst and appropriately targeting different parasites is crucial in host defence. However, cross-reactive antibodies that recognize (bind to) multiple parasite species are well documented. We aimed to determine if a higher inoculating dose of one species, and thus exposure to larger amounts of antigen over a longer period of time, would fine-tune responses to that species and reduce cross-reactivity. Using the Plasmodium chabaudi chabaudi (Pcc)–Nippostrongylus brasiliensis (Nb) co-infection model in BALB/c mice, in which we previously documented cross-reactive antibodies, we manipulated the inoculating dose of Pcc across 4 orders of magnitude. We investigated antigen-specific and cross-reactive antibody responses against crude and defined recombinant antigens by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay, Western blot and antibody depletion assays. Contrary to our hypothesis that increasing exposure to Pcc would reduce cross-reactivity to Nb, we found evidence for increased avidity of a subpopulation of antibodies that recognized shared antigens. Western blot indicated proteins of apparent monomer molecular mass 28 and 98 kDa in both Nb and Pcc antigen preparations and also an Nb protein of similar size to recombinant Pcc antigen, merozoite surface protein-119. The implications of antibodies binding antigen from such phylogenetically distinct parasites are discussed.
Government Consumption Volatility and the Size of Nations

The aim of this paper is to analyze the relation between the volatility of government consumption and country size. Using a sample of 160 countries from 1960 to 2000 the main findings of our empirical analysis suggest that: 1) smaller countries have more volatile non-discretionary and discretionary government consumption, and also a more volatile government size; 2) the relation between government spending volatility and the size of a country is more negative for more volatile economies; 3) the relation between government consumption volatility and country size is more negative for functions of government spending that are characterized by a high level on non-rivality. The results are robust to different time and country samples, different econometric techniques and to several sets of control variables. La volatilite de la consommation du gouvernement et la taille du pays L'objectif de ce papier est d'analyser la relation existant entre la volatilite de la consommation du gouvernement et la taille du pays. Utilisant un echantillon de 160 pays de 1960 a 2000, les principaux resultats de notre analyse suggerent que : 1) Les petits pays ont une consommation du gouvernement discretionnaire et non-discretionnaire plus volatile, de meme qu'une taille de gouvernement plus volatile; 2) La relation entre la volatilite des depenses du gouvernement et la taille du pays est plus negative pour les economies les plus volatiles; 3) La relation entre la volatilite de la consommation du gouvernement et la taille du pays est plus negative for les categories de depense publiques qui sont caracterisees par un haut niveau de non-rivalite. Les resultats sont robustes a des changements de periode et d'echantillons de pays, a l'utilisation de differentes techniques econometriques et au choix de differentes variables de controle.
Anatomic survey of the common fibular nerve and its branching pattern with regard to the intermuscular septa of the leg

Compression syndromes of the common fibular nerve and its branches frequently occur primarily as well as secondarily to trauma and surgery. A keen knowledge of the course and the relationship of the deep fibular nerve to adjacent anatomical structures in the proximal leg is mandatory. Previous literature often lacks detailed information on the course of the deep fibular nerve and is based on a limited number of observations. The aim of this study was to investigate the common fibular nerve and its branching pattern with special regard to the relationship between the deep fibular nerve and the anterior intermuscular septum of the leg. Variations in the course of the fibular nerve were demonstrated. The fibular compartments of the leg (n = 111) were dissected in 57 embalmed cadavers and included: 1) investigation of the number of muscular branches; 2) entering passages to the respective compartments of the leg; and 3) the relationship between the fibularis longus muscle and the deep fibular nerve. The most proximal muscular branch of the deep fibular nerve directly “pierced” the anterior intermuscular septum of the leg. Narrow passages within the fibular compartment and, in consequence, areas of possible higher incidence of nerve compression were suggested at the level of the intermuscular septa of the leg, between the two distinct portions of the fibularis longus muscle and the crossing of the supplying vessels. There were hardly ever statistically significant differences between the two sides or male and female gender. According to our results, the anterior intermuscular septum of the leg may be regarded as an important landmark for the surgeon when dissecting the muscular branches of the deep fibular nerve. The variable branching pattern of the deep fibular nerve within the fibular compartment of the leg should be taken into account. Clin. Anat. 17:503–512, 2004. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Human SP‐A and a pharmacy‐grade porcine lung surfactant extract can be reconstituted into tubular myelin – a comparative structural study of alveolar surfactants using cryo‐transmission electron microscopy

Cryo‐transmission electron microscopy (cryo‐TEM) is a rather artefact‐free method, well suited to study the alveolar surfactant system. A pharmacy grade porcine lung surfactant extract (HL‐10) was mixed with human SP‐A and Ringer's solution (for calcium ions), and it was shown by cryo‐TEM that the tubular myelin (TM) type of structure was reconstituted. These aggregates were associated to liposomal aggregates, and resulted in macroscopic phase‐separation. This phase showed a weak birefringence in the polarising microscope, which is characteristic for a liquid‐crystalline type of structure. TM from rabbit lung lavage was also examined, and showed the same periodic arrangement of bilayers as alveolar surface layer from freshly cut rabbit lungs deposited directly on the cryo‐TEM grids. The distance between the bilayers of TM was 40–50 nm, and an electron dense material, assumed to be SP‐A, was sometimes seen to occur periodically along the bilayers, oriented perpendicularly to the tubuli. The results are consistent with the surface‐phase model of the alveolar lining.
Long-Term Prognosis of Profound Facial Nerve Paralysis Secondary to Acoustic Neuroma Resection

The long-term prognosis of profound facial nerve paralysis was reviewed in 107 patients who, despite preserved nerve continuity, showed no facial movement after acoustic neuroma resection. Spontaneous recovery occurred in 77 patients. However, there was no apparent recovery in 30 patients. Twenty-two of these patients underwent hypoglossal-facial nerve anastomosis 7–33 months after tumor resection. When spontaneous recovery occurred, the first sign of remission was observed between 3 and 4 months after surgery in nearly half of the patients. Such a sign did not appear after 12 months. The recovery of facial movement deteriorated depending on how long remission onset was delayed. However, the quality of facial movement in patients with such delayed remission was still identical or better than that in those after hypoglossal-facial nerve anastomosis. These results showed that hypoglossal-facial nerve anastomosis should be performed approximately 1 year after tumor resection if no sign of remission has been observed by then.
Determination of Nitrite Plus Nitrate and Malondialdehyde in Human Plasma: Analytical Performance and the Effect of Smoking and Exercise

Abstract The aim of this study was to evaluate the analytical performance and clinical usefulness of spectrophotometric assays for the measurement of the plasma levels of nitrite plus nitrate (NOx), and malondialdehyde (MDA), as an index of nitric oxide release and lipid peroxidation, respectively. We studied 30 healthy sedentary volunteers, 12 endurance athletes and 12 regular heavy smokers. The lower limit of quantification for plasma NOx concentration was 1 μmol/l, and linearity was observed from 1 to 40 μmol/l of NOx concentration. Variation in replicate samples within or between days was always below 5%. NOx levels were significantly higher in athletes compared to both control subjects and smokers (p<0.05 and p<0.001, respectively), as well as in healthy subjects compared to smokers (p<0.05). The analytical limit of quantification for plasma MDA concentration was 0.03 μmol/l, and linearity was observed from 0.03 to 20 μmol/l of MDA concentration. Variation in replicate samples within or between runs was <5%. Mean MDA concentration was significantly higher in smokers compared to control subjects and athletes (p<0.001). A significant inverse relationship (p<0.001) was observed when comparing NOx with MDA (r= −0.49) or LDL levels (r= −0.30) in the total population. The assays evaluated in this study proved to be sensitive, specific and practicable, and therefore suitable for routine application in clinical chemistry laboratories and/or physiopathological studies involving human blood
Safety of budesonide in saline sinonasal irrigations in the management of chronic rhinosinusitis with polyposis: lack of significant adrenal suppression.

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the potential for hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis suppression by budesonide nasal irrigations in the treatment of refractory chronic rhinosinusitis with polyposis (CRSwP). STUDY DESIGN Retrospective, descriptive review of patient charts. SETTING Tertiary care rhinology practice in an academic teaching hospital. PATIENTS Eighteen adult subjects with CRSwP refractory to conservative medical therapy. METHODS The charts of consecutive patients identified as being treated with topical budesonide in saline for nasal irrigation from January to October 2006 were reviewed. In all cases, pre- and posttreatment morning cortisol levels had been measured following at least 8 weeks of uninterrupted therapy. In addition, a subset of patients who continued therapy longer than 8 weeks had undergone the more sensitive adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) stimulation test. RESULTS All pre- and posttreatment morning cortisol levels were within the normal range. For an 8-week treatment period, there was no evidence of HPA axis suppression (p=.4171). For patients who continued treatment beyond 8 weeks, ACTH stimulation did not detect HPA axis suppression. Furthermore, there were no issues with compliance or acceptability, nor were any adverse side effects reported. CONCLUSION Budesonide in saline sinonasal irrigation for the treatment of refractory CRSwP does not cause HPA axis suppression. The efficacy of this higher dose of steroid delivered locally would benefit from further study.
Direct Cross-talk of Interleukin-6 and Insulin Signal Transduction via Insulin Receptor Substrate-1 in Skeletal Muscle Cells*

The exercise-induced interleukin (IL)-6 production and secretion within skeletal muscle fibers has raised the question of a putative tissue-specific function of IL-6 in the energy metabolism of the muscle during and after the exercise. In the present study, we followed the hypothesis that IL-6 signaling may directly interact with insulin receptor substrate (IRS)-1, a keystone in the insulin signaling cascade. We showed that IL-6 induces a rapid recruitment of IRS-1 to the IL-6 receptor complex in cultured skeletal muscle cells. Moreover, IL-6 induced a rapid and transient phosphorylation of Ser-318 of IRS-1 in muscle cells and in muscle tissue, but not in the liver of IL-6-treated mice, probably via the IL-6-induced co-recruitment of protein kinase C-δ. This Ser-318 phosphorylation improved insulin-stimulated Akt phosphorylation and glucose uptake in myotubes since transfection with an IRS-1/Glu-318 mutant simulating a permanent phospho-Ser-318 modification increased Akt phosphorylation and glucose uptake. Noteworthily, two inhibitory mechanisms of IL-6 on insulin action, phosphorylation of the inhibitory Ser-307 residue of IRS-1 and induction of SOCS-3 expression, were only found in liver but not in muscle of IL-6-treated mice. Thus, the data provided evidence for a possible molecular mechanism of the physiological metabolic effects of IL-6 in skeletal muscle, thereby exerting short term beneficial effects on insulin action.
Wild-Type and Mutant HCN Channels in a Tandem Biological-Electronic Cardiac Pacemaker

Background— Biological pacemakers (BPM) implanted in canine left bundle branch function competitively with electronic pacemakers (EPM). We hypothesized that BPM engineered with the use of mE324A mutant murine HCN2 (mHCN2) genes would improve function over mHCN2 and that BPM/EPM tandems confer advantage over either approach alone. Methods and Results— In cultured neonatal rat myocytes, activation midpoint was −46.9 mV in mE324A versus −66.1 mV in mHCN2 (P<0.05). mE324A manifested a positive shift of voltage dependence of gating kinetics of activation and deactivation compared with mHCN2 (P<0.05) in myocytes as well as Xenopus oocytes. In intact dogs in complete atrioventricular block, saline (control), mHCN2, or mE324A virus was injected into left bundle branch, and EPM were implanted (VVI 45 bpm). Twenty-four–hour ECGs were monitored for 14 days. With EPM discontinued, there was no difference in duration of overdrive suppression among groups. However, basal heart rates in controls were less than those in mHCN2, which did not differ from those in E324A (45 versus 57 versus 53 bpm; P<0.05). When spontaneous rate fell below 45 bpm, EPM intervened at that rate, triggering 83% of beats in control, contrasting (P<0.05) with 26% (mHCN2) and 36% (mE324A). On day 14, epinephrine (1 &mgr;g/kg per minute IV) induced a 50% heart rate increase in all mE324A, one third of mHCN2, and one fifth of control (P<0.05 mE324A versus control or mHCN2). Conclusions— mE324A induces faster, more positive pacemaker current activation than mHCN2 and stable, catecholamine-sensitive rhythms in situ that compete with EPM comparably but more catecholamine responsively than mHCN2. BPM/EPM tandems function reliably, reduce the number of EPM beats, and confer sympathetic responsiveness to the tandem.