Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
ALU / Datapath Token Memory Fanout ROM Dataflow Trigger Input Packet Output Packet Output Memory

FPGA-based token dataflow processing has been shown to accelerate hard-to-parallelize problems exhibiting irregular dataflow parallelism by as much as an order of magnitude when compared to conventional compute organizations. However, when the structure of the dataflow computation is known upfront, either at compile time or at the start of execution, we can employ static scheduling techniques to further improve performance and enhance compute density of the dataflow hardware. In this paper, we identify the costs and performance trends of both static and dynamic scheduling approaches when considering hardware acceleration of SPICE device equations and Sparse LU factorization in circuit graphs. While the experiments are limited to a case study, the hardware design and dataflow compiler are general and can be extended to other problems and instances where dataflow computing may be applicable. With this study, we hope to develop a quantitative basis for the design of a hybrid dataflow architecture that combines both static and dynamic scheduling techniques. We observe a performance benefit of 2– 4× and a resource utilization saving of 2–3× in favor of statically scheduled hardware.
Escherichia coli cytotoxic necrotizing factor 1: evidence for induction of actin assembly by constitutive activation of the p21 Rho GTPase

Cytotoxic necrotizing factor type 1 (CNF1) induces in HEp-2 cells an increase in F-actin structures, which was detectable by fluorescence-activated cell sorter analysis 24 h after addition of this factor to the culture medium. Increase in F-actin was correlated with the augmentation of both the cell volume and the total cell actin content. Actin assembly-disassembly is controlled by small GTP-binding proteins of the Rho family, which have been reported recently to be modified by CNF1 treatment. Clostridium difficile toxin B and Clostridium botulinum exoenzyme C3, both known to act on the Rho GTPase, were used as biological tools to study the effect of CNF1 on this protein. CNF1 incubated before, during, or after exposure to the chimeric toxin C3B (which is the product of a genetic fusion between the DNA coding for C3 and the one coding for the B fragment of diphtheria toxin) protected HEp-2 cells from the disruption of F-actin structures caused by inactivation of the Rho GTPase through its ADP-ribosylation. On the other hand, C. difficile toxin B cytopathic effect was not observed upon preincubation of cells with CNF1. Toxins acting through a Rho-independent mechanism, such as cytochalasin D and Clostridium spiroforme iota-like toxin, could not be modified in their cellular activities by CNF1 treatment. All of our results suggest that CNF1 modifies the Rho molecule, thus probably protecting this GTPase from further bacterial toxin modification.
Investigation on the influence of nematophagous fungi as feed additive on nematode infection risk of sheep and goats on pasture

Gastrointestinal nematodes in small ruminants cause high economic losses. Thus on most farms anthelmintic treatment is required. In response to increasing problems with anthelmintic resistance, biological control, for example the use of nematophagous fungi, has received significant attention. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of Duddingtonia flagrans orally applied to small ruminants on natural infection with gastrointestinal nematodes in a field study in Northern Germany. 20 goats and 20 sheep were fed daily for 3 months with 5x105 spores of D. flagrans per kg bodyweight. Differences in body weight, faecal egg count and larval development in faeces and on pasture in comparison with same-sized control groups were analysed. After 3 months the control goats showed significantly higher mean faecal egg count than the fungus-fed group. No significant difference was found between the two sheep groups. The maximum in larval reduction in faeces was 81.3 % in the sheep groups and 67.9 % in the goat groups (not significant). At the end of the study the body weight gain in the fungus-treated groups was 1.7 kg higher in goats and 0.7 kg higher in sheep than in the control groups (not significant). Regarding the first-year-grazing goats only, the bodyweights revealed significant differences (p<0.05). No statistically significant differences were observed in pasture larval counts. In the study presented here, no clear effect of fungus could be observed. A modified feeding regimen, perhaps with permanent release boluses or feed blocks, may improve the efficacy. Furthermore, it seems that climatic conditions during the study period could have influenced the results and displayed how sensitive the fungus application may be on such parameters.
Infant Predictors of Toddler Effortful Control: A Multi‐method Developmentally Sensitive Approach

Effortful control (EC) is a form of self-regulation characterized by inhibition of dominant responses in favour of more adaptive subdominant responses. In the present study, temperamental antecedents in infancy were examined in relationship to toddler EC. Parents reported on infant temperament at 6, 8, 10, and 12 months, using the regulatory capacity/orienting (RCO) factor of the Infant Behavior Questionnaire-Revised. Laboratory indicators of this temperamental construct were also collected at each time point via the Temperament Laboratory Assessment. Relations between changes in temperament across the first year of life and toddler EC (mean age = 22 months) were examined using multilevel modelling. Parent-reported RCO and the component subscale of cuddliness more specifically were the only temperamental variables that prospectively predicted toddler EC. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Compound-gene interaction mapping reveals distinct roles for Staphylococcus aureus teichoic acids

Significance As primary components of the Staphylococcus aureus cell envelope, teichoic acids play important but poorly understood roles in cell division and pathogenesis. Using an unbiased screen combined with targeted gene knockouts, we constructed an interaction network connecting wall teichoic acids to several other cellular pathways, including peptidoglycan biosynthesis, surface protein display, cell envelope D-alanylation, and lipoteichoic acid synthesis. We showed that lipoteichoic and wall teichoic acids play redundant roles in initiating cell division, but have distinct genetic interactions that reveal unique functions. Our findings provide insight into essential cell envelope processes in a clinically important pathogen as well as targets for compound combinations to kill antibiotic-resistant S. aureus. Staphylococcus aureus contains two distinct teichoic acid (TA) polymers, lipoteichoic acid (LTA) and wall teichoic acid (WTA), which are proposed to play redundant roles in regulating cell division. To gain insight into the underlying biology of S. aureus TAs, we used a small molecule inhibitor to screen a highly saturated transposon library for cellular factors that become essential when WTA is depleted. We constructed an interaction network connecting WTAs with genes involved in LTA synthesis, peptidoglycan synthesis, surface protein display, and D-alanine cell envelope modifications. Although LTAs and WTAs are synthetically lethal, we report that they do not have the same synthetic interactions with other cell envelope genes. For example, D-alanylation, a tailoring modification of both WTAs and LTAs, becomes essential when the former, but not the latter, are removed. Therefore, D-alanine–tailored LTAs are required for survival when WTAs are absent. Examination of terminal phenotoypes led to the unexpected discovery that cells lacking both LTAs and WTAs lose their ability to form Z rings and can no longer divide. We have concluded that the presence of either LTAs or WTAs on the cell surface is required for initiation of S. aureus cell division, but these polymers act as part of distinct cellular networks.
Current perspective on actinic keratosis: a review

Actinic keratoses (AKs) are common, with prevalence in the U.S.A. estimated at almost 40 million in 2004 and annual costs of > $1 billion (U.S.D.). However, there is no universally accepted definition of AK and thus it is difficult to identify reliably. AKs are lesions of epidermal keratinocytic dysplasia that result from chronic sun exposure and have the ability to progress to invasive squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), but clinicians disagree about whether AKs are premalignant lesions, superficial SCCin situ or epiphenomena of chronically sun‐damaged skin. Yearly AK to SCC progression rates of 0·6% were reported in an elderly population with multiple prior keratinocyte carcinomas (KCs); and rates of spontaneous AK regression have been reported to be > 50%, but regressed lesions often reappear. As AKs have both cosmetic consequences and potential for malignant transformation, there are multiple reasons for treatment. There is no current agreement on the most efficacious treatment, but 5‐fluorouracil has been shown to both prevent and treat AKs, and imiquimod and photodynamic therapy may have the best cosmetic outcomes. AKs may be treated to improve appearance and relieve symptoms, but the keratinocytic dysplasia that gives rise to malignancy, and sometimes appears as an AK, may be what actually threatens patient health. Thus, treatments should aim to decrease the risk of KC or facilitate KC diagnosis by reducing the potential for misidentification created when a KC appears in a field of AKs. Improved agreement among clinicians on AK definition may improve management.
The DNA chip technologies utilize the advances in high-throughput oligonucleotide synthesis or PCR Lessons from genetic profiling in soft tissue sarcomas

Soft tissue sarcomas represent a heterogeneous group of tumors and include over 50 histotypes. Some of these tumor types are characterized by specific chromosomal translocations, whereas other types show complex genetic aberrations. The recent developments within gene expression technologies have now been applied to studies of soft tissue sarcomas (STS) and the first results indicate that genetic signatures are useful for classification and diagnosis. Distinctive expression profiles have been found in e.g. gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs), synovial sarcomas, malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumors (MPNSTs), and in subsets of liposarcomas. The more pleomorphic tumor types, such as high-grade variants of leiomyosarcomas, malignant fibrous histiocytomas (MFHs), fibrosarcomas, and subtypes of liposarcomas, show a greater variability among the expression profiles, but interestingly subsets with distinctive expression profiles can be identified also among these tumors. The data available place many of the genes hypothesized to be involved in the development of a certain type of STS, such as the KIT gene in GIST development, among the top discriminating genes. Thereby expression profiling provides novel insights into the pathogenesis of STS. Although much work remains to be done to validate the data and to define optimal discriminating gene lists, the current lessons from gene expression studies in STS are encouraging and imply that genetic signatures may serve as diagnostic and prognostic markers and may help identify novel therapeutic strategies.
CONFORMITY OF LIGHT AND ELECTRON MICROSCOPIC STUDIES ON VIRUS PARTICLE DISTRIBUTION IN LYMPHOCYSTIS TUMOR CELLS OF FISH *

The characteristic skin tumors of lymphocystis disease a re due to the enormous hypertrophy of host connective tissue cells under the influence of a virus. Only the infected cells hypertrophy ; they become encapsulated and they do not multiply. Nuclei a r e proportionately enlarged, and basophilic cytoplasmic inclusions tend to form a rich network in mature cells. The pattern and texture of these inclusions differ both with age of the cell, and with host species. The disease has been reported in many species of Teleosts, and may be epidemic in Percidae, Centrarchidae, and Pleuronectidae. It may be fairly easily transmitted within the host species or genus, bu t rarely across family limits. Though the etiology was at first uncertain, and various parasites had been suggested as agents, the idea of a causative virus was proposed by Weissenberg (1914). The conditions of infectivity seemed to fit this hypothesis, and Weissenberg’s (1951) transfer of the disease to FunduEiLs by an ultrafiltrate of Stizostedion cells gave still stronger support. For fur ther historical and comparative discussion and references, see Weissenberg’s ( 1 9 6 5 ~ ) review in this monograph. With careful cytological study of the inclusion bodies, Weissenberg (1949, 1951 & 1960) showed that in lymphocystis material fixed in osmic acid solution (method of Kopsch) , or postosmified, there was a pattern of minute osmiophil granules often associated with the inclusions as a cortical layer. He interpreted these as elementary bodies of the causative virus. This pattern was also found in his material from earlier studies, including lymphocystis cells from Acerim, Stizostedion, Lepomis, and Plewonectes. The granules were seen not only at the surface of simple inclusion bars, but in the interstices of fenestrated inclusion patterns, The granules were seen both in young cells and in mature ones, and associated both with pale inclusions and with dark, osmiophil ones. The sharp contrast provided by osmification allowed visualization of particles below the size susceptible to sure measurement by visible light. With the weaker contrast of routine fixatives and stain, the granulation was scarcely discernible. Besides the densely osmiophil granules, paler ones of similar size were often seen,
Low-frequency severe-intensity interval training improves cardiorespiratory functions.

PURPOSE The present study investigated the effects of severe-intensity interval training at a frequency of once a week on cardiorespiratory function at rest and during exercise. METHODS Fourteen young healthy males were randomly assigned to either an interval training group or control group. Cardiorespiratory function was investigated by incremental maximal exercise test and constant work rate submaximal exercise test before and after the intervention period in all subjects. Submaximal exercise test was conducted at two work rates (80% ventilatory threshold (VT) level and 100% VT level plus 50% of the difference between VT and peak oxygen consumption (V˙O2)) for 8 min; the same work rates and duration were used before and after training. Left ventricular adaptations were assessed by echocardiography under supine resting conditions before and after training. In the interval training group, seven subjects performed cycle ergometer training once per week for 3 months. The training consisted of three bouts of exercises to volitional fatigue at 80% maximum work rate. RESULTS Increased V˙O2max (+13%, P = 0.015), VT (+21%, P = 0.001), and left ventricular posterior wall thickness (+18%, P = 0.002) and reduced minute ventilation (-12%, P = 0.032) and blood lactate concentration (-16%, P = 0.025) during high-intensity exercise were observed after the training program compared with baseline. Although not significant, V˙O2 and cycling economy (V˙O2 per work rate) during high-intensity exercise decreased slightly after training. CONCLUSION The present results indicate that severe-intensity interval training, even when performed at a low frequency, markedly improves cardiorespiratory function as well as induces cardiac morphological adaptations involving left ventricular hypertrophy and cardiorespiratory metabolic response during submaximal exercise. The present findings may provide new insights for low-frequency, severe-intensity interval training in the field of sports science.
Screening for mild cognitive impairment: a systematic review

Patients with mild cognitive impairment account for a significant number of referrals to old age psychiatry services and specialist memory clinics. The cognitive evaluation of such patients is commonly restricted to brief dementia screens, with no consideration to their suitability for assessing MCI. Here, we review the utility of such cognitive screens for MCI and provide an overview of validated instruments.
Modeling approach to investigate the dynamics of Zika virus fever : A neglected disease in Africa

A simple SIR model of Zika virus fever (ZIKVF) dynamics has been presented in order to compute the basic reproduction number R0 and investigate the relative effect of each parameter in R0 through sensitivity analysis. Sensitivity indices indicated that R0 is most sensitive to the natural death rate of Aedes mosquitoes, and least sensitive to the recovery rate of human. This means that increasing the natural death rate of mosquitoes and the recovery rate of human will reduce R0 and hence, control of the disease is possible. Numerical simulation shows that ZIKVF if introduced in a system can persist because R0 = 7.03 > 1. Further studies are required in order to quantify the effect of ZIKVF in the society and the countermeasures to combat the disease. MSC: 92B05 • 92D30 • 92C60 • 93D05 • 93D20
Can a More Detailed Evaluation of Excision Margins Refine Cytologic Follow-up of Women Post-LLETZ for High-grade Dysplasia?

The relationship between dysplastic changes in the cervical epithelium and progression to in situ carcinoma and invasive carcinoma has been extensively studied. The removal of dysplastic epithelium through the long loop excision of the transformation zone (LLETZ) in 95% of the cases is curative. About 18% to 37% of LLETZ specimens with dysplasia at the margins have recurrent/residual disease. Earlier small studies suggest that the degree of dysplasia at the margins could predict for recurrence and allow a risk-based stratification of follow-up. We tested this hypothesis in a large group of women post-LLETZ for high-grade dysplasia with follow-up histology and cytology over a 12-year period. The cases were divided according to the excision margin status for dysplasia and if positive, low-grade or high-grade dysplasia. The groups were compared to assess whether the LLETZ specimens’ margin status had an impact on the subsequent cytology or histology results. Positive follow-up results were defined as any grade of dysplasia in cytology or histology. Two thousand three hundred twenty-one women had LLETZs containing high-grade dysplasia over the 12-year period. One thousand five hundred thirty-four (66.1%) women had full histology and cytology follow-up available. Eight hundred twenty (53.4%) LLETZ specimens had positive margins and 714 (46.6%) had negative margins. The grade of dysplasia at the margins was available in 796 cases (97%) with 115 (15%) showing low-grade dysplasia and 680 (85%) high-grade dysplasia. One hundred seventy (20.7%) of the specimens with positive margins had positive follow-up results compared with 105 (14.7%) of the specimens with negative margins. The presence of dysplasia at an LLETZ margin is associated with dysplasia on follow-up cytology and histology (P=0.0021); however, the grade of dysplasia at the excision margin is not predictive of recurrent/residual dysplasia.
Caspase‐cleaved keratin‐18 fragments increase during alcohol withdrawal and predict liver‐related death in patients with alcoholic liver disease

Noninvasive assessment of disease activity in patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and alcoholic liver disease (ALD) is still unsettled, but essential for the evaluation of disease progression. We here studied the association of total (M65) and caspase‐cleaved (M30) serum keratin‐18 fragments (n = 204) with histological parameters (n = 106) in heavy drinkers primarily admitted for alcohol withdrawal before and after alcohol detoxification. An age‐, sex‐, and fibrosis‐stage matched NAFLD cohort (n = 30) was used for comparison. The prognostic value of M30 and M65 levels were assessed in an additional prospectively followed‐up cohort of 230 patients with alcoholic cirrhosis (AC) using competing risk analyses. Among the histological parameters, both M30/65 correlated significantly and better than any other serum marker with apoptosis and liver damage, such as ballooning (r = 0.65; P < 0.001), followed by lobular inflammation (0.48; P < 0.001), steatosis (0.46; P < 0.001), but less with fibrosis (0.24; P < 0.001). Area under the receiver operating characteristics curves to detect ballooning, steatosis, or steatohepatitis (SH) were slightly better for M30 (P < 0.005). Optimal M30 cut‐off values for mild and severe ballooning were 330 and 420 U/L, and 290 and 330 U/L for SH grades 1 and 2. No significant differences of M30/65 were found between the matched NAFLD and ALD cohort. In contrast to aspartate‐amino‐transferase and M65, M30 levels increased significantly from 391 to 518 U/L during alcohol detoxification. Moreover, levels of M30 and M65 predicted non–hepatocellular carcinoma liver‐related mortality in patients with AC during a mean observation interval of 67.2 months. Conclusion: Our data suggest M30 as highly specific marker of liver apoptosis both in ALD and NAFLD. In addition, hepatocellular apoptosis, as determined by M30 levels, occurs during alcohol withdrawal, and survival data point toward a novel underestimated role of apoptosis in patients with ALD. (Hepatology 2017;66:96–107).
Bulk-acoustic-wave filters: performance optimization and volume manufacturing

Performance parameters of BAW devices are reviewed and ranked corresponding to their importance for RF-filters in mobile phone applications. The most important performance parameters - such as resonator bandwidth and Q-values - critically depend on the quality of the piezolayer and other relevant layers in the acoustic stack. The design of the complete layer stack in a Solidly Mounted Resonator (SMR) concept in combination with a proper design of lateral resonator-boundaries will be revealed to be extremely important for the suppression of spurious resonances. Challenges in manufacturing of BAW filters will be briefly reviewed. Examples of state-of-the-art in BAW filters in production and ramp-up status will be presented.
In Vitro Interactions between Piperaquine, Dihydroartemisinin, and Other Conventional and Novel Antimalarial Drugs

ABSTRACT In an in vitro assessment of antimalarial combinations, dihydroartemisinin (DHA) showed no interaction or was mildly antagonistic when combined with piperaquine, pyronaridine, or naphthoquine. Interactions between 4-aminoquinolines and related drugs were also indifferent/antagonistic. The clinical significance of mildly antagonistic DHA combinations is uncertain but may become important if parasite drug sensitivity declines.