Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A high-speed single-path delay feedback pipeline FFT processor using vedic-multiplier

FFT processors are playing vital role in modern orthogonal multi-carrier based communication systems. Due to large number of users and portability requirements, high throughput and high speed are the basic requirements of these systems. In this paper a high-speed single path delay feedback (SDF) pipeline FFT processor using Vedic-multiplier is proposed. Proposed architecture is memory-less and employs Radix-2 butterfly, reconfigurable complex constant Vedic multiplier and delay elements. Reconfigurable complex constant Vedic multiplier designed by using Urdhvatiryakabhyam sutra of Vedic multiplication, offers advantages such as high-speed, small area etc. Simulation results shows that proposed scheme is having high speed, high throughput and smaller area and verifies its efficacy in comparison to conventional architectures. Proposed architecture is suitable to use in OFDM, WiMAX and wireless personal area network (WPAN) systems.
Safety and efficacy of exposure to bedaquiline−delamanid in multidrug-resistant tuberculosis: a case series from France and Latvia

Multidrug-resistant (MDR) and extensively drug-resistant (XDR) tuberculosis (TB) represent a therapeutic challenge [1]. Two anti-TB agents, bedaquiline and delamanid, have been recently approved for the treatment of MDR/XDR-TB. Bedaquiline has a terminal half-life of 5.5 months, in contrast with the short half-life of delamanid (38 h). Both drugs increase the QTcF (Fridericia-corrected QT) interval, although no clinically significant cardiac events have been reported in patients treated with one of these drugs [2, 3]. The clinical trials that led to approval of bedaquiline and delamanid tested these drugs by adding one of them, for a duration of 24 weeks and 6–8 months, respectively, to optimised background [2, 3]. To date, only six cases treated with the bedaquiline−delamanid combination have been reported, mostly presenting interim results [4–6]. The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends to use these drugs for a standardised duration of 24 weeks, the concomitant use of bedaquiline and delamanid being restricted to patients with “no other therapeutic options”. Otherwise, it is recommended to start the two drugs sequentially after a washout period of 6 months, when switching from bedaquiline to delamanid, and 5 days, when switching from delamanid to bedaquiline [7]. We report the results of exposure to concomitant and sequential treatment with bedaquiline and delamanid, including treatment courses beyond 24 weeks, as part of multidrug MDR/XDR-TB regimens. Good tolerability of exposure to bedaquiline−delamanid association in MDR/XDR-TB patients http://ow.ly/4uvr30i7az4
Screening for MYO15A gene mutations in autosomal recessive nonsyndromic, GJB2 negative Iranian deaf population

MYO15A is located at the DFNB3 locus on chromosome 17p11.2, and encodes myosin‐XV, an unconventional myosin critical for the formation of stereocilia in hair cells of cochlea. Recessive mutations in this gene lead to profound autosomal recessive nonsyndromic hearing loss (ARNSHL) in humans and the shaker2 (sh2) phenotype in mice. Here, we performed a study on 140 Iranian families in order to determine mutations causing ARNSHL. The families, who were negative for mutations in GJB2, were subjected to linkage analysis. Eight of these families showed linkage to the DFNB3 locus, suggesting a MYO15A mutation frequency of 5.71% in our cohort of Iranian population. Subsequent sequencing of the MYO15A gene led to identification of 7 previously unreported mutations, including 4 missense mutations, 1 nonsense mutation, and 2 deletions in different regions of the myosin‐XV protein. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
In Vivo PET Assay of Tumor Glutamine Flux and Metabolism: In-Human Trial of 18F-(2S,4R)-4-Fluoroglutamine.

Purpose To assess the clinical safety, pharmacokinetics, and tumor imaging characteristics of fluorine 18-(2S,4R)-4-fluoroglutamine (FGln), a glutamine analog radiologic imaging agent. Materials and Methods This study was approved by the institutional review board and conducted under a U.S. Food and Drug Administration-approved Investigational New Drug application in accordance with the Helsinki Declaration and the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act. All patients provided written informed consent. Between January 2013 and October 2016, 25 adult patients with cancer received an intravenous bolus of FGln tracer (mean, 244 MBq ± 118, <100 μg) followed by positron emission tomography (PET) and blood radioassays. Patient data were summarized with descriptive statistics. FGln biodistribution and plasma amino acid levels in nonfasting patients (n = 13) were compared with those from patients who fasted at least 8 hours before injection (n = 12) by using nonparametric one-way analysis of variance with Bonferroni correction. Tumor FGln avidity versus fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) avidity in patients with paired PET scans (n = 15) was evaluated with the Fisher exact test. P < . 05 was considered indicative of a statistically significant difference. Results FGln PET depicted tumors of different cancer types (breast, pancreas, renal, neuroendocrine, lung, colon, lymphoma, bile duct, or glioma) in 17 of the 25 patients, predominantly clinically aggressive tumors with genetic mutations implicated in abnormal glutamine metabolism. Acute fasting had no significant effect on FGln biodistribution and plasma amino acid levels. FGln-avid tumors were uniformly FDG-avid but not vice versa (P = .07). Patients experienced no adverse effects. Conclusion Preliminary human FGln PET trial results provide clinical validation of abnormal glutamine metabolism as a potential tumor biomarker for targeted radiotracer imaging in several different cancer types. © RSNA, 2018 Online supplemental material is available for this article. Clinical trial registration no. NCT01697930.
Expression of Bcl-2 and Bax in Hypokalemic Nephropathy in Rats

Objectives: Potassium depletion results in hyperplasia of renal tubular and interstitial cells in humans and animals, and potassium repletion induces rapid regression of hyperplasia. Apoptosis participates importantly in this reduction of cell number, although we have observed tubular and interstitial apoptosis in rats during potassium depletion as well. Methods: To investigate mechanisms of apoptosis in this model, we assessed expression of Bcl-2 and Bax, using immunohistochemistry and reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Results: Cell proliferation identifiable by labeling with 5-bromo 2′-deoxyuridine was prominent in tubular and interstitial cells of the cortex and outer medulla (OM) 7 days after potassium depletion. Simultaneously present apoptotic cells identified by light microscopy, electron microscopy, and nick end labeling were located mainly in the OM. Seven days after potassium repletion, apoptotic cells increased again but proliferating cells decreased. Bcl-2 protein distributed in the tubules of the OM was significantly decreased in potassium-depleted and potassium-repleted rats compared with control rats, while immunoreactivity for Bax protein tended to increase above control levels in potassium-depleted rats. RT-PCR for bcl-2 and bax demonstrated a significant decrease in levels of bcl-2 mRNA in potassium-depleted and potassium-repleted rats relative to those in controls. Expression of bax mRNA in potassium-depleted and potassium-repleted rats tended to increase, while ratios of bcl-2 mRNA to bax mRNA significantly decreased. Conclusions: These results suggest that apoptosis is associated with progression and regression of cellular proliferation in hypokalemic nephropathy, and a decrease in Bcl-2 may be involved in promoting this apoptotic process.
Small-Signal Model of Flyback Converter in Continuous-Conduction Mode With Peak-Current Control at Variable Switching Frequency

Flyback converter is widely used in low-power adaptor applications. To achieve high efficiency for the entire load range of operations, the variable-frequency peak-current-mode (VFPCM) control is often used in the flyback converter to reduce switching frequency at light load. Since there is no small-signal model being developed for the VFPCM control to overcome the unstable problem in a wide range of operations, the present study proposes a novel, accurate small-signal model for VFPCM control operated in continuous-conduction mode. Control behavior and design are analyzed and compared with constant-frequency peak-current-mode control to give engineers insight. A control IC and a flyback converter are built for the experimental validation of the proposed model. Experimental and simulation results verify the proposed model.
No Impact of Affective Person Knowledge on Visual Awareness: Evidence From Binocular Rivalry and Continuous Flash Suppression

Stimuli with intrinsic emotional value, like emotional faces, and stimuli associated with reward and punishment are often prioritized in visual awareness relative to neutral stimuli. Recently, Anderson, Siegel, Bliss-Moreau, and Barrett (2011) demonstrated that simply associating a face with affective knowledge can also influence visual awareness. Using a binocular rivalry task (BR), where a face was shown to one eye and a house to the other, they found that faces paired with negative versus neutral and positive behaviors dominated visual awareness. We were interested in whether faces associated with negative information would also be capable of reaching awareness more quickly in the first place. To test this, we set out to replicate Anderson and colleagues’ finding and to examine whether it would extend to breaking continuous flash suppression (b-CFS), a technique where a dynamic mask shown to one eye initially suppresses the stimulus shown to the other eye. Participants completed a learning task followed by BR and b-CFS tasks, in counterbalanced order. Across both tasks, faces associated with negative behaviors were treated no differently from faces associated with neutral or positive behaviors. However, faces associated with any type of behavior were prioritized in awareness over novel faces. These findings indicate that while familiarity influences conscious perception, the influence of affective person knowledge on visual awareness is more circumscribed than previously thought.
Dissecting Adam: The Sign, Magnitude and Variance of Stochastic Gradients

The ADAM optimizer is exceedingly popular in the deep learning community. Often it works very well, sometimes it doesn't. Why? We interpret ADAM as a combination of two aspects: for each weight, the update direction is determined by the sign of stochastic gradients, whereas the update magnitude is determined by an estimate of their relative variance. We disentangle these two aspects and analyze them in isolation, gaining insight into the mechanisms underlying ADAM. This analysis also extends recent results on adverse effects of ADAM on generalization, isolating the sign aspect as the problematic one. Transferring the variance adaptation to SGD gives rise to a novel method, completing the practitioner's toolbox for problems where ADAM fails.
Relationship and variation of diabetes related symptoms, sleep disturbance and sleep‐related impairment in adults with type 2 diabetes

AIM The objective of this study was to examine whether diabetes-related symptoms (e.g. fatigue, neuropathic pain, diabetes distress and depressive symptoms) were related to sleep disturbance and sleep-related impairment in adults with type 2 diabetes while controlling for potential covariates. BACKGROUND In people with type 2 diabetes, sleep disturbance and sleep-related impairment are common and likely associated with diabetes-related symptoms. However, limited research has investigated the predictive ability of diabetes-related symptoms on sleep. DESIGN A correlational, cross-sectional design was used. METHODS Data were collected at a large university in the Midwestern United States from September 2013-March 2014. Multiple linear regression analyses were used to examine the relationship of diabetes-related symptoms (fatigue, neuropathic pain, distress and depressive symptoms) to sleep disturbance and sleep-related impairment. The instruments included Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System instruments, Diabetes Symptom Checklist and Diabetes Distress Scale. FINDINGS In this study of adults with type 2 diabetes (N = 90; 52.2% female, mean age 57.4 years), gender, A1C, neuropathic pain and fatigue were significantly related to sleep disturbance when age, diabetes duration, depressive symptoms and distress were controlled. Those variables collectively explained 52% of the variation in sleep disturbance. Fatigue was significantly associated with sleep-related impairment when the same covariates were controlled. CONCLUSION Findings suggested that diabetes-related symptoms, including neuropathic pain and fatigue, are strongly related to sleep disturbance and sleep-related impairment in adults with type 2 diabetes, underscoring the need to include detailed assessments of neuropathic pain and fatigue when evaluating sleep.
Assessing patient reported quality of life outcomes in vulva cancer patients a systematic literature review

Objectives Vulva cancer (VC) treatment carries a high risk of severe late effects that may have a negative impact on Quality of Life (QoL). Patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) are increasingly used when evaluating disease-and treatment-specific effects. However, the adequacy of measures used to assess sequelae and QoL in VC remain unclear. The aim of the present study was to evaluate disease-and treatment-related effects as measured by PROMs in VC patients and to identify available VC-specific PROMs. Methods/Materials A systematic literature search from 1990 to 2016 was performed. The inclusion criterion was report of disease-and treatment-related effects in VC patients using PROMs in the assessment. Methodological and reporting quality was in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) statement. This systematic review was performed as part of Phase one of the development of a European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer QoL questionnaire for VC patients.
The novel involvement of podocyte autophagic activity in the pathogenesis of lupus nephritis.

BACKGROUND Lupus nephritis (LN) is one of the most common and severe complications in Systemic lupus erythematosus patients, and the mechanism underlining the pathogenesis of LN is still unknown. Autophagy plays vital roles in maintaining cell homeostasis and is involved in the pathogenesis of many diseases. In this study, we investigated the role of autophagy in the progression of LN. METHODS Autophagic activities in podocytes of both LN patients (Class IV and V) and mice were evaluated. Podocytes were observed by electron microscopy, and autophagic activity was evaluated by immunofluorescence staining and western blot analysis. Apoptotic activity was evaluated by immunohistochemistry, TUNEL assays and flow cytometric analysis. RESULTS Significantly greater podocyte injury and discrepant autophagic levels were observed in LN patients. Differentiated mouse podocytes in the LN group showed reduced nephrin expression and increased apoptosis, as well as significantly higher levels of apoptosis-related proteins (cleaved caspase-3 and Bax). In the mice LN group, the increased number of autophagosomes was accompanied by increased LC3-II/LC3-I ratios and decreased p62, suggesting increased autophagic and apoptotic activity in podocytes. Blockade of autophagic activity by 3-MA or siRNA-mediated silencing of Atg5 resulted in decreases in LC3-II/LC3-I ratios, podocyte apoptosis and damage in the mice LN group. Futhermore, Rapamycin treatment increased LC3-II/LC3-I ratios, and enhanced LN-induced apoptosis in podocyte from modal animal. CONCLUSIONS This study demonstrates that autophagic activity of podocytes is a crucial factor in renal injury by directly affecting the function of podocyte; thus, inhibiting this activity during the early stages of LN is implicated as a potential therapeutic strategy for delaying the progression of LN. Also, clinical application in LN needs to consider patients' pathological type and drugs' comprehensive effectiveness.
Shen-Kang protects against tacrolimus-induced renal injury

Background/Aims Evidence suggests that Shen-Kang (SK), a traditional Chinese herbal medicine, protects against various types of renal injury. In this study, we evaluated whether SK treatment confers renoprotection in a rat model of chronic tacrolimus (TAC) nephropathy. Methods Rats were treated daily with TAC (1.5mg/kg, subcutaneously) and SK (450 mg/kg, intravenously) for 4 weeks. The effects of SK on TAC-induced renal injury were assessed by measuring renal function, urine albumin excretion, histopathology, inflammatory cell infiltration, expression of profibrotic (transforming growth factor β1 [TGF-β1] and TGF-β inducible gene-h3 [βig-h3]) and proinflammatory cytokines, oxidative stress, and apoptotic cell death. Results Administration of SK preserved glomerular integrity (fractional mesangial area and Wilms tumor 1-positive glomeruli), attenuated tubulointerstitial fibrosis, and reduced the number of ectodermal dysplasia 1-positive cells, and this was paralleled by improved urine albumin excretion and renal dysfunction. At the molecular level, SK treatment suppressed expression of TGF-β1/Smad2/3, βig-h3, and proinflammatory cytokines. Oxidative stress and apoptotic cell death were significantly decreased with SK treatment, and apoptosis-related genes were regulated toward cell survival (active caspase-3 and the B-cell lymphoma-2/Bcl2-associated X [Bcl-2/Bax] ratio). Conclusions SK protects against TAC-induced renal injury.
Reduction of Platelet Transfusion Associated Sepsis by Short‐Term Bacterial Culture

Background and Objectives: There is as yet no suitable routine laboratory test for a blood transfusion service to detect bacterial contamination in platelets. This study evaluates the effectiveness and the applicability of short‐term bacterial culture for such a purpose. Materials and Methods: Samples from 5‐unit platelet pools were inoculated into an aerobic culture bottle, then monitored for 48 h at 35°C in an automated monitoring and detection system. Results: 26,210 whole‐blood‐derived platelet components were tested, of which 14 (0.053%) platelet units were found to be contaminated. In addition, nine of the associated red cell units and 4 fresh‐frozen plasma units grew the same organisms on culture. Conclusion: Short‐duration bacterial culture by an automated system is effective and suitable for routine screening in a regional transfusion center.
Spatial Variability in Patterns of Glacier Change across the Manaslu Range, Central Himalaya

This study assesses changes in glacier area, velocity and geodetic mass balance for the glaciers in the Manaslu region of Nepal, a previously undocumented region of the Himalayas. We studied changes between 1970 (for select glaciers), 2000, 2005 and 2013 using freely available Landsat satellite imagery, the SRTM Digital Elevation Model (DEM) and a DEM based on Worldview imagery. Our results show a complex pattern of mass changes across the region, with glaciers lowering on average by -0.25 ± 0.08 m a-1 between 2000 and 2013 which equates to a negative geodetic mass balance of -0.21 ± 0.16 m w.e. a-1. Over approximately the same time period (1999 to 2013) the glaciers underwent a -16.0% decrease in mean surface velocity over their debris-covered tongues as well as a reduction in glacier area of -8.2%. The rates of glacier change appear to vary between the different time periods, with glacier losses increasing in most cases. The glaciers on Manaslu itself underwent a change in surface elevation of -0.46 ± 0.03 m a-1 between 1970 and 2000 and -0.99 ± 0.08 m a-1 between 2000 and 2013. Rates of glacier area shrinkage for the same glaciers increased from -0.36 km2 a-1 between 1970 and 2001 to -2.28 km2 a-1 between 2005 and 2013. Glacier change varies across the region and seems to relate to a combination of glacier hypsometry, glacier elevation range and the presence and distribution of supraglacial debris. Lower-elevation, debris-free glaciers with bottom-heavy hypsometries are losing most mass. As the glaciers in the Manaslu region continue to stagnate, an accumulation and thickening of the debris-cover is likely, thereby insulating the glacier and further complicating future glacier responses to climate.
Predicting Re-Incarceration Status of Prisoners in Contemporary China: Applying Western Criminological Theories

Studies have revealed that self-control theory, social learning theory, and strain theory are useful in explaining criminal activity in China. Previous research with Chinese data, however, has focused almost exclusively on samples of adolescents and the minor types of offending that are typically captured in such samples. The present study builds upon prior work by considering the extent to which these three major etiological theories of crime can help differentiate between profiles of Chinese prisoners categorized with respect to re-incarceration status. Specifically, we derive hypotheses that predict prisoners’ status as first-time inmates or inmates with multiple incarcerations. These hypotheses are assessed with recently collected data for a sample of approximately 1,800 prisoners in Southern China. The results reveal that indicators of peer criminality, low self-control, and negative emotions (a theorized outcome of experiences of strain) are all positively associated with re-incarceration status.
Copper metallothioneins

Metallothioneins (MTs) are a class of low molecular weight and cysteine‐rich metal binding proteins present in all the branches of the tree of life. MTs efficiently bind with high affinity several essential and toxic divalent and monovalent transition metals by forming characteristic polynuclear metal‐thiolate clusters within their structure. MTs fulfil multiple biological functions related to their metal binding properties, with essential roles in both Zn(II) and Cu(I) homeostasis as well as metal detoxification. Depending on the organism considered, the primary sequence, and the specific physiological and metabolic status, Cu(I)‐bound MT isoforms have been isolated, and their chemistry and biology characterized. Besides the recognized role in the biochemistry of divalent metals, it is becoming evident that unique biological functions in selectively controlling copper levels, its reactivity as well as copper‐mediated biochemical processes have evolved in some members of the MT superfamily. Selected examples are reviewed to highlight the peculiar chemical properties and biological functions of copper MTs. © 2016 IUBMB Life, 69(4):236–245, 2017
An Electrically Small Planar Quasi-Isotropic Antenna

A singly fed, electrically small, planar antenna that generates a quasi-isotropic radiation pattern is investigated. The antenna consists of a folded dipole, a pair of capacitively loaded loops (CLLs), and a coplanar stripline (CPS), which are printed on the top and bottom surfaces of a single-layer printed circuit board. Through near-field coupling with the driven CPS, the folded dipole and CLLs are both effectively excited and behave like an electric dipole and a magnetic dipole, respectively. A quasi-isotropic radiation pattern can therefore be obtained by combining the two orthogonal dipoles with the same radiation intensities and quadrature phases. To verify the idea, a prototype operating at 2.4 GHz is designed, fabricated, and measured. It has been shown that this electrically small antenna (0.165 × 0.164 × 0.006 λ3, ka = 0.73) has a −10 dB impedance bandwidth of 0.99%, a total efficiency of ∼90%, and a nearly isotropic pattern with the difference between the maximum and minimum radiated power densities given by ∼3 dB over the entire spherical radiating surface.