Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A self-trimming 14-b 100-MS/s CMOS DAC

A 14-b 100-MS/s CMOS digital-analog converter (DAC) designed for high static and dynamic linearity is presented. The DAC is based on a central core of 15 thermometer decoded MSBs, 31 thermometer decoded upper LSBs (ULSBs) and 31 binary decoded lower LSBs (LLSBs). The static linearity corresponding to the 14-b specification is obtained by means of a true background self-trimming circuit which does not use additional current sources to replace the current source being measured during self-trimming. The dynamic linearity of the DAC is enhanced by a special track/attenuate output stage at the DAC output which tracks the DAC current outputs when they have settled but attenuates them for a half-clock cycle after the switching instant. The DAC occupies 3.44 mm/spl times/3.44 mm in a 0.35-/spl mu/m CMOS process, and is functional at up to 200 MS/s, with best dynamic performance obtained at 100 MS/s. At 100 MS/s, power consumption is 180 mW from a 3.3-V power supply, and 210 mW at 200 MS/s.
Influence of Long Chain Free Fatty Acids on the Thermal Resistance Reduction of Bacterial Spores

Aims: The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of free fatty acid length chain and unsaturated bond number on the heat resistance and recovery media of bacterial spores. Methods and results: For 6 species, bacterial spore heat resistances were estimated at different free fatty acid concentrations added to heating media or in recovery media. The addition of free fatty acids to heating media has a slight influence on the heat resistance of bacterial spores whatever the species or type of acid studied. On the contrary, the addition of free fatty acids to the recovery medium after the heat treatment greatly reduces the ability to bacterial spores to recover and form colonies. This effect varies depending on chain length, unsaturated bond number of fatty acid and on the bacterial strain studied. Conclusion: The presence of free acids in the recovery media is an additive stress which decreases the capability of injured spores to germinate and grow thereafter. Significance and impact of this study: The impact of free fatty acids presented in this study can be taken into account to reduce the thermal intensity of food sterilization in relation to their availability in food matrix.
Cytotoxicity and antimicrobial activity of goniothalamin isolated from Bryonopsis laciniosa

The cytotoxicity and antimicrobial activity of goniothalamin isolated from Bryonopsis laciniosa was investigated. Goniothalamin showed potent cytotoxicity with LC50 values (5.03 µg/mL) comparable with the reference standard agent, gallic acid. It also showed weak antibacterial and signiﬁcant antifungal activity against a wide range of gram positive and gram negative bacteria and fungi. The antibacterial (minimum inhibitory concentration) effect against Bacillus cereus and Shigella shiga was found to be 64 µg/mL. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Dynamic community detection method based on an improved evolutionary matrix

Most of networks in real world obviously present dynamic characteristics over time, and the community structure of adjacent snapshots has a certain degree of instability and temporal smoothing. Traditional Temporal Trade‐off algorithms consider that communities found at time t depend both on past evolutions. Because this kind of algorithms are based on the hypothesis of short‐term smoothness, they can barely find abnormal evolution and group emergence in time. In this paper, a Dynamic Community Detection method based on an improved Evolutionary Matrix (DCDEM) is proposed, and the improved evolutionary matrix combines the community structure detected at the previous time with current network structure to track the evolution. Firstly, the evolutionary matrix transforms original unweighted network into weighted network by incorporating community structure detected at the previous time with current network topology. Secondly, the Overlapping Community Detection based on Edge Density Clustering with New edge Similarity (OCDEDC_NS) algorithm is applied to the evolutionary matrix in order to get edge communities. Thirdly, some small communities are merged to optimize the community structure. Finally, the edge communities are restored to the node overlapping communities. Experiments on both synthetic and real‐world networks demonstrate that the proposed algorithm can detect evolutionary community structure in dynamic networks effectively.
Heart failure in elderly patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

We read with great interest the article by Rutten et al . 1 who report a significant association between the presence of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and unrecognized heart failure in elderly patients. Approximately, 50% of heart failure patients in their study had isolated diastolic heart failure. The authors suggested that the association between the two disorders …
Adaptive allocation of stress‐induced deformities on bird feathers

Physiological stress during ontogeny is known to cause abnormalities in keratin structures of vertebrates, but little is known about if and how organisms have evolved mechanisms to reduce the negative effects of these abnormalities. Stress experienced during avian feather growth is known to lead to the formation of fault bars, and thereby to the weakening of feathers because of shortage and slimming of barbules. Here we propose and test a new hypothesis (the ‘fault bar allocation hypothesis’) according to which birds should have evolved adaptive strategies to counteract this evolutionary pressure. In particular, we predicted and tested the idea that in flying birds, natural selection should have selected for mechanisms to reduce fault bar load on feathers with high strength requirements during flight. Data on the growth of feathers of nestling white storks (Ciconia ciconia) revealed a consistent allocation of more, and more intense, fault bars in innermost than in outermost wing feathers as predicted by our hypothesis. Moreover, the same pattern emerged from feathers of adult storks. We discuss the generality of our results, and suggest avenues for further investigations in this area.
Proteomics Analysis of Cardiac Extracellular Matrix Remodeling in a Porcine Model of Ischemia/Reperfusion Injury

Background— After myocardial ischemia, extracellular matrix (ECM) deposition occurs at the site of the focal injury and at the border region. Methods and Results— We have applied a novel proteomic method for the analysis of ECM in cardiovascular tissues to a porcine model of ischemia/reperfusion injury. ECM proteins were sequentially extracted and identified by liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry. For the first time, ECM proteins such as cartilage intermediate layer protein 1, matrilin-4, extracellular adipocyte enhancer binding protein 1, collagen &agr;-1(XIV), and several members of the small leucine-rich proteoglycan family, including asporin and prolargin, were shown to contribute to cardiac remodeling. A comparison in 2 distinct cardiac regions (the focal injury in the left ventricle and the border region close to the occluded coronary artery) revealed a discordant regulation of protein and mRNA levels; although gene expression for selected ECM proteins was similar in both regions, the corresponding protein levels were much higher in the focal lesion. Further analysis based on >100 ECM proteins delineated a signature of early- and late-stage cardiac remodeling with transforming growth factor-&bgr;1 signaling at the center of the interaction network. Finally, novel cardiac ECM proteins identified by proteomics were validated in human left ventricular tissue acquired from ischemic cardiomyopathy patients at cardiac transplantation. Conclusion— Our findings reveal a biosignature of early- and late-stage ECM remodeling after myocardial ischemia/reperfusion injury, which may have clinical utility as a prognostic marker and modifiable target for drug discovery.
“Saying Thus or to the Same Defect”: A Linguistic Analysis of Shakespeare’s Malapropisms

ABSTRACT This paper offers a closer look at malapropisms from a linguistic point of view. With a focus on processing cues it provides a corpus-based formal analysis of the structural and semantic properties of word-play involving the distortion or confusion of words. It also contains an account of how differences concerning the diachronic development of lexemes can help to differentiate between the malapropism proper on the one hand and similar phenomena on the other. With respect to linguistic and literary theory, the aim of this paper is to provide evidence-based arguments for a clear delimitation of the malapropism proper by highlighting the mechanisms and regularities Shakespeare employed so skilfully in order to evoke the impression of random confusion of learned words by not-so-learned characters.
Acute myeloid leukemia patient with FLT3-ITD and NPM1 double mutation should undergo allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation in CR1 for better prognosis

Background: According to the recent National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) guidelines, the risk level in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) patients with FLT3-ITD and NPM1 double mutation (AMLFLT3-ITD+/NPM1+) depends on the allelic ratio of FLT3-ITD. But despite a low or high allelic ratio of FLT3-ITD, AMLFLT3-ITD+/NPM1+ patients belong to the favorable or intermediate risk, for whom allogeneic stem cell transplantation is not obligated. However, some latest studies pointing out that NPM1 and FLT3-ITD double mutation patients showed an inferior prognosis, which have raised concern about the risk categorization and more effective treatment of AMLFLT3-ITD+/NPM1+ patients. Methods: A total of 76 patients were selected for coexisting FLT3 and NPM1 mutations with normal cytogenetics. The prognostic risk factors were analyzed, and treatment strategies including allogeneic stem cell transplantati1on and chemotherapy were compared. Results: In 76 AMLFLT3-ITD+/NPM1+ patients, 36.8% of patients had hyperleukocytosis (HL) and DNMT3A R882 mutation was the most common concomitant gene (23.7%). For 53 patients in the complete remission (CR), 22 had received allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT) on first complete remission (CR1). Patients in transplantation group had better overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) than chemotherapy only (P=0.002 and 0.001, respectively). In multivariable Cox model analyses, HL and DNMT3A R882 mutation were independent adverse prognostic factors (all P<0.05) for AMLFLT3-ITD+/NPM1+ patients. Nevertheless, allo-HSCT was an independent good factor of OS and DFS (P=0.001 and 0.000; HR =0.173 and 0.138; 95% CI were 0.062–0.483 and 0.049–0.389). And allo-HSCT could moderately improve the poor prognosis of AML FLT3-ITD+/NPM1+/DNMT3A R882+. Conclusion: Although, AMLFLT3-ITD+/NPM1+ patients are categorized as favorable or intermediate risk levels according to recent NCCN and ELN guidelines, these patients should receive allo-HSCT in CR1 for a longer survival. AMLFLT3-ITD+/NPM1+ patients with DNMT3A R882 mutation had a very poor prognosis, and allo-HSCT could moderately improve their survival.
Binarizing Document Images Acquired with Portable Cameras

Although made for "family photos" portable digital cameras, either in standalone models or embedded in cell phones, are often used to take photos of documents today. In general, such photos are sent via networks and either visualized in desktops, printed, or even transcribed via OCR. Binarization may play an important role in such a scheme. This paper follows the idea that "no binarization algorithm is good for all kinds of images". Non-uniform illumination, the possible interference of light sources from the environment, and non-uniform resolution are some of the problems found in photographed document images that are not present in their scanned counterparts. This paper presents a new methodology to assess binarization algorithms in different devices, taking into account the difficulties listed and the particularities of the cameras and documents.
Growth of very low birth weight infants after increased amino acid and protein administration

Abstract Aim: To assess the impact of a high enteral protein nutrition strategy in human milk-fed very low birth weight (VLBW) infants (<1500 g) on growth during the first 5 weeks of life. Design: Weight, length and head circumference of VLBW infants were recorded after introduction of a high protein strategy. Results: Forty-three infants (median/interquartile range) of gestational age 27+6 weeks (26+0/29+6), birth weight 984 g (675/1130) were included. Parenteral nutrition was administered for 16 (14/18) days and the nutritional intakes achieved target values 4.3 g/kg/day protein (4.0/4.4); 128 kcal/kg/day energy (119/131). Human milk was fortified with 0.5–2.3 g/kg/day protein powder in addition to a fortifier. Near-intrauterine growth was observed: Weight gain from days 8–35: 17.6 g/kg/day (14.9/20.5); head growth from day 1–35: 0.70 cm/week (0.50/0.80); length growth from day 1–35: 1.0 cm/week (0.8/1.2). The total protein intake was shown to have a significant impact on infant’s weight gain up to the 35th day of life. Conclusion: High protein nutrition enables similar to fetal growth weight gain and head growth of VLBW infants during the first 5 weeks of life. These data support recently published ESPGHAN recommendations.
The steady thermodynamics of a flash-binary geothermal power system based on correction models validated by static tests

The operation parameters and performance of a flash-binary power system are analyzed based on four scenarios of the experiment, optimum design, error correction Model 1 and error correction Model 2. The operation parameters of a flash-binary power system are tested to explain steady in the experiment with heat source temperature ranges from 100-150? C. The results show that the simulation data of error correction Model 2 have a good agreement with the experiment and most parameter values of relative error, ? , are less than 5%. The expander with low isotropic efficiency results in the largest exergy losses in the flash-binary power system. The flash-binary power system has better performance to adapt to the mid-high temperature geothermal resource in China. Some valuable data obtained from the research can be applied in the future power plant construction in China? s southern Tibet, western Yunnan and Sichuan.
An automatic acquisition of domain knowledge from list-structrued text in Baidu encyclopedia

We propose a novel method which can automatically extract new concepts and semantic relations between concepts, in order to support the domain ontology evolvement. We collect the corpus from a free Chinese encyclopedia called Baidu encyclopedia, which is similar to Wikipedia. We locate lists from the Baidu encyclopedia, and extract domain knowledge from the lists. Further more, we use a knowledge assessor to ensure the validity of extracted knowledge. In the experiments, we make a practical attempt to evolve the Chinese Law Ontology (CLO V0), and show that our method can improve the completeness and coverage of CLO V0.
Matched Meyer neural wavelets for clinical and experimental analysis of auditory and visual evoked potentials

The wavelet transform provides a time-scale analysis that permits flexible pattern recognition, component identification, and detection of transients for time-varying neural signals such as the EEG, event-related potentials, neuromagnetic signals, and other neural signals and images. Many future applications to neural signals will benefit from choosing a mother wavelet that mimics neural waveform features. We use a recently developed algorithm to design physiologically realistic orthonormal Meyer wavelets, including 1) a wavelet that matches the prominent IV-V complex of the auditory brainstem evoked response used widely for clinical evaluation of hearing loss, and 2) a wavelet that matches ERPs containing prominent P300 components from control and alcoholic subjects. We also compare the relative naturalness of dyadic decompositions that use matched Meyer wavelets, the Haar wavelet, and Daubechies D4 wavelet. Designer neural wavelets have broad potential to customize and improve neurometric imaging and clinical neurodiagnosis of sensory and cognitive dysfunction.
IL-15 and IL-15 Receptor Selectively Regulate Differentiation of Common Mucosal Immune System-Independent B-1 Cells for IgA Responses1

We show in this report a new regulatory role for IL-15 and IL-15R in the development of B-1 cells and their differentiation into IgA-producing cells. Mucosal IgA levels were found to be inhibited by anti-IL-15 mAb treatment in vivo, but enhanced by administration of rIL-15, while serum IgA levels remained unaffected. Mucosal B-1 cells preferentially proliferated in response to IL-15 in vitro. When mucosal B-1 and B-2 cells were separated into surface (s)IgM+sIgA− and sIgM−sIgA+ fractions, IL-15R-specific mRNA was found to be predominant in both sIgM+sIgA− and sIgM−sIgA+ B-1 cells at a much higher level than B-2 cells. Further, incubation of these different subsets of B-1 and B-2 cells with IL-15 resulted in greater enhancement of the corresponding receptor expression by B-1 subset when compared with B-2 fraction. Interestingly, de novo isolated sIgM+sIgA− B-1, but not sIgM+sIgA− B-2, cells were already class-switched cells because the germline Cα transcript was detected and was then further enhanced by IL-15. IL-15 also supported differentiation of both sIgM+sIgA− and sIgM−sIgA+ B-1 cells into IgA-producing cells. Taken together, these findings suggest that IL-15 is a critically important cytokine for the differentiation of both sIgM+,IgA− and sIgM−sIgA+ B-1 cells expressing IL-15R into IgA-producing cells in mucosal tissues.
New Metrics for Node Importance Evaluation in Occupational Injury Network

Complex networks provide a convenient way to model the process of occupational injury occurrence at the system level, and node importance metrics are usually employed to quantify the influence of the factors leading to injuries. However, the traditional metrics such as degree and betweenness are based on the supposition that the network is a homogeneous one and the types of its nodes have to be the same. To describe the injury occurrence, there should be at least two types of nodes, i.e., source nodes and injury nodes. Since this network is heterogeneous in nature, traditional metrics for node importance evaluation are no longer applicable. Hence, we propose two metrics: radial degree and partial betweenness, to quantify the contribution of the source nodes. The former is to describe their induction capabilities, while the latter to depict their control capabilities. The composite score of these two metrics is utilized to evaluate the node importance. The empirical analysis on a total of 438 fatal accident reports in Beijing from 2004 to 2018 showed that our method notably outperformed several state-of-art metrics in evaluating and identifying the crucial nodes.
Convolutional self-doubly orthogonal codes and their iterative threshold decoding

An extension of convolutional self-orthogonal codes called convolutional self-doubly orthogonal codes which are decoded using an iterative threshold decoding algorithm with no interleaver is presented. These new codes allow good error performance in addition to providing attractive trade-off between complexity and latency. Some code searching results yielding new codes are provided together with their error performance evaluation. Puncturing techniques for systematic convolutional codes that allows us to obtain high-rate R = b/(b + 1) punctured convolutional self-doubly orthogonal codes in the wide sense are also investigated. Some punctured convolutional self-doubly orthogonal codes are presented and their bit error probabilities are evaluated using computer simulations.
Lithic manufacture at Medogwe, southwest of Aksum, Tigray, Ethiopia

ABSTRACT Recent research at the site of Medogwe, located in the valley of the Nigus-Haselo River, Tigray, Ethiopia, has revealed a sequence of development in stone tool production and use spanning the late Pre-Aksumite to Middle Aksumite periods. It has provided evidence of standardised, mass lithic manufacture during the Early Aksumite phase. This paper outlines the results of an abundant corpus of surface collected and excavated lithics from which it has been possible to infer economic deductions and relationships with contemporary lithic industries coming from the Aksum conurbation. They attest to a widespread use of flaked stone and the sharing of the same knapping techniques among Early Aksumite people in the Aksum region.
Statistical Analysis of Wind Power Forecast Error

Wind power forecast error usually has been assumed to have a near Gaussian distribution. With a simple statistical analysis, it can be shown that this is not valid. To obtain a more appropriate probability density function (pdf) of the wind power forecast error, an indirect algorithm based on the Beta pdf is proposed. Measured one-year time series from two different wind farms are used to generate the forecast data. Three different forecast scenarios are simulated based on the persistence approach. This makes the results comparable to other forecast methods. It is found that the forecast error pdf has a variable kurtosis ranging from 3 (like the Gaussian) to over 10, and therefore it can be categorized as fat-tailed. A new approximation function for the parameters of the Beta pdf is proposed because results from former publications could not be confirmed. Besides, a linear approximation is developed to describe the relationship between the persistence forecast and the related mean measured power. An energy storage system (ESS), which reduces the forecast error and smooths the wind power output, is considered. Results for this case show the usefulness of the proposed forecast error pdf for finding the optimum rated ESS power.
GIVING BIRTH IN THE HOSPITAL: CHILDBIRTH EXPERIENCES OF THAI WOMEN IN NORTHERN THAILAND

In this article, I examine how Thai women perceive and experience childbirth in hospitals. The article is based on in-depth interviews with 30 women living in Chiang Mai, Thailand. The women's narratives reveal that childbirth was managed within the medical system. The women believed that safety was the primary reason for their choice of birth in the hospital. Women's embodied experiences with hospital birth reveal the “passivity” discourse; women accord total trust to their doctors and very rarely question the many routine procedures in hospitals. It seems that in northern Thai hospitals the involvement of women's partners or their significant others is kept to a minimum. Of interest among postpartum care provided in Thai hospitals in the north is the use of a spotlight to help heal the episiotomy wound. This is an adaptation of Thai traditional confinement practices in the era of modernity. The use of a spotlight in hospital not only provides the women with symbolic ritual but also is believed to assist them in the healing process. Women in general were satisfied with postpartum care received during their hospital stay, except for rooming-in practice. The data suggest some differences between rural poor and urban middle-class women in terms of hospitals of birth, the opportunity to have a family member at birth, and so on. It is clear that middle-class educated women are able to exercise their choices and control over their childbirth experiences much more than rural poor women. I argue that care provided to women during birth needs to take into account women's emotional and subjective experience so that sensitive birthing care can be achieved. This will only make childbirth of many women a more positive one.