Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Application-Specific Heterogeneous Network-on-Chip Design

As a result of increasing communication demands, application-specific and scalable Network-onChips (NoCs) have emerged to connect processing cores and subsystems in Multiprocessor Systemon-Chips.A challenge in application-specific NoC design is to find the right balance among different tradeoffs, such as communication latency, power consumption and chip area. We propose a novel approach that generates latency-aware heterogeneous NoC topology. Experimental results show that our approach improves the total communication latency up to 27% with modest power consumption.
Lithium-based energy storage management for DC distributed renewable energy system

Making electricity grids “smarter” and facilitating them with integration of renewable energy sources (RES) are fairly accepted as the necessary steps to achieve a sustainable power industry. However, serious concerns over reliability and performance require integration of energy storage as a critical part to buffer energy or provide arbitrage. Lithium-based battery offers high specific power/energy density, and gains popularities in many applications, such as (Plug-in) hybrid electric vehicle ((P)HEV) and renewable energy system. This paper discusses two issues: (a) integrating lithium-based battery into a multi-renewable-energy-source-feeding DC-distributed renewable energy system (DRES); (b) floating charge safety for a high voltage series-connected Li-ion battery pack. Based on the analysis of this two issues, this paper then proposes an integration strategy for lithium-based energy storage management, and the maximum cell voltage VCell_max controlled floating charge profile for long string series connected lithium-ion cells pack. An 8.4kW bi-directional multi-phase dc-dc converter is designed to validate above mentioned concepts
Utilization of Public Health Service Increased Risk Donors Yields Equivalent Outcomes in Liver Transplantation

Background. The PHS increased risk donor (IRD) is underutilized in liver transplantation. We aimed to examine the posttransplant outcomes in recipients of increased-risk organs. Methods. We analyzed 228,040 transplants in the Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network database from 2004 to 2013. Endpoints were graft failure and death. Results were controlled for demographics and comorbidities. Statistical analysis utilized Fisher's test and logistic regression. Results. 58,816 patients were identified (5,534 IRD, 53,282 non-IRD). IRDs were more frequently male (69.2% versus 58.3%, p < 0.001), younger (34 versus 39, p < 0.001), and less likely to have comorbidities (p < 0.001). Waitlist time was longer for IRD graft recipients (254 versus 238 days, p < 0.001). All outcomes were better in the IRD group. Graft failure (23.6 versus 27.3%, p < 0.001) and mortality (20.4 versus 22.3%, p = 0.001) were decreased in IRD graft recipients. However, in multivariate analysis, IRD status was not a significant indicator of outcomes. Conclusion. This is the first study to describe IRD demographics in liver transplantation. Outcomes are improved in IRD organ recipients; however, controlling for donor and recipient comorbidities, ischemia time, and MELD score, the differences lose significance. In multivariate analysis, use of IRD organs is noninferior, with similar graft failure and mortality despite the infectious risk.
Synergy among Nuclear Receptor Coactivators: Selective Requirement for Protein Methyltransferase and Acetyltransferase Activities

ABSTRACT Hormone-activated nuclear receptors (NR) bind to specific regulatory DNA elements associated with their target genes and recruit coactivator proteins to remodel chromatin structure, recruit RNA polymerase, and activate transcription. The p160 coactivators (e.g., SRC-1, GRIP1, and ACTR) bind directly to activated NR and can recruit a variety of secondary coactivators. We have established a transient-transfection assay system under which the activity of various NR is highly or completely dependent on synergistic cooperation among three classes of coactivators: a p160 coactivator, the protein methyltransferase CARM1, and any of the three protein acetyltransferases, p300, CBP, or p/CAF. The three-coactivator functional synergy was only observed when low levels of NR were expressed and was highly or completely dependent on the methyltransferase activity of CARM1 and the acetyltransferase activity of p/CAF, but not the acetyltransferase activity of p300. Other members of the protein arginine methyltransferase family, which methylate different protein substrates than CARM1, could not substitute for CARM1 to act synergistically with p300 or p/CAF. A ternary complex of GRIP1, CARM1, and p300 or CBP was demonstrated in cultured mammalian cells, supporting a physiological role for the observed synergy. The transfection assay described here is a valuable new tool for investigating the mechanism of coactivator function and demonstrates the importance of multiple coactivators, including CARM1 and its specific protein methyltransferase activity, in transcriptional activation.
From Bench to Market: Preparing Human Pluripotent Stem Cells Derived Cardiomyocytes for Various Applications

Human cardiomyocytes (CMs) cease to proliferate and remain terminally differentiated thereafter, when humans reach the mid-20s. Thus, any damages sustained by myocardium tissue are irreversible, and they require medical interventions to regain functionality. To date, new surgical procedures and drugs have been developed, albeit with limited success, to treat various heart diseases including myocardial infarction. Hence, there is a pressing need to develop more effective treatment methods to address the increasing mortality rate of the heart diseases. Functional CMs are not only an important in vitro cellular tool to model various types of heart diseases for drug development, but they are also a promising therapeutic agent for cell therapy. However, the limited proliferative capacity entails difficulties in acquiring functional CMs in the scale that is required for pathological studies and cell therapy development. Stem cells, human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs) in particular, have been considered as an unlimited cellular source for providing functional CMs for various applications. Notable progress has already been made: the first clinical trials of hPSCs derived CMs (hPSC-CMs) for treating myocardial infarction was approved in 2015, and their potential use in disease modeling and drug discovery is being fully explored. This concise review gives an account of current development of differentiation, purification and maturation techniques for hPSC-CMs, and their application in cell therapy development and pharmaceutical industries will be discussed with the latest experimental evidence.
Internal dynamics of the radio halo cluster Abell 773 : a multiwavelength analysis

We present the results of the dynamical analysis of the rich, hot, and X-ray very luminous galaxy cluster A2219, containing a powerful diffuse radio-halo. Our analysis is based on new redshift data for 27 galaxies in the cluster region, measured from spectra obtained at the TNG, with the addition of other 105 galaxies recovered from reduction of CFHT archive data in a cluster region of ∼5 � radius (∼0.8 h −1 Mpc at the cluster distance) centered on the cD galaxy. The investigation of the dynamical status is also performed using X-ray data stored in the Chandra archive. Further, valuable information comes from other bands - optical photometric, infrared, and radio data - which are analyzed and/or discussed, too. We find that A2219 appears as a peak in the velocity space at z = 0.225, and select 113 cluster members. We compute a high value for the line-of- sight velocity dispersion, σv = 1438 +109 −86 km s −1 , consistent with the high average X-ray temperature of 10.3 keV. If dynamical equilibrium is assumed, the virial theorem leads to M ∼ 2.8× 10 15 h −1 Mfor the global mass within the virial region. However, further investigation based on both optical and X-ray data shows significant signs of a young dynamical status. In fact, we find strong evidence for the elongation of the cluster in the SE-NW direction coupled with a significant velocity gradient, as well as for the presence of substructure both in optical data and X-ray data. Moreover, we point out the presence of several active galaxies. We discuss the results of our multi-wavelength investigation suggesting a complex merging scenario where the main, original structure is subject to an ongoing merger with a few clumps aligned in a filament in the foreground oriented in an oblique direction with respect to the line-of-sight. Our conclusion supports the view of the connection between extended radio emission and merging phenomena in galaxy clusters.
Observation of inverse Edelstein effect in Rashba-split 2DEG between SrTiO3 and LaAlO3 at room temperature

Gate-tunable inverse Edelstein effect is observed at room temperature in Rashba-split 2DEG at the complex oxide interface. The Rashba physics has been intensively studied in the field of spin orbitronics for the purpose of searching novel physical properties and the ferromagnetic (FM) magnetization switching for technological applications. We report our observation of the inverse Edelstein effect up to room temperature in the Rashba-split two-dimensional electron gas (2DEG) between two insulating oxides, SrTiO3 and LaAlO3, with the LaAlO3 layer thickness from 3 to 40 unit cells (UC). We further demonstrate that the spin voltage could be markedly manipulated by electric field effect for the 2DEG between SrTiO3 and 3-UC LaAlO3. These results demonstrate that the Rashba-split 2DEG at the complex oxide interface can be used for efficient charge-and-spin conversion at room temperature for the generation and detection of spin current.
BRIP1/FANCJ Mutation Analysis in a Family with History of Male and Female Breast Cancer in India

Male breast cancer (MBC) is a rare and poorly studied disease that is a growing global health problem. Interestingly, both the molecular basis of MBC and its histological profile are often quite distinct from the far more prevalent female breast cancer, emphasizing the need for increased focus on MBC. Here, we present a case report of an MBC patient from India with a strong familial history of breast cancer. This patient was normal for BRCA1/2 and many other common breast cancer-associated genes. However, upon further analysis, the individual was found to possess two mutations in the DNA helicase and tumor suppressor gene BRIP1, including a silent mutation at residue 879 as well as a P919S variant. Other family members were also screened for these mutations. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of BRIP1 mutation in MBC in the Indian population.
The Syntrophin-Dystrobrevin Subcomplex in Human Neuromuscular Disorders

The syntrophins and α-dystrobrevin form a subcomplex with dystrophin at the skeletal muscle membrane, and are also highly concentrated at the neuromuscular synapse. Here we demonstrate that the different syntrophins and α-dystrobrevin isoforms have distinct expression patterns during human skeletal muscle development, and are differentially affected by loss of dystrophin anchorage and denervation in human neuromuscular disease. During normal fetal development, and in Duchenne muscular dystrophy and denervation disorders, α1-syntrophin and α-dystrobrevin are absent or markedly reduced at the sarcolemmal membrane. β1-Syntrophin is the predominant syntrophin isoform expressed at the muscle membrane during development, and it undergoes upregulation in response to loss of α1-syntrophin in Duchenne muscular dystrophy and in denervation. Upregulation of β1-syntrophin in neuromuscular disorders is associated with re-expression of the fetal nicotinic acetylcholine receptor γ-subunit, cardiac actin, and neonatal myosin, suggesting reversion of muscle fibers to an immature phenotype. We show that denervation specifically affects expression of the syntrophin-dystrobrevin subcomplex and does not affect levels or localization of other members of the dystrophin-associated protein complex. Our results confirm that dystrophin is required for anchorage of the syntrophin-dystrobrevin subcomplex and suggest that expression of the syntrophin-dystrobrevin complex may be independently regulated through neuromuscular transmission.
High-resolution Imaging Performance

The sharp and stable point spread function of HST and WFC3 allows for the detection of stellar companions at small offsets from target stars. Deep images obtained through six UVIS filters are used to assess this ability to detect faint companions of brighter targets. Analogous capabilities from the ground make use of Adaptive Optics and Speckle imaging. We contrast the capabilities of HST/WFC3 with several existing AO systems for imaging of V ∼12 stars for which detection of faint companions as close as possible is desired, and to a delta-magnitude of ∼10. The observations under comparison are motivated by high-resolution imaging applications for the Kepler Mission to constrain the existence of fainter background stars which, if eclipsing binaries, could mimic transits. The HST/WFC3 observations are found to be superior in the comparisons made to Keck, MMT and Palomar AO and WIYN Speckle systems in terms of delta-magnitude limits outside of about 0.3 arcseconds. In a metric of fraction of phase space that can be probed for delta-magnitude to 10 companions out to 2 arcsecs the UVIS imaging out performs all other approaches by a factor ∼> 5.
Overexpression of the Heterochromatinization Factor BAHD1 in HEK293 Cells Differentially Reshapes the DNA Methylome on Autosomes and X Chromosome

BAH domain-containing protein 1 (BAHD1) is involved in heterochromatin formation and gene repression in human cells. BAHD1 also localizes to the inactive X chromosome (Xi), but the functional significance of this targeting is unknown. So far, research on this protein has been hampered by its low endogenous abundance and its role in epigenetic regulation remains poorly explored. In this work, we used whole-genome bisulfite sequencing (BS-seq) to compare the DNA methylation profile of HEK293 cells expressing low levels of BAHD1 (HEK-CT) to that of isogenic cells stably overexpressing BAHD1 (HEK-BAHD1). We show that increasing BAHD1 levels induces de novo DNA methylation on autosomes and a marked hypomethylation on the X chromosome (chrX). We identified 91,358 regions that have different methylation patterns in HEK-BAHD1 compared to HEK-CT cells (termed “BAHD1-DMRs”), of which 83,850 mapped on autosomes and 7508 on the X chromosome (chrX). Autosomal BAHD1-DMRs were predominantly hypermethylated and located to satellites, interspersed repeats, and intergenic regions. In contrast, BAHD1-DMRs on chrX were mainly hypomethylated and located to gene bodies and enhancers. We further found that BAHD1-DMRs display a higher-order organization by being clustered within large chromosomal domains. Half of these “BAHD1-Associated differentially methylated Domains” (BADs) overlapped with lamina-associated domains (LADs). Based on these results, we propose that BAHD1-mediated heterochromatin formation is linked to DNA methylation and may play a role in the spatial architecture of the genome.
Is Antiretroviral Therapy Causing Long-Term Liver Damage? A Comparative Analysis of HIV-Mono-Infected and HIV/Hepatitis C Co-Infected Cohorts

The effects of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) on progression of hepatic fibrosis in HIV-hepatitis C virus (HCV) co-infection are not well understood. Deaths from liver diseases have risen in the post-HAART era, yet some cross-sectional studies have suggested that HAART use is associated with improved fibrosis rates. In a retrospective cohort of 533 HIV mono-infected and 127 HIV/HCV co-infected patients, followed between January 1991 and July 2005 at a university-based HIV clinic, we investigated the relationship between cumulative HAART exposure and hepatic fibrosis, as measured by the aspartate aminotransferase-to-platelet ratio index (APRI). We used a novel methodological approach to estimate the dose-response relationship of the effect of HAART exposure on APRI. HAART was associated with increasing APRI over time in HIV/HCV co-infected patients suggesting that they may be experiencing cumulative hepatotoxicity from antiretrovirals. The estimated median change (95% confidence interval) in APRI per one year of HAART intake was of −0.46% (−1.61% to 0.71%) in HIV mono-infected compared to 2.54% (−1.77% to 7.03%) in HIV/HCV co-infected patients. Similar results were found when the direct effect of HAART intake since the last visit was estimated on the change in APRI. HAART use associated is with increased APRI in patients with HIV/HCV co-infection. Therefore treatment for HCV infection may be required to slow the growing epidemic of end-stage liver disease in this population.
Paleomagnetism of the Mt. Stuart Batholith Revisited Again: What Has Been Learned Since 1972?

We have collected 20 new paleomagnetic sites from the Mount Stuart batholith and the adjacent Beckler Peak stock. Using thermal and low-temperature demagnetization, and rock-magnetic tests, we have found that the remanence in most of the batholith is carried by single-domain magnetite. The mean of the new Mount Stuart batholith sites is D = 354.2°, I = 46.2°, k = 87.2, a95 = 4.6°, N = 11, and is similar to those of the Beck and Noson (1972) and Beck and others (1981) studies. Examination of Ar geochronology of hornblende and biotite from the Mount Stuart batholith finds that the southern part of the batholith cooled through the blocking temperature of magnetite at 91 Ma. The northern part cooled through the blocking temperature of magnetite at 86 Ma, and of pyrrhotite at 83 Ma. From these combined results, we conclude that the paleomagnetic directions from the southern part of the batholith were acquired within 0.5 to 1.0 Ma of the time at which the AH barometers cooled below their closure temperature. Use of the AH barometry to establish paleohorizontal for these rocks is thus well justified. Correcting the Mount Stuart direction for the tilt indicated by the Aluminum-in-hornblende (AH) barometry, the mean becomes D = 355.9°, I = 50.6°. This result places the Mount Stuart batholith at a latitude of 31.3° + 3 . 8 \ / - 3 . 4 \ N at 91 Ma. By identifying the carrier of remanence in the Mount Stuart batholith as being single domain (SD) magnetite, we have removed the major remaining uncertainty in interpreting the paleomagnetism of these rocks. The characteristic magnetization repeatedly found in the Mount Stuart rocks clearly supports the microplate tectonic model of Beck and Noson (1972), presently manifest as the Baja British Columbia (Baja-BC) hypothesis.
Cluster magnetic fields from galactic outflows

We performed cosmological, magnetohydrodynamical simulations to follow the evolution of magnetic fields in galaxy clusters, exploring the possibility that the origin of the magnetic seed fields is galactic outflows during the starburst phase of galactic evolution. To do this, we coupled a semi-analytical model for magnetized galactic winds as suggested by Bertone, Vogt & Enslin to our cosmological simulation. We find that the strength and structure of magnetic fields observed in galaxy clusters are well reproduced for a wide range of model parameters for the magnetized, galactic winds and do only weakly depend on the exact magnetic structure within the assumed galactic outflows. Although the evolution of a primordial magnetic seed field shows no significant differences to that of galaxy cluster fields from previous studies, we find that the magnetic field pollution in the diffuse medium within filaments is below the level predicted by scenarios with pure primordial magnetic seed field. We therefore conclude that magnetized galactic outflows and their subsequent evolution within the intracluster medium can fully account for the observed magnetic fields in galaxy clusters. Our findings also suggest that measuring cosmological magnetic fields in low-density environments such as filaments is much more useful than observing cluster magnetic fields to infer their possible origin.
Evaluating the Efficacy of Treatment of Resistant Port‐Wine Stains With Variable‐Pulse 595‐nm Pulsed Dye and 532‐nm Nd:YAG Lasers

BACKGROUND Some port wine stains (PWSs), despite multiple treatments with the 585-nm 0.45-ms pulsed dye laser (PDL), fail to improve substantially. OBJECTIVE To determine the efficacy and tolerability of variable pulse width 595-nm PDL and 532-nm Nd:YAG laser in the treatment of resistant PWS. METHODS Twenty-two patients whose PWS failed to achieve more than 75% lightening after more than 15 treatments with the 585-nm 0.45-ms PDL were recruited. A homogenous patch of PWS was divided into five areas. Area 1 (control area) was treated with 585-nm, 0.45-ms PDL (fluence 7.5 J/cm2). Areas 2 and 3 were treated with 595-nm PDL at fluence 15 J/cm2 (with cryogen spray cooling) and pulse durations of 1.5 and 10 ms, respectively. Areas 4 and 5 were treated with a 532-nm Nd:YAG laser at 2 ms, 7 J/cm2 and 10 ms, 16 J/cm2, respectively (with a contact cooling tip). The response was assessed by photographic evaluation. RESULTS Three patients had further lightening in area 2, and two patients had further lightening in area 3. Each of three patients had further lightening in areas 4 and 5, respectively. One patient had further lightening in the control area. CONCLUSION In individual patients, it may be effective to treat resistant PWS with the variable-pulse width 595-nm PDL and the 532-nm Nd:YAG laser.
SLA-driven Service Marketplace Monitoring with Grand SLAM

Today, the number of functional equivalent web services increases rapidly. Service search engines and marketplaces are opening up to guide users to their preferred service providers. The question of what is the best service for the user’s demand cannot be answered sufficiently. While semantic matchmaking techniques attempt to solve this question mainly for functional aspects, it is also important to know non-functional properties of a service like its availability and response time as well as the provider’s level of fulfilment of contractual obligations regarding these properties. To realise the automated monitoring of services and contracts on service marketplaces, we introduce a standalone and easily integratable software component which is able to monitor non-functional properties and the adherence to negotiated contracts.
Dielectric relaxations in phosphoric acid‐doped poly(2,5‐benzimidazole) and its composite membranes

Poly(2,5-benzimidazole) (ABPBI)—a promising high-temperature polymer electrolyte membrane—is characterized over a wide range of temperature (−50 to 220 °C) using broadband dielectric spectroscopy (BDS) to understand the various relaxation processes. The undoped ABPBI membrane shows two major secondary relaxations and a primary α relaxation. The effect of phosphoric acid (PA) and phosphotungstic acid grafted zirconium dioxide (PWA/ZrO2) nanoparticles on the chain relaxation and the proton conductivity is investigated. The phosphoric acid alters the relaxation trends, increases the number of free ions in the polymer matrix, and therefore the conductivity. The shift in the peak frequencies of different chain relaxation processes in the presence of PA and PWA/ZrO2 is attributed to the increase in free volume and the consequent easy motion of the polymer chains. The Fourier transform infra-red (FTIR) spectroscopy of ABPBI and the acid-doped composites show all the relevant peaks corresponding to CC, CN stretching, and phosphoric acid/phosphates, confirming the formation of ABPBI and doping with PA. The proton conductivity of the membranes is estimated from electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). To establish the effect of change in crystallinity on relaxations and proton conductivity, the undoped and PA-doped membranes are characterized using thermogravimetric analysis and in situ XRD at high temperatures. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2017, 134, 44867.