Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A low power, programmable bias inverter quantizer (BIQ) flash ADC

In this paper, a low power, programmable bias inverter quantizer (BIQ) flash ADC for communication and biopotential signal processing applications is presented. The comparator of the proposed BIQ flash ADC is designed by using the digital inverter with cascode PMOS and NMOS bias transistors in the top and bottom. The voltage range of the bias transistors will control different switching threshold values of the inverter. The BIQ flash ADC increases the operating frequency due to reduced input gate load capacitance, while the area and power consumption of BIQ ADC are reduced due to smaller device dimensions compared to conventional comparator based flash ADC and inverter based ADCs. The BIQ ADC is programmable for 5-bit, 6-bit, 7-bit and 8-bit resolutions by using control bits which scales the power consumption based upon ADC operation. The BIQ flash ADC results are compared with conventional comparator based flash ADC and inverter based ADC for different resolutions. The proposed ADC is designed in 90nm standard CMOS process which occupies a core area of 0.0676 mm2. The performance parameters of the BIQ flash ADC design are found to be, differential non-linearity (DNL) of ±0.30 LSB, integral non-linearity of ±0.51 LSB, signal-to-noise-and-distortion ratio (SNDR) of 46.18 dB, effective number of bits (ENOB) of 7.38 at 1.0 V supply voltage. The power consumption of this ADC at DC/lower input frequencies is 220 nW and at higher input frequencies upto 2 GHz it is 18.5 mW.
Demographic characteristics and normative observations for derived-trail making test indices.

OBJECTIVE The Trail Making Test (TMT) is a psychomotor task that is used routinely in clinical evaluations and consists of two parts: TMT-A and TMT-B. The purpose of the present study was to examine the relations of two derived-TMT indices with age, education, and gender and to establish normative data. BACKGROUND Prior research has suggested that these derived indices provide purer measures of the executive skills required to complete TMT-B. It has also been suggested that these scores can be effectively used to detect cognitive impairment, and that they are relatively free from the impact of age. METHOD Difference scores (B minus sign A) and ratio scores (B:A) were computed from the TMT performance of 285 adults who have no history of substance abuse or psychiatric or neurologic disorder and who are not currently being treated with any type of psychotropic medication. RESULTS Subjects ranged in age from 18 to 90 years and in education level from 6 to 20 years. For the entire sample, (B minus sign A) scores ranged from 6 to 248 seconds (M, 62.15; SD, 49.44), and (B:A) scores ranged from 1.23 to 9.54 (M, 2.81; SD, 1.13). Significant correlations were noted with age and (B minus sign A) and (B:A) scores, accounting for 28% and 6% of the variance, respectively. Subjects were assigned to one of eight age groups, which were formed by decade. Univariate analyses of variance were significant for (B minus sign A) (p < 0.0001) and (B:A) (p < 0.0004) scores. Post hoc analyses indicated that the two oldest age groups had significantly larger (B minus sign A) scores than the younger age groups. However, post hoc analyses with (B:A) scores indicated that only the 70-79-year-old age group significantly differed from the three youngest age groups. No other age groups significantly differed from another on this measure. CONCLUSIONS Normative data are presented for clinical use, and recommendations are made for future research. In addition, the current results suggest that normal aging has a significant impact on cognitive flexibility and indicate that previous suggestions for impairment cut-off scores based on the (B:A) ratio may result in erroneous classification of healthy older adults.
Chinese Ph.D. students on exchange in European Union countries: experiences and benefits

ABSTRACT In the past decade, thousands of Chinese doctoral students received funding from the China Scholarship Council (CSC) to start a 1–2-year exchange study in European universities. Do these Chinese doctoral students significantly improve their academic skills and publications through such an overseas experience? What are the influencing factors for them to receive such benefits? Through a large-scale investigation, we confirmed the expectation that Chinese doctoral students did indeed receive benefits from these study abroad experiences in Europe, and identified several critical factors such as advisor and institution ranking for them to receive such benefits. These results confirmed our expectation that the advisor is the most important factor contributing to a successful abroad studying experience; such a conclusion is of important policy implications that CSC shall pay more attention to exchange Ph.D. students’ collaborative supervisor and his/her research team.
Transgenic tools to characterize neuronal properties of discrete populations of zebrafish neurons

The developing nervous system consists of a variety of cell types. Transgenic animals expressing reporter genes in specific classes of neuronal cells are powerful tools for the study of neuronal network formation. We generated a wide variety of transgenic zebrafish that expressed reporter genes in specific classes of neurons or neuronal progenitors. These include lines in which neurons of specific neurotransmitter phenotypes expressed fluorescent proteins or Gal4, and lines in which specific subsets of the dorsal progenitor domain in the spinal cord expressed fluorescent proteins. Using these, we examined domain organization in the developing dorsal spinal cord, and found that there are six progenitor domains in zebrafish, which is similar to the domain organization in mice. We also systematically characterized neurotransmitter properties of the neurons that are produced from each domain. Given that reporter gene expressions occurs in a wide area of the nervous system in the lines generated, these transgenic fish should serve as powerful tools for the investigation of not only the neurons in the dorsal spinal cord but also neuronal structures and functions in many other regions of the nervous system.
Abolishment of c‐fos Inducibility in ras‐Transformed Mouse Osteoblast Cell Lines

Proto‐oncogene c‐fos is induced by many types of cellular stimuli, such as 12‐O‐tetradecanoylphorbol‐13‐acetate (TPA), epidermal growth factor (EGF), serum (fetal bovine), calcium ionophore A23187, and dibutyryl cAMP (But2cAMP). In this study, c‐fos induction was abolished in ras‐transformed mouse osteoblast cells (MC3T3). Transformants of MC3T3 were isolated after transfection with Ki or Ha murine sarcoma virus DNA. All Ki‐ or Ha‐ras transformed MC3T3 clones examined showed exceedingly low levels of c‐fos induction by all inducers, as determined by the change in amounts of c‐fos mRNA or its product. Induction of other TPA‐responsive genes, such as metallothionein, was not altered in some ras‐transformed cells; c‐myc and c‐jun expression was constitutively high in all the ras‐transformed clones. Nuclear extracts and gel shift assay showed that the binding activity to c‐fos enhancer element (serum response element) was altered in ras‐transformed cells. These results indicate that transformation with ras oncogene induces modification of c‐fos enhancer binding factors and that this modification is one cause for the decrease in c‐fos induction.
Eliciting Stated Health Preferences

The economic analysis of many health policies requires evaluation of the benefits of programs that may prolong human lives. This article contributes to the development of credible values for longevity, demonstrating the feasibility of applying stated-pref erence market-research techniques to a new area of preference revelation and framing the problem as extending longevity under realistic health states associated with ad vanced age. Respondents to the authors' stated-preference survey clearly indicated that quality of life affects the value of quantity of life. The results demonstrate the sensitivity of life-extension values to specific health and activity-limitation conditions. The article also discusses problems that remain to be solved before valid and reliable longevity values can be obtained. Key words: health preference elicitation; longevity; willingness to pay; market research; quality of life; policy. (Med Decis Making 1998; 18 suppl:S57-S67)
ITH4012 (Ethyl 5-Amino-6,7,8,9-tetrahydro-2-methyl-4-phenylbenzol[1,8]naphthyridine-3-carboxylate), a Novel Acetylcholinesterase Inhibitor with “Calcium Promotor” and Neuroprotective Properties

Ethyl 5-amino-6,7,8,9-tetrahydro-2-methyl-4-phenylbenzol[1,8] naphthyridine-3-carboxylate (ITH4012) is a novel tacrine derivative that can reduce cell death induced by various compounds with different mechanisms of action, such as thapsigargin (reticular stress), H2O2 (free radicals), and veratridine (calcium overload), in bovine chromaffin cell. Cell viability, quantified as lactic dehydrogenase release, was significantly reduced by ITH4012 at concentrations ranging from 0.01 to 3 μM. In the human neuroblastoma cell line SH-SY5Y, ITH4012 also reduced amyloid β25-35-induced apoptosis, determined by flow cytometry. ITH4012 caused a slight elevation in the cytosolic concentration of Ca2+ in fura 2-loaded bovine chromaffin cells, which could be related to the induction of protein synthesis relevant for cell survival. Blockade of protein synthesis by cycloheximide or blockade of Bcl-2's active site with HA14-1 (ethyl 2-amino-6-bromo-4-(1-cyano-2-ethoxy-2-oxoethyl)-4H-chromene-3-carboxylate) reversed the cytoprotective action of ITH4012. Furthermore, exposure of bovine chromaffin cells for 24 or 48 h to neuroprotective concentrations of this compound enhanced, nearly 3-fold, the expression of the antiapoptotic protein Bcl-2. In conclusion, ITH4012 is a tacrine derivative that maintains acetylcholinesterase-inhibiting activity (IC50 = 0.8 μM) but has the additional property of acting as a calcium promotor, a property leading to neuroprotection through the induction of antiapoptotic proteins.
Rational choice theory

The purpose of rational choice theory is to explain social phenomena by assuming rational choice at the actor's level. To realize this purpose, the theory assumes two mechanisms: choice by actors and the macro-micro-macro transition. After explaining these mechanisms, this article first shows how rational choice theory successfully explains the problem of social order embodied in various fields. It then examines the theory's critics and their related problems. Finally, four new new directions of the theory are proposed: more comprehensive understanding of the interaction between actors and institutions; applica - tions of evolutionary game theory and agent-based modelling; incorporation of the concept of social iden - tity in rational choice theory, and the extension of the coverage of rational choice theory.
An In-Depth Understanding of Biomass Recalcitrance Using Natural Poplar Variants as the Feedstock.

In an effort to better understand the biomass recalcitrance, six natural poplar variants were selected as feedstocks based on previous sugar release analysis. Compositional analysis and physicochemical characterizations of these poplars were performed and the correlations between these physicochemical properties and enzymatic hydrolysis yield were investigated. Gel permeation chromatography (GPC) and 13 C solid state NMR were used to determine the degree of polymerization (DP) and crystallinity index (CrI) of cellulose, and the results along with the sugar release study indicated that cellulose DP likely played a more important role in enzymatic hydrolysis. Simons' stain revealed that the accessible surface area of substrate significantly varied among these variants from 17.3 to 33.2 mg g-1biomass as reflected by dye adsorption, and cellulose accessibility was shown as one of the major factors governing substrates digestibility. HSQC and 31 P NMR analysis detailed the structural features of poplar lignin variants. Overall, cellulose relevant factors appeared to have a stronger correlation with glucose release, if any, than lignin structural features. Lignin structural features, such as a phenolic hydroxyl group and the ratio of syringyl and guaiacyl (S/G), were found to have a more convincing impact on xylose release. Low lignin content, low cellulose DP, and high cellulose accessibility generally favor enzymatic hydrolysis; however, recalcitrance cannot be simply judged on any single substrate factor.
Job satisfaction of occupational physicians in commercial and other delivery settings: A comparative and explorative study

ObjectivesCommercialization of occupational health services (OHS) and transition to a supplier market which started in 1995, has affected work and working conditions of occupational physicians (OPs) profoundly. OPs have lost influence on the organization of their work and managers took over control. This study explores the impact of commercialization on job satisfaction of occupational physicians.Material and MethodsData were collected through a questionnaire completed by 797 OPs, members of the Netherlands Association of Occupational Medicine (response: 45%). A range of work satisfiers and dissatisfiers measures was included that, according to the Social Action Approach, could explain the variation in job satisfaction. Stepwise multivariate regression analyses were performed to explore to what extent the differences in job satisfaction can be attributed to the characteristics of the setting, biographical variables, satisfiers and dissatisfiers.ResultsOccupational physicians in commercial settings had the lowest average score as regards job satisfaction (6.7) contrasting sharply with their colleagues in private practices (8.7) and in non-commercial settings (7.9). The variation in job satisfaction between delivery settings could largely be attributed to satisfiers and dissatisfiers. Biographical characteristics (age, gender) had no effect. The data suggested that not commercialization as such, but the ability of commercial OHS providers to integrate professional values was the crucial factor to bring about job satisfaction.ConclusionsThe challenge for commercial OHS providers is to preserve the professional zeal in OPs by integrating professional values in their organization in order to improve the quality of the services and the attractiveness of the profession.
Caucasian children's fat mass: routine anthropometry v. air-displacement plethysmography

The present paper will use fat mass percentage (FM%) obtained via BOD POD® air-displacement plethysmography (FMADP%) to examine the relative validity of (1) anthropometric measurements/indices and (2) of FM% assessed with equations (FMeq%) based on skinfold thickness and bioelectrical impedance (BIA). In 480 Belgian children (aged 5–11 years) weight, height, skinfold thickness (triceps and subscapular), body circumferences (mid-upper arm, waist and hip), foot-to-foot BIA (Tanita®) and FMADP% were measured. Anthropometric measurements and calculated indices were compared with FMADP%. Next, published equations were used to calculate FMeq% using impedance (equations of Tanita®, Tyrrell, Shaefer and Deurenberg) or skinfold thickness (equations of Slaughter, Goran, Dezenberg and Deurenberg). Both indices and equations performed better in girls than in boys. For both sexes, the sum of skinfold thicknesses resulted in the highest correlation with FMADP%, followed by triceps skinfold, arm fat area and subscapular skinfold. In general, comparing FMeq% with FMADP% indicated mostly an age and sex effect, and an increasing underestimation but less dispersion with increasing FM%. The Tanita® impedance equation and the Deurenberg skinfold equation performed the best, although none of the used equations were interchangeable with FMADP%. In conclusion, the sum of triceps and subscapular skinfold thickness is recommended as marker of FM% in the absence of specialised technologies. Nevertheless, the higher workload, cost and survey management of an immobile device like the BOD POD® remains justified.
Nonlinear modeling and feedback control of WPT system via magnetic resonant coupling considering continuous dynamic tuning

In a wireless power transfer (WPT) system via magnetic resonant coupling, the detuning will greatly reduce the transmission power and efficiency. In this paper, a nonlinear tuning model and feedback controllers of the system considering the continuous dynamic tuning are developed to eliminate the disturbance from the detuning. The phase difference between the primary and secondary side is employed to predicate the resonant state. The model is linearized around the operating point by small-signal analysis methodology. Based on the dynamics of the linearized model, a PI controller for each side of the system is designed. It enables the system to simultaneously tuning at the primary and secondary side using a parallel digitally tunable capacitance. The closed-loop nonlinear state-space model is built and the numerical simulations verify the fast dynamic tuning ability of the resonant tank to cope with the detuning disturbance.
The Implementation of a Stand-alone Video Tracking and Analysis System for Animal Behavior Measurement in Morris Water Maze

In this paper, a digital image tracking and analysis system based on FPGA is presented. The goal of this research is to build an animal tracking system with a new algorithm for Morris water maze experiment application. Our tracking algorithm can track animal motion and is insensitive to environment brightness change. The system can process the high-resolution image up to 700times480 pixels in real-time speed. We can analyze tiny animal behavior change precisely. This system is very compact and is portable. Compared with other similar device, our system is a standalone operation without the need of a personal computer
Literacy analysis of National Comprehensive Cancer Network patient guidelines for the most common malignancies in the United States

Cancer information is of critical interest to the public. The National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) offers a series of comprehensive patient guidelines on the management of the most common cancer diagnoses. This study was aimed at assessing the health literacy demands of NCCN patient guidelines for the most common malignancies in the United States.
Multi-stage switching networks for waveguide optical technology

Multi-stage switching is very suitable for implementing interconnection systems operating at different physical scale (from rack-to-rack to on-chip) and with several technologies (either photonics or electronics). Several multistage architectures have been proposed to design these systems in a highly modular and efficient way. Since these proposals are general and applicable to a vast range of technologies, optimizations are possible once a specific technology is considered. In this work we aim at optimizing multi-stage banyan and EGS architectures in case of optical waveguide technology implementation. We propose a method to decrease the number of waveguide crossovers, while avoiding an excessive increase of waveguide bends.
Role of Phosphodiesterase Type 3A in Rat Oocyte Maturation1

Abstract It is generally accepted that cyclic nucleotides are key signaling molecules in the control of oocyte meiotic resumption. Given the role of phosphodiesterases (PDEs) in cyclic nucleotide degradation, this study was undertaken to investigate the properties and regulation of PDEs expressed in rat oocytes. Cilostamide-sensitive PDE3 was the major activity detected in denuded oocytes, whereas no PDE3 activity could be detected in cumulus cells. Moreover, comparable levels of PDE3 activity were measured in cumulus-oocyte complexes (COCs) and in denuded oocytes. The oocyte PDE was recovered in the soluble fraction of the homogenate and immunoprecipitated with a specific PDE3A antibody. A significant and transient increase (P < 0.05) in PDE3 activity was measured in the oocytes after 30 min of culture (70 min after isolation) compared with immediately after collection (10 min after isolation). Conversely, no changes in activity were observed when denuded oocytes or cumulus cells were incubated for up to 130 min. Evaluation of oocyte maturation indicated that only 10% of oocytes had resumed meiosis at the peak of the PDE3 activity. A significant increase (P < 0.05) in PDE3 activity was measured in COCs when follicle-enclosed oocytes were cultured in the presence of hCG. Again, this increase preceded oocyte maturation. In conclusion, these data demonstrate that PDE3A is the major PDE form expressed in mammalian oocytes. PDE3A activity increases prior to resumption of meiosis in both spontaneous and gonadotropin-stimulated maturation. These findings strongly support the hypothesis that an increase in oocyte PDE3A activity is one of the intraoocyte mechanisms controlling resumption of meiosis in rat oocytes, at least in vitro.
Assessment of skeletal muscle mass in critically ill patients: considerations for the utility of computed tomography imaging and ultrasonography

Purpose of reviewLow muscularity and skeletal muscle atrophy are commonly exhibited in critically ill patients and have major implications on patient outcomes. Typically, in the ICU, body composition is assessed through anthropometrics or bioelectrical impedance analysis, but these modalities cannot specifically quantify skeletal muscle; thus, we evaluate the merits and challenges of using computed tomography (CT) and ultrasonography to specifically measure skeletal muscle in the ICU. Recent findingsCT-based cut points have been used to identify critically ill patients with low muscle mass, and low muscularity associates with poor clinical outcomes and function. Ultrasonography is emerging as a useful tool to quantify skeletal muscle loss and degradation in architecture, as well as prospectively track changes in these parameters over time. Rates of muscle atrophy and changes in muscle architecture has been quantified by ultrasonography and associated with poor clinical outcomes, but identification of critically ill patients with low muscularity is still in its infancy. SummaryCT imaging and ultrasonography require additional comprehensive validations against accurate measures of whole body muscle mass. As these validations begin to emerge, there will be a need to translate this knowledge into a simple tool that clinicians can apply as part of routine care.
Elasticity of the sacculus of Escherichia coli

Preparations of purified peptidoglycan of Escherichia coli (i.e., sacculi) were studied by low-angle laser light scattering. Control experiments and theoretical calculations based on the Rayleigh-Gans theory showed that the mean sacculus surface area could be accurately inferred from measurements with our apparatus by using computer routines developed previously. Large changes in the mean saccular surface area resulted from alterations in the stress caused by varying the net charge on the sacculi. The net charge was affected by altering the suspending medium pH, causing carboxyl and amino groups in the peptidoglycan to gain or lose protons, or by acetylation or succinylation of the amino groups. A preponderance of either plus or minus charges caused an expansion of the mean sacculus surface area. The largest increase in area probably represents the elastic limit of the peptidoglycan and was 300% above the area of isoionic sacculi. This degree of expansion is consistent with possible conformations of the intact peptidoglycan structure without necessitating rupture of the wall fabric. Our findings concerning saccular elasticity provide support for the surface stress theory. It provides a mechanism so that bacteria can grow and divide while maintaining turgor pressure, without the necessity of having and using proteins to do the mechanical work.