Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A 10-bit 0.41-mW 3-MSps R-I DAC with full-swing output voltage

For medical implantable devices, power consumption is the most important design consideration. This is because only medium data rate and medium resolution are required in such applications. In addition, rail-to-rail output swing is desired if power supply voltage is near 1V. In order to achieve low power consumption with medium data rate and resolution, this paper proposes a low-power resistor-string and current-steering hybrid digital-to-analog converter (R-I DAC) with a full-swing output signal. It adopts a current-direction control which makes the output current of the current-steering block flow bi-directionally through the feedback resistor. The proposed structure can achieve full-swing output. It consumes half of the total current of the conventional single-ended current-steering DAC for the same output swing. A 10-bit full-swing R-I DAC prototype is implemented by 180-nm CMOS technology. The measured effective number of bits (ENOB) is 8.9 bits. The settling time of pulse response is 300 ns which corresponds to 3.3MHz sampling frequency. Chip area is 0.22mm2. For 1.25V single power supply, the output swing is 1.024V. The power consumption is 0.41mW for a full-swing sinusoidal input of 40.82 kHz at a 3.125MS/s sampling clock.
New-onset pain in the early phase and three months following stroke – data from a multicenter study

Background The reported prevalence of pain after stroke varies considerably, depending on how pain is measured, time after stroke, and characteristics of the selected population. The aims of this study were to investigate the prevalence and distribution of new-onset pain initially and three months after stroke in a general Norwegian cohort, and to examine whether symptoms of anxiety or depression were associated with new-onset pain after stroke. Material and methods Stroke patients were included from eleven different hospitals within 14 days after stroke onset. Pain was assessed at inclusion and three months after stroke, and the distribution of pain was marked on a body map. New-onset pain was defined as pain reported by the patients to have occurred after the stroke. Symptoms of anxiety and depression were evaluated using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale. Results A total of 390 patients were included. Pain data were available in 142 patients at both inclusion and follow-up, while 245 patients had available data for the regression analysis. In patients with follow-up data, new-onset pain occurred in 14 (9.9%) patients at inclusion and in 31 (21.8%) patients three months later, P=0.005. New-onset pain in the affected upper limb and bilaterally in the lower limbs was more common at three months than initially after stroke. Symptoms of anxiety were associated with new-onset pain (OR=1.13, 95% CI 1.01–1.27, P=0.030). Conclusion This study shows that new-onset pain occurs in one out of ten patients initially after stroke and in one out of five patients three months after stroke, and it was associated with symptoms of anxiety. This raises the question of whether easing symptoms of anxiety might help to prevent or treat new pain after stroke.
Distinct CED-10/Rac1 domains confer context-specific functions in development

Rac GTPases act as master switches to coordinate multiple interweaved signaling pathways. A major function for Rac GTPases is to control neurite development by influencing downstream effector molecules and pathways. In Caenorhabditis elegans, the Rac proteins CED-10, RAC-2 and MIG-2 act in parallel to control axon outgrowth and guidance. Here, we have identified a single glycine residue in the CED-10/Rac1 Switch 1 region that confers a non-redundant function in axon outgrowth but not guidance. Mutation of this glycine to glutamic acid (G30E) reduces GTP binding and inhibits axon outgrowth but does not affect other canonical CED-10 functions. This demonstrates previously unappreciated domain-specific functions within the CED-10 protein. Further, we reveal that when CED-10 function is diminished, the adaptor protein NAB-1 (Neurabin) and its interacting partner SYD-1 (Rho-GAP-like protein) can act as inhibitors of axon outgrowth. Together, we reveal that specific domains and residues within Rac GTPases can confer context-dependent functions during animal development.
Model-Driven Query Generation for Elasticsearch

Elasticsearch is a distributed RESTful search engine, capable of solving growing number of use cases and can handle petabytes of data in seconds. However, Elasticsearch comes with a complex query language which causes a steep learning curve for the developers and, therefore, creation of queries can be difficult and time-consuming in many cases. Hence, in this paper, we introduce a Domain-specific Modeling Language (DSML), called Dimension Query Language (DQL), to support the model-driven development of Elasticsearch queries. Elasticsearch queries can be automatically generated from DQL models and DQL's IDE is capable of executing these auto-generated Elasticsearch queries on remote repositories. An evaluation of using DQL has been performed at the industrial level with the participation of a group of developers. The conducted evaluation showed that the use of the language significantly decreases the development time required for creating Elasticsearch queries. Finally, qualitative assessment, based on the developers' feedback, exposed how DQL facilitates the development of Elasticsearch queries.
Elevated red blood cell distribution width predicts poor prognosis in patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma

Introduction Although red blood cell distribution width (RDW) has been reported to reflect inflammation and nutritional status and to predict prognosis in several different types of cancer, little is known about how RDW might be related to oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). The present study aimed to investigate the prognostic value of preoperative RDW in OSCC patients. Materials and methods We included 236 OSCC patients from Jinan Stomatological Hospital (Shandong, People’s Republic of China) in this retrospective study. All enrolled patients were divided into 2 groups: high RDW (≥15%) and low RDW (<15%) according to the detected RDW values. The correlation of RDW and clinical characteristics was explored, and the prognostic significance of RDW evaluated using Kaplan–Meier curves, log-rank analysis, and the Cox proportional hazards model. Results The pretreatment median RDW among all OSCC patients was 14.4%, with a range from 11.6% to 24.5%. The RDW was found to be significantly correlated with node metastasis, tumor length, and TNM stage (P<0.05 for all). As for biochemical parameters, the results showed that higher RDW values were significantly associated with hemoglobin, mean corpuscular volume, white blood cell count, albumin, and C-reactive protein (P<0.01 for all). A significant association of RDW with the tumor marker cytokeratin 19 fragments (CYFRA21-1) and squamous cell carcinoma antigen (SCC-Ag) was also observed (P=0.02, and P=0.03; respectively). Moreover, patients with higher RDW were more likely to receive postoperative therapy (P=0.02). Kaplan–Meier survival curves showed that a high RDW was significantly associated with poor overall survival (OS) (P<0.01), especially in the early stages (I–II). Multivariate analysis revealed that an elevated RDW at diagnosis was an independent prognostic factor for shorter OS (HR =1.46, 95% CI: 1.13–2.86) after adjustment for other cancer-related prognostic factors. Conclusion These data suggest that an elevated preoperative RDW (≥15%) at diagnosis may independently predict poorer OS in patients with OSCC, but better-designed studies in the future should be performed to further confirm the value of monitoring RDW.
Chemical genetic identification of CDKL5 substrates reveals its role in neuronal microtubule dynamics

Loss‐of‐function mutations in CDKL5 kinase cause severe neurodevelopmental delay and early‐onset seizures. Identification of CDKL5 substrates is key to understanding its function. Using chemical genetics, we found that CDKL5 phosphorylates three microtubule‐associated proteins: MAP1S, EB2 and ARHGEF2, and determined the phosphorylation sites. Substrate phosphorylations are greatly reduced in CDKL5 knockout mice, verifying these as physiological substrates. In CDKL5 knockout mouse neurons, dendritic microtubules have longer EB3‐labelled plus‐end growth duration and these altered dynamics are rescued by reduction of MAP1S levels through shRNA expression, indicating that CDKL5 regulates microtubule dynamics via phosphorylation of MAP1S. We show that phosphorylation by CDKL5 is required for MAP1S dissociation from microtubules. Additionally, anterograde cargo trafficking is compromised in CDKL5 knockout mouse dendrites. Finally, EB2 phosphorylation is reduced in patient‐derived human neurons. Our results reveal a novel activity‐dependent molecular pathway in dendritic microtubule regulation and suggest a pathological mechanism which may contribute to CDKL5 deficiency disorder.
Quaderni di Dipartimento Endogenous Growth , Monetary Shocks and Nominal Rigidities

We introduce endogenous growth in an otherwise standard NK model with staggered prices and wages. Some results follow: (i) monetary volatility negatively affects long-run growth; (ii) the relation between nominal volatility and growth depends on the persistence of the nominal shocks and on the Taylor rule considered; (iii) a Taylor rule with smoothing increases the negative effect of nominal volatility on mean growth.
Self-esteem and Ability Grouping: A Hong Kong investigation of the Big Fish Little Pond Effect

The aim of this paper was to test the strength of the relationships between student self-esteem, and the ability group of the school band and class stream they attend, as well as their self-perceived academic performance in a non-Western context. Responses of 280 Hong Kong secondary school students to the Chinese Adolescent Self-Esteem Scale were analysed by Performance 2 Stream 2 Band Multivariate Analysis of Variance. Statistically significant main effects for Performance and Stream, but not Band were found. Higher self-esteem was reported by students who perceived their academic performance as higher and who attended lower ability stream classes. The findings supported the Big Fish Little Pond effect of ability grouping within, but not between schools. Implications of the findings for school policies such as classes for the gifted and inclusion of children with learning difficulties are also discussed.
Promoting Youth Employment in Benue State, Nigeria: A Study of Open Apprenticeship Scheme of the National Directorate of Employment (NDE)

Youth unemployment has remained one of the present and steady social problems that characterise Nigeria as a developing economy. Measures to address this social problem have featured prominently in the development agenda of successive governments. However, the National Directorate of Employment (NDE), established by the Babangida Administration in 1986, comes across as a consistent public policy on employment and wealth creation that has managed to endure over the years. Since its establishment, a number of schemes have been designed and implemented under the directorate to combat youth unemployment. One of such schemes is the National Open Apprenticeship Scheme (NOAS). This study was undertaken to interrogate the implementation of the scheme in Benue State located in the North Central geographical zone of Nigeria. Within the framework of the neo-classical model of economic thought, these programmes of action are understood as a deliberate policy intervention by government to correct distortions in resource allocation occasioned by the laissez-faire market mechanism. The study employed both analytical and empirical approaches. Whereas the former reflects on state of the research in existing literature, the latter utilized survey research to probe into the implementation of NOAS. Findings reveal that NDE skills development programmes in Benue State is an initiative that can address youth unemployment. However, the objective of enhancing job opportunities through the skills acquisition of NAOS leaves much to be desired. The study recommends among others that; funding of NDE should be improved upon, the scope of NAOS should be expanded to accommodate graduates of tertiary institutions, and the general policy framework on education be reviewed to create a synergy between the formal school system and the job market in Benue State and by extension, Nigeria.
Aortic Valve Calcification among Patients with CKD: Results from CRIC Study

Background: Although subjects with chronic kidney disease (CKD) are at markedly increased risk for cardiovascular mortality, the impact of CKD on aortic valve calcification (AVC) has not been fully elucidated. Also, few data are available on the relationship of AVC and earlier stages of CKD. We sought to assess the relationship of AVC with eGFR, traditional and novel cardiovascular risk factors, and markers of bone metabolism in the Chronic Renal Insufficiency Cohort (CRIC) Study. Methods: All patients who underwent aortic valve scanning in the CRIC study were included. The relationship between AVC and eGFR, traditional and non-traditional cardiovascular risk factors, and markers of calcium metabolism were analyzed using both adjusted and unadjusted regression models. Results: A total of 1964 CRIC baseline participants underwent CT for AVC quantification. AVC was inversely associated with eGFR (P<0.001), and there was a graded relationship between decreased renal function and increased levels of AVC. Adjusted regression models identified several traditional and novel risk factors for AVC in patients with CKD. There was a difference in AVC risk factors between black and non-black patients. Conclusions: Our study shows that eGFR is a risk factor for AVC in patients with CKD, which is independent of traditional cardiovascular risk factors.
A comparison of satellite-derived sea-ice motion with drifting-buoy data in the Weddell Sea, Antarctica

Abstract We compare a satellite-derived sea-ice motion dataset obtained from the US National Snow and Ice Data Center with daily ice drift by drifting buoys between 1989 and 2005. the satellite data were derived from daily composites of passive-microwave satellite measurements by means of a cross-correlation method and were supplemented with data from visible and thermal channels of the Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer. Seasonal and interannual variations of the agreement between the two datasets are discussed. In addition, regional differences in the agreement and correlation coefficients of buoy- and satellite-derived drift components are analyzed. Results show that the overall drift regime can be well described by satellite-derived drift data but 71% of the retrieved drift velocities are lower than those observed by buoys. Nevertheless, correlation coefficients, r, between the two datasets are 0.587 for the zonal and 0.613 for the meridional drift component. the correlation coefficients between monthly averages of buoy- and satellite-derived zonal and meridional drift components are on average 25.7% and 16.4% lower in summer (October–February) than in winter (March–September), with the exception of January. In January, correlation coefficients are about 62.6% (zonal) and 66.5% (meridional) lower than in winter. Furthermore, deviations between zonal buoy- and satellite-derived drift are 80% larger in the second half than in the first half of the year. the observed yearly and regional averaged agreement between the two datasets depends strongly on the season when buoy data were collected and on the number of coincident buoy and satellite data, which was often very low.
Allele frequencies of 17 autosomal STR loci in the Va ethnic minority from Yunnan Province , Southwest China

Allele frequencies and forensic parameters for 17 autosomal short tandem repeat (STR) loci were investigated from 1542 individuals of Va ethnicminority inYunnan Province in the southwest of China. Also, genetic distances between Va and 13 published populations were compared, and a neighbor-joining (NJ) phylogenetic tree was developed and visualized using averaged FSTmatrix. Results demonstrate that these loci are highly polymorphic in the Va population and can be applied in forensic, population genetic, and linguistic fields.
Examining the Role of Self-Monitoring and Social Leisure in the Life Quality of Individuals with Spinal Cord Injury

The level of social leisure for the high self-monitors with spinal cord injury (SCI) was hypothesized to be related to life quality, while the level of social leisure would not be related to life quality for the low self-monitors with SCI. A total of 206 individuals with SCI who reside in community responded to the questionnaire that measured life quality, self-monitoring, and social leisure participation along with demographics. Three blocks of independent variables were entered sequentially to examine the contribution of the block to explained variance (R2) in life quality. Particularly, an interaction term was created as a product of self-monitoring and social leisure in order to test the hypothesis. The findings of the study did not reveal a significant change in R2 suggesting that the relationship of social leisure to life quality was not dependent on one's level of self-monitoring. Instead, there was a significant main effect of social leisure participation on life quality in this sample. Implications for further research and practice are discussed.
Data mining process using clustering: a survey

Clustering is a basic and useful method in understanding and exploring a data set. Clustering is division of data into groups of similar objects. Each group, called cluster, consists of objects that are similar between themselves and dissimilar to objects of other groups. Interest in clustering has increased recently in new areas of applications including data mining, bioinformatics, web mining, text mining, image analysis and so on. This survey focuses on clustering in data mining. The goal of this survey is to provide a review of different clustering algorithms in data mining. A Categorization of clustering algorithms has been provided closely followed by this survey. The basics of Hierarchical Clustering include Linkage Metrics, Hierarchical Clusters of Arbitrary and Binary Divisive Partitioning is discussed at first. Next discussion is Algorithms of the Partitioning Relocation Clustering include Probabilistic Clustering, K-Medoids Methods, K-Means Methods. Density-Based-Partitioning, Grid-Based Methods and Co-Occurrence of Categorical Data are other sections. Their comparisons are mostly based on some specific applications and under certain conditions. So the results may become quite different if the conditions change.
Comparative Analysis of Collaborative Filtering on GraphLab, MLlib and Mahout

Recommendation systems are used to recommend items or products to the user based on their previous purchases, visits, interests, ratings, wish-lists or reviews to develop interest and to display the accurate and suitable items on board. Recommendation systems are used in various online shops (E-Commerce application) and decision making systems. Recommendation is a particular form of information filtering. It falls under the Data Mining and Machine Learning. Collaborative Filtering is the key technique used in this system. In this study, the data loading, model generation, recommendation implementation and accuracy of same algorithm on some major tools and libraries (GraphLab, Mahout-Hadoop, Mahout-Spark and MLLib) has been discussed. To serve the purpose, a well-known algorithm Alternating Least Square ALS for collaborative filtering was used. Netflix Prize (training) data set was used in this research with the listed tools and libraries. At the end of this research a factual comparative analysis of the tools was carried out. Keywords—Recommendation System, Machine Learning, Collaborative filtering
Isolation and characterisation of eight polymorphic 1 microsatellite markers from South American limpets 2 of the species complex Nacella

10 In this study we provide eight polymorphic microsatellite markers for the two South 11 American patellogastropods Nacella magellanica and N. deaurata. Microsatellite 12 amplification was carried out in multiplex PCRs, a new feature of the program pipeline 13 STAMP. Allelic diversity ranged from 5 to 57 alleles per locus. Observed heterozygosities 14 varied between 0.1 and 0.98. Three of the four loci designed for N. magellanica cross 15 amplified also with N. deaurata, and two loci vice versa. Six of the microsatellites 16 successfully cross amplified with the two sister taxa N. mytilina and N. delicatissima. This set 17 of microsatellites provides a suitable tool for population genetic purposes and can be of 18 important help in identifying morphologically ambiguous Nacella individuals. 19
DNA barcode of Parodontidae species from the La Plata river basin - applying new data to clarify taxonomic problems

In the past years, DNA barcoding has emerged as a quick, accurate and efficient tool to identify species. Considering the difficulty in identifying some Parodontidae species from the La Plata basin and the absence of molecular data for the group, we aimed to test the effectiveness of DNA barcoding and discuss the importance of using different approaches to solve taxonomic problems. Eight species were analyzed with partial sequences of Cytochrome c oxidase I. The mean intraspecific K2P genetic distance was 0.04% compared to 4.2% for mean interspecific K2P genetic distance. The analyses of distance showed two pairs of species with K2P genetic divergence lower than 2%, but enough to separate these species. Apareiodon sp. and A. ibitiensis, considered as the same species by some authors, showed 4.2% genetic divergence, reinforcing their are different species. Samples of A. affinis from the Uruguay and Paraguay rivers presented 0.3% genetic divergence, indicating a close relationship between them. However, these samples diverged 6.1% from the samples of the upper Parana River, indicating that the latter represents a potentially new species. The results showed the effectiveness of the DNA barcoding method in identifying the analyzed species, which, together with the morphological and cytogenetic available data, help species identification. Nos ultimos anos o DNA barcoding surgiu como uma ferramenta rapida, precisa e eficiente para identificar especies. Considerando a dificuldade na identificacao de algumas especies de Parodontidae da bacia do rio da Prata e da ausencia de dados moleculares para o grupo, testamos a eficacia do codigo de barras de DNA e discutimos a importância do uso de diferentes abordagens para resolver problemas taxonomicos. Oito especies foram analisadas com sequencias parciais do gene citocromo c oxidase I. A distância genetica media K2P intraespecifica foi de 0,04% comparado com 4,2% para distância genetica media K2P interespecifica. As analises de distância mostraram dois pares de especies com divergencia genetica K2P inferior a 2%, mas o suficiente para separar estas especies. Apareiodon sp. e A. ibitiensis, consideradas a mesma especie por alguns autores, mostraram 4,2% de divergencia genetica, confirmando serem especies diferentes. Amostras de A. affinis dos rios Uruguai e Paraguai apresentaram 0,3% de divergencia genetica, indicando um maior grau de relacao entre elas, no entanto, esses exemplares divergiram em 6,1% em relacao aos exemplares do alto rio Parana, o que indica que estes ultimos representam uma especie potencialmente nova. Os resultados mostraram a eficacia do metodo de DNA barcoding na identificacao das especies analisadas, os quais, em conjunto com os dados morfologicos e citogeneticos disponiveis auxiliam na identificacao inequivoca das especies.