Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Design for Testability Techniques to Optimize VLSI Test Cost

High test data volume and long test application time are two major concerns for testing scan based circuits. The Illinois Scan (ILS) architecture has been shown to be effective in addressing both these issues. The ILS achieves a high degree of test data compression thereby reducing both the test data volume and test application time. The degree of test data volume reduction depends on the fault coverage achievable in the broadcast mode. However, the fault coverage achieved in the broadcast mode of ILS architecture depends on the actual configuration of individual scan chains, i.e., the number of chains and the mapping of the individual flip-flops of the circuit to the respective scan chain positions. Current methods for constructing scan chains in ILS are either ad-hoc or use test pattern information from an a-priori automatic test pattern generation (ATPG) run. In this thesis, we present novel low cost techniques to construct ILS scan configuration for a given design. These techniques efficiently utilize the circuit topology information and try to optimize the flip-flop assignment to a scan chain location without much compromise in the fault coverage in the broadcast mode. Thus, they eliminate the need of an a-priori ATPG run or any test set information. In addition, we also propose a new scan architecture which combines the broadcast mode of ILS and Random Access Scan architecture to enable further test volume reduction on and above effectively configured conventional ILS architecture using the aforementioned heuristics with reasonable area overhead. Experimental results on the ISCAS’89 benchmark circuits show that the proposed ILS configuration methods can achieve on an average 5% more fault coverage in the broadcast mode and on average 15% more test data volume and test application time reduction than existing methods. The proposed new architecture achieves, on an average, 9% and 33% additional test data volume and test application time reduction respectively on top of our proposed ILS configuration heuristics.
Speech production abilities of 4- to 5-year-old children with and without a history of late talking: The tricky tyrannosaurus

Abstract Purpose: Research on the speech production abilities of children with a history of late talking (HLT) is limited. We compared 4- to 5-year-old children with and without a HLT on a routine speech assessment and a single-word polysyllable assessment. Method: The two speech assessments were administered to 13 children with a HLT (4;4–5;9 years) and 11 children with a history of typical development (HTD) (4;1–5;10 years). Data were analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics. Result: The HLT group had significantly poorer speech accuracy than the HTD group on both the routine speech and polysyllable assessments. The HLT group also showed a significantly higher percentage occurrence of consonant omissions on both speech assessments compared to the HTD group. Descriptive analysis of participants’ polysyllable productions indicated that the HLT group showed a higher percentage occurrence of a range of error types compared to the HTD group. Conclusion: By 4–5 years of age, children who were late to talk had speech production abilities that were significantly poorer than their peers who were not late to talk, suggesting continued underlying differences.
A Robust Transmission Scheduling Approach for Internet of Things Sensing Service with Energy Harvesting

Maximizing the utility under energy constraint is critical in an Internet of Things (IoT) sensing service, in which each sensor harvests energy from the ambient environment and uses it for sensing and transmitting the measurements to an application server. Such a sensor is required to maximize its utility under the harvested energy constraint, i.e., perform sensing and transmission at the highest rate allowed by the harvested energy constraint. Most existing works assumed a sophisticated model for harvested energy, but neglected the fact that the harvested energy is random in reality. Considering the randomness of the harvested energy, we focus on the transmission scheduling issue and present a robust transmission scheduling optimization approach that is able to provide robustness against randomness. We firstly formulate the transmission scheduling optimization problem subject to energy constraints with random harvested energy. We then introduce a flexible model to profile the harvested energy so that the constraints with random harvested energy are transformed into linear constraints. Finally, the transmission scheduling optimization problem can be solved traditionally. The experimental results demonstrate that the proposed approach is capable of providing a good trade-off between service flexibility and robustness.
18F-FES PET/CT Influences the Staging and Management of Patients with Newly Diagnosed Estrogen Receptor-Positive Breast Cancer: A Retrospective Comparative Study with 18F-FDG PET/CT.

PURPOSE We compared the clinical value of 16a-18F-fluoro-17b-estradiol (18F-FES) positron emission tomography (PET)/computed tomography (CT) and 18F-fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose (18F-FDG) PET/CT and investigated whether and how 18F-FES PET/CT affects the implemented management of newly diagnosed estrogen receptor positive breast cancer patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS We retrospectively analyzed 19 female patients newly diagnosed with immunohistochemistry-confirmed estrogen receptor (ER)-positive breast cancer who underwent 18F-FES and 18F-FDG PET/CT within 1 week in our center. The sensitivity of 18F-FES and 18F-FDG in diagnosed lesions were compared. To investigate the definite clinical impact of 18F-FES on managing patients with newly diagnosed ER positive breast cancer, we designed two kinds of questionnaires. Referring physicians completed the first questionnaire based on the 18F-FDG report to propose the treatment regime, and the second was completed immediately after reviewing the imaging report of 18F-FES to indicate intended management changes. RESULTS In total, 238 lesions were analyzed in 19 patients with newly diagnosed ER-positive breast cancer. Lesion detection was achieved in 216 sites with 18F-FES PET and in 197 sites with 18F-FDG PET/CT. These results corresponded to sensitivities of 90.8% for 18F-FES versus 82.8% for 18F-FDG PET/CT in diagnosed lesions. Thirty-five physicians were given the questionnaires referring to the treatment strategy, with 27 of them completing both questionnaires. The application of 18F-FES in addition to 18F-FDG PET/CT changed the management in 26.3% of the 19 patients with newly diagnosed ER-positive breast cancer. CONCLUSION Performing 18F-FES PET/CT in newly diagnosed ER-positive breast cancer patients increases the value of diagnosis equivocal lesions and treatment management compared with 18F-FDG PET/CT. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE This study investigated whether 16a-18F-fluoro-17b-estradiol (18F-FES) positron emission tomography (PET)/computed tomography (CT) affects the clinical management of patients with newly diagnosed estrogen receptor (ER)-positive breast cancer. Physicians completing two questionnaires comparing the clinical impact of 18F-FES and 18F-FDG on individual management plans in patients with newly diagnosed ER-positive breast cancer confirmed that 18F-FES scans led to change in management in 26.3% of the 19 patients with newly diagnosed ER positive breast cancer. This retrospective study indicates the potential impact of 18F-FES PET/CT on intended management of patients with newly diagnosed estrogen receptor positive breast cancer in comparison to 18F-fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose PET/CT.
The DNA damage response acts as a safeguard against harmful DNA–RNA hybrids of different origins

Despite playing physiological roles in specific situations, DNA–RNA hybrids threat genome integrity. To investigate how cells do counteract spontaneous DNA–RNA hybrids, here we screen an siRNA library covering 240 human DNA damage response (DDR) genes and select siRNAs causing DNA–RNA hybrid accumulation and a significant increase in hybrid‐dependent DNA breakage. We identify post‐replicative repair and DNA damage checkpoint factors, including those of the ATM/CHK2 and ATR/CHK1 pathways. Thus, spontaneous DNA–RNA hybrids are likely a major source of replication stress, but they can also accumulate and menace genome integrity as a consequence of unrepaired DSBs and post‐replicative ssDNA gaps in normal cells. We show that DNA–RNA hybrid accumulation correlates with increased DNA damage and chromatin compaction marks. Our results suggest that different mechanisms can lead to DNA–RNA hybrids with distinct consequences for replication and DNA dynamics at each cell cycle stage and support the conclusion that DNA–RNA hybrids are a common source of spontaneous DNA damage that remains unsolved under a deficient DDR.
A Lineage of Begomoviruses Encode Rep and AC4 Proteins of Enigmatic Ancestry: Hints on the Evolution of Geminiviruses in the New World

The begomoviruses (BGVs) are plant pathogens that evolved in the Old World during the Cretaceous and arrived to the New World (NW) in the Cenozoic era. A subgroup of NW BGVs, the “Squash leaf curl virus (SLCV) lineage” (S-Lin), includes viruses with unique characteristics. To get clues on the evolutionary origin of this lineage, a search for divergent members was undertaken. Four novel BGVs were characterized, including one that is basal to the group. Comparative analyses led to discover a ~670 bp genome module that is nearly exclusive of this lineage, encompassing the replication origin, the AC4 gene, and 480 bp of the Rep gene. A similar DNA module was found in two curtoviruses, hence suggesting that the S-Lin ancestor acquired its distinctive genomic segment by recombination with a curtovirus. This hypothesis was definitely disproved by an in-depth sequence analysis. The search for homologs of S-Lin Rep uncover the common origin of Rep proteins encoded by diverse Geminiviridae genera and viral “fossils” integrated at plant genomes. In contrast, no homolog of S-Lin Rep was found in public databases. Consequently, it was concluded that the SLCV clade ancestor evolved by a recombination event between a primitive NW BGV and a virus from a hitherto unknown lineage.
Long-term seroprotection of varicella-zoster immunization in pediatric liver transplant recipients.

BACKGROUND Chickenpox is a highly contagious vaccine-preventable disease that can lead to severe complications, especially in immunocompromised patients. Varicella-zoster virus (VZV) vaccine appears to be safe and immunogenic in pediatric solid organ transplant recipients, but there are few data on the long-term vaccine-induced seroprotection. METHODS In this prospective interventional study we offered two doses of VZV vaccine to all eligible and nonseroprotected children seen 1 year after liver transplant. Vaccine responses were measured 1 month later and yearly thereafter. Vaccine safety was closely monitored. A supplementary dose was administered if protective levels were not reached/maintained. RESULTS Among 121 enrolled patients, 49 were vaccinated and followed during 5.5 years (IQR 3.7-8.0). Their seroconversion rate reached 100% (97.5% confidence interval [CI] 92.7-100). Low VZV-antibody concentration (≤400 UI/L) after the first 1-2 dose/s was associated with the need for a supplementary dose (odds ratio 15.0; 95% CI 3.4-67.0, p=0.001) and was given to 31% (15/47) of children at 1.1 year (IQR [interquartile range] 0.9-3.9). Although antibody concentrations declined during follow-up, 96% (95% CI 86.0-99.5) of patients maintained protective antibody concentrations at a median of 5.5 years post vaccination. One breakthrough disease was identified. CONCLUSION VZV immunization of pediatric solid organ transplant recipients confers sustained seroprotection.
Mullerian inhibiting substance, sex hormone binding globulin and sex hormone levels in stimulant-naïve, first-diagnosed prepubertal boys with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder: comparison with matched healthy controls as well as before and after oros-methylpenidate treatment

Abstract Objectives: Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a complex neurodevelopmental disorder with strong male predominance. Since Müllerian Inhibiting Substance (MIS) produces sex-linked bias in animal studies, we aimed to investigate the role of MIS, Sex Hormone Binding Globulin (SHBG) and sex hormone levels in boys with ADHD. Methods: We compared prepubertal, psychostimulant-naïve boys with ADHD with age-matched healthy control boys (HCs). Patients were re-evaluated after 30 days of methylphenidate treatment assessing ADHD severity, and serum MIS, testosterone, estradiol, and albumin concentrations. Results: Compared to 30 HCs, with ADHD (n = 49, age = 6.9 ± 0.2 years) had lower SHBG (p = .014), and higher free testosterone (p = 0.006) and bioavailable testosterone (p = .002) percentages. Methylphenidate improved ADHD measures (all p < .0001) and abnormal baseline hormonal levels, increasing SHBG levels (p = .024), and lowering free (p = .001) and bioavailable testosterone (p = .016) percentages so that only free testosterone percentages remained higher versus HCs post-treatment (p = .02). Conclusions: Compared to age- and sex-matched HCs, prepubertal, stimulant-naïve boys with ADHD had significantly lower SHBG and higher free and bioavailable testosterone percentages, suggesting a possible contribution of sex hormones to ADHD. Osmotic-release oral system methylphenidate treatment for 30 days significantly improved ADHD symptoms and abnormal sex hormone levels, normalizing SHBG and bioavailable testosterone percentages that were similar to HCs while free testosterone remained elevated versus HCs. Key points Compare to healthy matched controls prepubertal stimulant-naïve boys with ADHD had significantly lower SHBG and higher free and bioavailable testosterone percentages, suggesting a possible effect on sex hormones to ADHD. After 30-day methylphenidate treatment, ADHD symptoms significantly improved, and SHBG and bioavailable testosterone percentages normalized which were similar to HCs, while free testosterone remained elevated versus HCs. We found a negative relationship between MIS levels and hyperactivity scores in ADHD boys. This finding suggests that MIS may contribute to hyperactivity symptoms, either directly by affecting behavior or indirectly by affecting sex hormone levels.
Efficacy of travoprost for the treatment of patients with glaucoma

Abstract Background: This study will evaluate the efficacy of travoprost for patients with glaucoma systematically. Methods: A comprehensive literature search will be carried from following literature sources from inception to the present: Cochrane Library, MEDLINE, EMBASE, Web of Science, Google scholar, Chinese Biomedical Literature Database, and China National Knowledge Infrastructure. We will only consider randomized controlled trials on assessing the efficacy and safety of travoprost for glaucoma for inclusion. We will use Cochrane risk of bias tool for the methodological quality assessment for each qualified study. If it is possible, we will pool the outcome data, and will perform meta-analysis. Results: This study will systematically evaluate the efficacy and safety of travoprost for glaucoma. Primary outcomes include intraocular pressure (IOP), mean IOP, and mean reduction of IOP. Secondary outcomes consist of diastolic ocular perfusion pressure, central corneal thickness, and quality of life, as measured by 36-Item Short Form Health Survey, and treatment-related adverse events included hyperemia, eye pain, and eye pruritus. Conclusion: The findings of the present study will summarize the updated evidence of travoprost for patients with glaucoma. PROSPERO registration number: PROSPERO CRD42019126956.
The Value of Automated Diabetic Retinopathy Screening with the EyeArt System: A Study of More Than 100,000 Consecutive Encounters from People with Diabetes

Abstract Background: Current manual diabetic retinopathy (DR) screening using eye care experts cannot scale to screen the growing population of diabetes patients who are at risk for vision loss. EyeArt system is an automated, cloud-based artificial intelligence (AI) eye screening technology designed to easily detect referral-warranted DR immediately through automated analysis of patient's retinal images. Methods: This retrospective study assessed the diagnostic efficacy of the EyeArt system v2.0 analyzing 850,908 fundus images from 101,710 consecutive patient visits, collected from 404 primary care clinics. Presence or absence of referral-warranted DR (more than mild nonproliferative DR [NPDR]) was automatically detected by the EyeArt system for each patient encounter, and its performance was compared against a clinical reference standard of quality-assured grading by rigorously trained certified ophthalmologists and optometrists. Results: Of the 101,710 visits, 75.7% were nonreferable, 19.3% were referable to an eye care specialist, and in 5.0%, the DR level was unknown as per the clinical reference standard. EyeArt screening had 91.3% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 90.9–91.7) sensitivity and 91.1% (95% CI: 90.9–91.3) specificity. For 5446 encounters with potentially treatable DR (more than moderate NPDR and/or diabetic macular edema), the system provided a positive “refer” output to 5363 encounters achieving sensitivity of 98.5%. Conclusions: This study captures variations in real-world clinical practice and shows that an AI DR screening system can be safe and effective in the real world. This study demonstrates the value of this easy-to-use, automated tool for endocrinologists, diabetologists, and general practitioners to address the growing need for DR screening and monitoring.
Development of dopaminergic genetic associations with visuospatial, verbal and social working memory

Abstract Dopamine transmission in the prefrontal cortex (PFC) supports working memory (WM), the temporary holding, processing and manipulation of information in one's mind. The gene coding the catechol‐O‐methyltransferase (COMT) enzyme, which degrades dopamine, in particular in the PFC, has a common single nucleotide polymorphism leading to two versions of the COMT enzyme which vary in their enzymatic activity. The methionine (Met) allele has been associated with higher WM performance and lower activation of the PFC in executive function tasks than the valine (Val) allele. In a previous study, COMT genotype was associated with performance on verbal and visuospatial WM tasks in adults, as well as with performance on a novel social WM paradigm that requires participants to maintain and manipulate information about the traits of their friends or family over a delay. Here, data collected in children and adolescents (N = 202) were compared to data from the adult sample (N = 131) to investigate possible age differences in genetic associations. Our results replicate and extend previous work showing that the pattern of superior WM performance observed in Met/Met adults emerges during development. These findings are consistent with a decrease in prefrontal dopamine levels during adolescence. Developmentally moderated genetic effects were observed for both visuospatial and social WM, even when controlling for non‐social WM performance, suggesting that the maintenance and manipulation of social information may also recruit the dopamine neurotransmitter system. These findings show that development should be considered when trying to understand the impact of genetic polymorphisms on cognitive function.
Characteristics of Pica Behavior among Mothers around Lake Victoria, Kenya: A Cross-Sectional Study

Background: Pica, the craving and purposeful consumption of nonfoods, is poorly understood. We described the prevalence of pica among women on Mfangano Island, Kenya, and examined sociodemographic and health correlates. Methods: Our cross-sectional study included 299 pregnant or postpartum women in 2012. We used a 24-h recall to assess pica, defined as consumption of earth (geophagy), charcoal/ash, or raw starches (amylophagy) and built multivariable logistic regression models to examine sociodemographic and health correlates of pica. Results: Eighty-one women (27.1%) engaged in pica in the previous 24 h, with 59.3% reporting amylophagy and 56.8% reporting geophagy, charcoal, and/or ash consumption. The most common substances consumed were raw cassava (n = 30, 36.6%), odowa, a chalky, soft rock-like earth (n = 21, 25.6%), and soil (n = 17, 20.7%). Geophagy, charcoal, and/or ash consumption was negatively associated with breastfeeding (OR = 0.38, 95% CI: 0.18–0.81), and amylophagy was associated with pregnancy (OR = 4.31, 95% CI: 1.24–14.96). Pica was more common within one of six study regions (OR = 3.64, 95% CI: 1.39–9.51). We found no evidence of an association between food insecurity and pica. Conclusion: Pica was a common behavior among women, and the prevalence underscores the need to uncover its dietary, environmental, and cultural etiologies.
Outliers Elimination Method of Ballistic Measurement Data Based on Least Square Fitting

A new method of outlier elimination of ballistic measurement data was proposed in this paper to overcome the shortage of White rule.The ballistic measurement data was viewed as the trend changes of long-term,and it was extracted by means of least square method.Then it subtracted the measured data tendency,and furthermore the White rule was adopted to eliminate the outliers.Finally the result could be obtained by summing the trend and the data after eliminating outlier.The results of computer simulation and test data processing show the effectiveness of this method.
Factors Associated With Use of a High-Volume Cancer Center by Black Women With Ovarian Cancer.

OBJECTIVE Disparities exist between population subgroups in the use of gynecologic oncologists and high-volume hospitals. The objectives of this study were to explore the experiences of black women obtaining ovarian cancer (OC) care at a high-volume center (HVC) and to identify patient-, provider-, and systems-related factors affecting their access to and use of this level of care. MATERIALS AND METHODS Twenty-one semistructured interviews were conducted as part of an institutional review board-approved protocol with women who self-identified as black or African American, treated for OC at a single HVC from January 2013 to May 2017. Recurring themes were identified in transcribed interviews through the process of independent and collaborative thematic content analysis. RESULTS Five themes were identified: (1) internal attributes contributing to black women's ability/desire to be treated at an HVC, (2) pathways to high- and low-volume centers, (3) obstacles to obtaining care, (4) potential barriers for black women interested in treatment at an HVC, and (5) suggestions for improving HVC use by black women. Study participants who successfully accessed care were comfortable navigating the health care system, understood the importance of self-advocacy, and valued the expertise of an HVC. Barriers to obtaining care at an HVC included lack of knowledge about the HVC, lack of referral, transportation difficulties, and lack of insurance coverage. CONCLUSION In this qualitative study, black women treated at an HVC shared attributes and experiences that helped them access care. There is a need to collaborate with black communities and establish interventions to reduce barriers, facilitate access, and disseminate information about the value of receiving care for OC at an HVC.