Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
FPGA implementation of two very low complexity LDPC decoders

Low-Density Parity-Check (LDPC) codes are very efficient error control codes that are being considered as part of many next generation communication systems. In this paper FPGA implementations of two low complexity decoders are presented. These two implementations operate over any kind of parity check matrix, (including those randomly generated, structurally generated, either systematic or non systematic) and can be parametrically performed for any code rate k/n. The proposed implementations are both of very low complexity, because they operate using only sums, subtracts and look-up tables. One of these decoders offers the advantage of not requiring the knowledge of the signal-to-noise ratio of the channel, as it usually happens to most of decoders for LDPC codes.
Prosodic and semantic affect perception in remitted patients with bipolar I disorder.

OBJECTIVE Bipolar disorder is associated with impairments in emotion processing that are present during both mood episodes and periods of remission. In this context, most previous studies have investigated facial emotion recognition abilities. In contrast, the current study focused on the perception of prosodic and semantic affect. METHOD The present study directly contrasted the perception of prosodic and semantic affect in 58 remitted patients meeting DSM-IV criteria for bipolar I disorder and 45 healthy volunteers by using 2 subtests of the Comprehensive Affective Testing System (CATS) and investigated the relationship of prosodic and semantic affect perception with patients' outcomes. Participants were investigated from June 2011 until May 2013. RESULTS Patients and controls did not differ regarding the recognition of the vocal emotion while ignoring the affective meaning of test trials (CATS 1), but patients significantly more often misinterpreted sad as happy prosody (P = .039). In addition, patients were impaired in recognizing the affective meaning of test trials while ignoring the vocal emotion (CATS 2; P = .052). Again, they significantly more often misinterpreted a sad affective meaning as a happy one (P = .025). However, the findings on misinterpretations did not withstand Bonferroni correction for multiple testing. CATS 1 test performance was negatively correlated with depression scores, whereas a positive association was found between performance on both tests and patients' functioning. Patients indicated a significantly lower quality of life (P < .001); however, multiple mediation analysis revealed that this finding was not mediated by differences in prosodic and/or semantic affect perception between the 2 groups. CONCLUSIONS Even during periods of remission, patients with bipolar disorder may be impaired in semantic but not prosodic affect perception. Notably, they may frequently misinterpret sadly expressed emotions as happy ones. Our findings underscore the relevance of these deficits in the psychosocial context.
Stimulating creativity via the exposure to other people's ideas

As it is the case in brainstorming, each single idea a person generates to a specific problem may stimulate new ideas or solutions in others. In this fMRI study, we investigate the effects of cognitive stimulation via the exposure to other people's ideas on the originality of generated ideas. Participants are requested to generate alternative uses of conventional everyday objects subsequent to a short cognitive stimulation intervention in which they are exposed to other ideas, which were either common or highly original. In a control condition, meaningless pseudowords are shown. Results suggest that cognitive stimulation via common or moderately creative ideas was effective in improving creativity. At the neurophysiological level, temporo‐parietal brain regions (primarily right‐hemispheric) turned out to be particularly sensitive to cognitive stimulation, possibly indicating that cognitive stimulation via relevant memory cues results in a state of heightened focused attention to memory that facilitates efficient retrieval and recombination of existing knowledge. Hum Brain Mapp, 2012. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Fertilization and Inositol 1,4,5-Trisphosphate (IP3)-Induced Calcium Release in Type-1 Inositol 1,4,5-Trisphosphate Receptor Down-Regulated Bovine Eggs1

Abstract It is widely believed that stimulation of the phosphoinositide pathway and production of 1,4,5-inositol trisphosphate (IP3) underlies the oscillatory changes in the concentration of intracellular free calcium ions ([Ca2+]i) seen during mammalian fertilization. IP3 promotes Ca2+ release in eggs by binding to its receptor, the type-1 IP3 receptor (IP3R-1, also known as ITPR1), a ligand-gated Ca2+ channel located in the membrane of the endoplasmic reticulum, the main Ca2+ store of the cell. While IP3R-1 has been shown to mediate all Ca2+ release during mouse fertilization, whether or not it plays such an essential role in fertilization-induced Ca2+ release in large domestic species such as bovine and porcine is presently not known. Accordingly, we have generated metaphase II bovine eggs with a ∼70%–80% reduction in the number of intact IP3R-1 by inducing receptor down-regulation during oocyte maturation. We did so by injecting the nonhydrolyzable IP3 analogue, adenophostin A. Functional Ca2+ release analysis revealed that IP3R-1 is the predominant Ca2+ release channel in bovine eggs, requiring as little as 20% of total intact receptor to mount persistent [Ca2+]i oscillations in response to fertilization, expression of PLCζ (also known as PLCZ1), and adenophostin A. However, lower concentrations of IP3 and near-physiological concentrations of porcine sperm extract were unable to trigger [Ca2+]i oscillations in this reduced IP3R-1 model. Furthermore, we present evidence that the sensitivity of bovine IP3R-1 is impaired at the first embryonic interphase. Together, these results demonstrate the essential role of IP3R-1-mediated Ca2+ release during fertilization in bovine eggs, and identify cell cycle regulatory mechanisms of [Ca2+]i oscillations at the level of IP3R-1.
Mobile Ad Hoc Network Security for Reactive Routing Protocol with Node Reputation Scheme

The mobile node’s reputation in the Mobile Ad hoc Network (MANET) identifies its trust worthiness for secured multiple data communication. Unknown nature of the node’s communication status for initial period has great impact in the effective data transfer as MANET is self-organized and distributed. Problem statement: The functional operation of the mobile network relies on the trusty cooperation between the nodes. The major factor in securing the MANET is based on the quantification of node’s reputation and trustworthiness. The previous literatures provided uncertainty model to reflect a node’s confidence in sufficiency of its past experience and effect of collecting trust information from the unknown node status. With node mobility characteristic, it reduces unknown nature and speed up trust convergence. Approach: Mobility-assisted uncertainty reduction schemes comprised of, proactive schemes, that achieve trust convergence and reactive schemes provide node authentication and their reputation. They provide an acceptable trade-off between delay and uncertainty. The mobility based node reputation scheme presented in this study, identifies and monitor the node’s trustworthiness in sharing the information within the ad hoc network. Mobile nodes information uncertainty is handled with the mobility characteristics and its reputation is evaluated to trust or discard the node’s communication. Results: Simulations are carried out to evaluate the performance of mobility based node reputation scheme by measuring the nodes consistency behavior, neighboring communication rate and path diversity. Conclusion: The average node’s neighboring communication rate is high for the proposed mobility based reputation scheme compared to the reactive routing protocols.
High-Availability Virtual Communication for Cloud Access

Cloud computing is a paradigm in which information is permanently stored in servers on the Internet and cached temporarily on clients. Virtual private network (VPN) is the most widely used technology for secure cloud access. Unfortunately, VPN-based cloud services become unavailable when a VPN failure occurs. In this paper, we propose a new scheme to improve the availability of VPN connections against such failures, called high-availability virtual communication (HAVC). Unlike most of the multipath transmission schemes in the literature, the proposed scheme is implemented by using a virtualization technique, and its protocol functions are independent of existing networks - potential clients are not required to modify their applications or operating systems. Simulation results show that the HAVC can not only tolerate VPN failures but also achieve high transmission performance.
7-Year Survey After Percutaneous Dilatational Tracheotomy on a Medical Intensive Care Unit

Purpose Percutaneous dilatational tracheotomy (PDT) is a well-established procedure in intensive care medicine. Several reports confirm a low acute and long-term complication rate. However, dilatational tracheotomy is still often postponed even in patients that are under ventilator support for more than 2 weeks. We present a retrospective study analyzing the subjective long-term results after percutaneous tracheotomy performed at our medical intensive care unit between 2002 and 2008. Methods We used a modified method described by Ciaglia for tracheotomy. We selected 649 patients eligible for the survey among those who had received PDT between 2002 and 2008 and had been dismissed from hospital alive. Results The return rate was 38.5% with 29.8% of the questionnaires being completed by the patients; in 32 cases, relatives reported of the patients' death. No patient experienced wound infection; none needed surgical wound revision. Dysarthria was reversible in all 16 cases; 2 patients reported a persistent hoarseness that was preexisting in both cases. One patient experienced a tracheal stenosis and received a tracheal stent; one other required a permanent tracheotomy because of a nonresectable granulation tissue. The overall rate of long-term complications associated with the long-term ventilation and the PDT was 1.8%. Conclusions Percutaneous dilatational tracheotomy is an easily performed, cost-saving method for long-term ventilated patients with a low rate of acute and long-term complications even in old and multimorbid internal medicine patients.
Extrapolating time domain data using autoregressive and Maximum Entropy Methods

In recent years, considerable attentions have ban paid to time domain methods. The major part of these efforts have concentrated on applying Yee's (FD-TD), John's (TLM) or Begeron's algorithm to different structures. Nevertheless, the signal processing techniques for converting the resulting time domain data to frequency domain have been restricted to the DFT, FFT and Prony's methods. In this article two other extrapolation schemes are being presented which can be more suitable for applications involving resonant structures. The underlying theory accompanied by numerical simulations and relevant comparisons are presented.
Activity of the Human Centrosomal Kinase, Nek2, Depends on an Unusual Leucine Zipper Dimerization Motif*

Nek2 is a human cell cycle-regulated kinase that is structurally related to the mitotic regulator, NIMA, ofAspergillus nidulans. Localization studies have shown that Nek2 is a core component of the centrosome, the microtubule organizing center of the cell, and functional approaches suggest a possible role for Nek2 in centrosome separation at the G2/M transition. Here, we have investigated the importance of an unusual leucine zipper coiled-coil motif present in the C-terminal noncatalytic domain of the Nek2 kinase. Glycerol gradient centrifugation indicated that endogenous Nek2 is present in HeLa cells as a salt-resistant 6 S complex, the predicted size of a Nek2 homodimer. Recombinant Nek2 overexpressed in insect cells also formed a 6 S complex, whereas a Nek2 mutant specifically lacking the leucine zipper motif was monomeric. Using yeast two-hybrid interaction analyses and coprecipitation assays, we found that Nek2 can indeed form homodimers both in vivo andin vitro and that this dimerization specifically required the leucine zipper motif. Moreover, deletion of the leucine zipper prevented a trans-autophosphorylation reaction on the C-terminal domain of Nek2 and strongly reduced Nek2 kinase activity on exogenous substrates. Finally, we emphasize that the Nek2 leucine zipper described here differs from classical leucine zippers in that it exhibits a radically different arrangement of hydrophobic and charged amino acids. Thus, this study reveals not only an important mechanism for the regulation of the Nek2 kinase but, furthermore, highlights an unusual organization of a leucine zipper dimerization motif.
Long‐term course of acute reactive paranoid psychosis

ABSTRACT The study comprises a retrospective evaluation of the case records of 49 first‐admission patients with acute reactive paranoid psychosis and of the subsequent follow‐up almost 10 years later, with special reference to clinical and social course and outcome. Ten of the 41 followed‐up patients were diagnosed schizophrenic in the observation period and a further five fulfilled the Catego Class S+ at a PSE interview. Three patients were diagnosed affective psychosis and one fulfilled Class MT. Three patients were diagnosed paranoid psychosis and four more fulfilled Class P7PT while six patients had reactive psychosis relapses but were non‐psychotic at follow‐up. During the observation period the number of disabled pensioners increased from three to 21, and at follow‐up only seven patients were well‐adjusted in their family and work. The need is stressed for valid predictors in the prognosis of acute paranoid psychoses with or without associated stressful life events.
The rhetoric and reality of Lean: a multiple case study

In this paper, we analyse the similarities and differences between the descriptions of Lean found in the extant literature and how it is applied in practice. Using a multiple case study with seven cases from different sectors, we offer seven propositions about Lean as applied in reality and its relation to descriptions in literature. Our results indicate that organisations adopt the general rhetoric, and repeat the message conveyed by Lean proponents, in terms of the rationale for, and expected outcomes of, applying Lean. Furthermore, we see that the decision to implement Lean often precedes the identification of problems in the organisation, which causes a risk of an unfocused change process. Lean initiatives also tend to have a rather narrow scope, which contradicts the holistic view advocated in the literature. This, together with the variation in operationalisation, makes it difficult to predict the outcomes of a Lean initiative. Our study suggests that our findings do not depend on organisation size, sector or industry.
Mutations in 16 S Ribosomal RNA and Ribosomal 2 Protein S 5 Associated with High-Level 3 Spectinomycin Resistance in Pasteurella multocida

19 * Corresponding author: Mailing address: Institut für Tierzucht, 20 Bundesforschungsanstalt für Landwirtschaft (FAL), Höltystr. 10, 31535 Neustadt21 Mariensee, Germany. Phone: +49-5034-871-241. Fax: +49-5034-871-246. Electronic 22 mail address: stefan.schwarz@fal.de 23 AC CE PT ED Copyright © 2007, American Society for Microbiology and/or the Listed Authors/Institutions. All Rights Reserved. Antimicrob. Agents Chemother. doi:10.1128/AAC.00229-07 AAC Accepts, published online ahead of print on 19 March 2007
Mortality in the long‐stay population of all Dutch mental hospitals

A study of 1,506 deaths reported over a period of 2 years to the National Psychiatric Case Register of the Netherlands, on the total cohort of 17,211 long‐stay patients counted on prevalence day (31 December 1969), showed very much higher death‐rates than in the general population. Malignancy and cardiac disease were not so common, while respiratory disease was still common in inpatients.
Effect of Ethanol and pH on the Adsorption of Acetaminophen (Paracetamol) to High Surface Activated Charcoal, In Vitro Studies

Background: Paracetamol (acetaminophen) intoxication often in combination with ethanol, is seen commonly in overdose cases. Doses of several grams might be close to the maximum adsorption capacity of the standard treatment dose (50 g) of activated charcoal. The aim of this study was to determine the maximum adsorption capacity for paracetamol for two types of high surface-activated charcoal [Carbomix® and Norit Ready-To-Use (not yet registered trademark in Denmark) both from Norit Cosmara, Amersfoort, The Netherlands] in simulated in vivo environments: At pH 1.2 (gastric environment), at pH 7.2 (intestinal environment), and with and without 10% ethanol. Methods: Activated charcoal, at both gastric or intestinal pHs, and paracetamol were mixed, resulting in activated charcoal–paracetamol ratios from 10:1 to 1:1. In trials with ethanol, some of the gastric or intestinal fluid was replaced with an equivalent volume of ethanol, resulting in an ethanol concentration of 10% v/v. After incubation, the concentration of unabsorbed paracetamol was analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography. The maximum adsorption capacity of paracetamol to activated charcoal was calculated as mg paracetamol adsorbed/g activated charcoal, using Langmuir's isotherm. Results: Carbomix [95% confidence limits are shown in square brackets]: 623.7 [612.8;634.5] mg paracetamol adsorbed/g activated charcoal (pH 1.2), 626.2 [611.6;640.9] mg paracetamol adsorbed/g activated charcoal (pH 7.2); Norit Ready-To-Use: 693.6 [676.8;710.5] mg paracetamol adsorbed/g activated charcoal (pH 1.2), 722.6 [687.4;757.9] mg paracetamol adsorbed/g activated charcoal (pH 7.2). For experiments with ethanol (10% v/v) the results with Carbomix were 465.7 [449.2;482.2] mg paracetamol adsorbed/g activated charcoal (pH 1.2), 498.6 [481.8;515.6] mg paracetamol adsorbed/g activated charcoal (pH 7.2); with Norit Ready-To-Use: 617.2 [606.6;627.7] mg paracetamol adsorbed/g activated charcoal (pH 1.2), 640.6 [624.9;656.4] mg paracetamol adsorbed/g activated charcoal (pH 7.2). Conclusion: Under conditions simulating immediate treatment with charcoal, a standard dose of 50 g of either of the two tested activated charcoals adsorbed a sufficient amount of paracetamol to be beneficial in the treatment of the majority of overdoses of this drug. For both types of activated charcoal, with or without ethanol, there was no significant difference in the adsorption of paracetamol at pH 1.2 and 7.2. Norit Ready-To-Use had a larger maximum adsorption capacity than Carbomix, and was not as sensitive as Carbomix to environmental changes (pH and ethanol). The presence of 10% ethanol lowered the adsorption capacity of the two tested activated charcoal preparations by an amount that might be clinically relevant in cases of intoxications by high-gram doses.
The CUIDEME Study: determinants of burden in chilean primary caregivers of patients with dementia.

BACKGROUND Caring for a person with dementia is associated with well-documented increases in burden and distress and decreases in mental health and wellbeing. Studies assessing burden in caregivers of patients with dementia and its determinants are scarce in Latin America. OBJECTIVE The main objective of this study was to assess the extent and the determinants of burden in informal primary caregivers of patients with dementia in Chile. METHODS A descriptive study was conducted using clinically validated scales to assess dementia characteristics and to measure caregiver variables. Family socio-demographic characteristics and functional status, patient functional dependency and behavioral disturbances, and caregiver psychiatric morbidity were analyzed as independent variables to determine caregiver burden. RESULTS Two hundred and ninety-two informal caregivers were included. There were more female (80%) than male caregivers, consisting mainly of daughters and spouses of the patients. Severe burden was reported in 63% of the caregivers, and 47% exhibited psychiatric morbidity. Burden was associated with caregiver psychiatric distress, family dysfunction, severity of neuropsychiatric symptoms and functional disability, but neither patient age, gender, nor socioeconomic status impacted burden. CONCLUSION Our results underscore the importance of assessing the consequences of dementia in both caregivers and patients in order to evaluate the real biopsychosocial impact of dementia, as well as the importance of planning appropriate and effective public health interventions in Latin American countries. In addition, interventions targeting caregiver psychological distress, caregiver familial dysfunction, patient neuropsychiatric disorders, and patient functional disability could potentially diminish caregiver burden.
Instantaneous anomaly detection in online learning fuzzy systems

In the field of self-optimizing automation systems, incremental local learning is an important technique. But especially in case of closed loop coupling, learnt anomalies may have a negative influence on the entire future of the evolving system. In the worst case, this may result in unstable or chaotic system behavior. Thus it is crucial to detect anomalies in online learning systems instantaneously to be able to take immediate counteractions. This paper presents an intuitive approach how to detect anomalies in incrementally and locally learning TS-fuzzy systems by looking at local meta-level characteristics of the learnt function. The practical feasibility of this approach is then investigated in experiments with a real pole-balancing cart.
Adolescent Attitudes Toward Serious Mental Illness

While there is a growing literature on mental illness stigma and strategies for reducing stigma among adults, less is known about how children and adolescents view persons with mental illness. In this paper, we describe the Attitudes Toward Serious Mental Illness Scale–Adolescent Version (ATSMI-AV) and our initial examinations of its factor structure and variations among subgroups of adolescents. Findings suggest that strategies aimed at reducing stigma in this age group would be wise to specifically target categorical thinking about mental health and mental illness and perceptions of persons with mental illness being violent and out of control.
Simulation of Graphene Base Transistors With Bilayer Tunnel Oxide Barrier: Model Calibration and Performance Projection

A simulation study of the graphene base transistor is presented based on the most recent experimental results involving a novel double-layer emitter-to-base insulator made of TmSiO and TiO2. The simulations are based on a 1-D quantum transport model with the effective mass approximation, and reproduce well the experiments both in terms of current levels and common-base current gain α. Performance projections are then investigated: with transparent graphene, the cutoff frequency is predicted to increase from 1 to 100 MHz by reducing the thickness of TmSiO from 1 to 0.5 nm. In order to go beyond this limit toward the terahertz range, a material with a lower barrier height than TmSiO should be considered. A technological breakthrough boosting the graphene interface quality is also needed in order to obtain acceptable values of α, which are still low.