Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
DESIGN OF LOW POWER SEQUENTIAL CIRCUITS BY USING CLOCKED PASS TRANSISTOR FLIP FLOP

Clocks distribution networks (CDN’s) play a vital role in synchronous circuits. The clock distribution network distributes the clock signal to the all sequential elements in the synchronous system. There is several designs are proposed to design efficient clock distribution networks. Very much concentration has been given to the characteristics of the clock signals and electrical networks used in their distribution. This paper discusses the clocked pass transistor flip flop to design the low power sequential circuits.
Free or total metanephrines for diagnosis of pheochromocytoma: what is the difference?

Pheochromocytomas, although a rare cause of hypertension, are dangerous tumors that require consideration in large numbers of patients. The resulting low prevalence of these tumors among the tested population and the inadequate sensitivity and specificity of commonly used biochemical tests make diagnosis of pheochromocytoma difficult and time-consuming. As outlined in two articles in this issue of the Journal (1)(2), measurements of plasma concentrations of metanephrines provide a promising, new, highly sensitive test for diagnosis of pheochromocytoma. A negative test result for plasma metanephrines means that a pheochromocytoma is highly unlikely so that no other tests are necessary (3)(4). Thus, measurements of plasma metanephrines provide a particularly good initial diagnostic test for exclusion of pheochromocytoma. The diagnostic superiority of plasma metanephrines over plasma or urinary catecholamines and urinary vanillylmandelic acid is clear (3)(4)(5)(6). What remains unclear, as illustrated in the two articles in this issue of the Journal (1)(2), is whether measurements of plasma free (unconjugated) metanephrines or total metanephrines provide the better diagnostic test, and how these tests differ. Also unclear is how these tests differ from measurements of urinary metanephrines. Part of the confusion about tests of urinary total or fractionated metanephrines and plasma free, unconjugated, or total metanephrines stems from the unfortunate and confusing terminology used to distinguish these analytes. The term “metanephrines” describes two catecholamine metabolites: …
Elevated 8-Isoprostane Levels in Basal Cell Carcinoma and in Uva Irradiated Skin

Isoprostanes are prostaglandin isomers produced from the peroxidation of polyunsaturated fatty acids from the cellular membrane. They have been used as a specific index of cellular lipoperoxidation and as an indirect measure of oxidative stress. However, these molecules also present several biological activities. An oxidative environment measured as the presence of other indirect measurements of reactive oxygen species lipoperoxidation has recently been described in basal cell carcinoma, the most frequent type of non-melanoma skin cancer. This study aims to measure the levels of 8-isoprostaglandin F2α, an isoprostane widely studied in other models as a by-product of ROS-induced lipid peroxidation, in basal cell carcinoma and in UVA irradiated healthy skin. We found that 8-iso-PGF2α is present in higher levels in BCC specimens compared to healthy non sun-exposed skin, confirming previous studies on the production of lipoperoxidation in this tumor. Moreover, we demonstrated that topical pre-treatment with a compound containing vitamin E is capable of reducing 8-iso-PGF2α formation in UV irradiated skin suggesting a role for isoprostanes in UV induced inflammation and eventually carcinogenesis and confirming the function of vitamin E as an antioxidant in this model.
Labeling Effect of Seishin-Bunretsu-Byou, the Japanese Translation for Schizophrenia: an Argument for Relabeling

Stigma attached to individuals with schizophrenia may be derived from its diag nostic label. Two forms of a questionnaire were distributed to 189 Japanese university students. Each questionnaire contains case vignettes of schizophrenia and major depression. In one form, the students were told at the close of each vignette the diagnostic label assigned to that case (the label group) whereas in another form, they were not done so (the control group). The students were also asked to rate negative image of the case in four items each. The label group was significantly higher than the control group in three of the four negative image items for the vignette of schizophrenia. They did not differ in any of the negative image items for the vignette of depression. This suggests that the label of schizophrenia (the Japanese translation Seishin-bunretsu-byou) has stigmatizing effect. We discussed these findings in the light of the implications of a relabeling, and argued for a change of name.
Factors Affecting the Concentration of Breath Components Physiological and Biological Variables

Although the use of breath tests, such as those for hydrogen and ‘4CO2, are comparatively well known (1-4), the use of metabolites or volatile compounds in the breath as markers for disease is not so widely known. The purpose of this paper is to review the literature on the diagnostic aspects of breath analysis. Breath analysis is noninvasive and, with recent developments, potentially rapid in application. Progress in breath analysis is dependent on technical development; therefore, a section of this review will be devoted to reviewing pertinent current methodology and recent technical advances. Now that MS/MS systems (tandem mass spectrometry) allow for simple and rapid analysis of breath metabolites (5-7), significant progress will probably be made in the use of breath for medical diagnosis. ’ Approximately 200 compounds have been detected in the breath of normal human subjects (8-11); however, the metabolic pathways by which these compounds are derived are generally unknown. Sources of some metabolites commonly found in breath are listed in Table 1. Increased concentrations of some compounds have been shown to correlate with diabetes, cirrhosis, renal disease, and ovulation. Many diseases, however, have not yet been examined in this context. Another area of interest in medicine is the field of inhalation toxicology, where exposure of personnel to volatile compounds can be readily monitored by measuring the concentration of the compound or its metabolite(s) in the breath. Indeed, even nonvolatile drugs may sometimes be metabolized to volatile compounds that are detectable in the breath (e.g., disulfiram, which is metabolized to CS2) (12). Expired compounds that act as markers for inborn errors of metabolism have not yet been reported in a systematic fashion. The metabolites excreted in the breath may be divided into five groups:
Stability of Disk Galaxies in the Modified Dynamics

General analytic arguments lead us to expect that in the modified Newtonian dynamics (MOND), self-gravitating disks are more stable than their like in Newtonian dynamics. We study this question numerically, using a particle-mesh code based on a multigrid solver for the (nonlinear) MOND field equation. We start with equilibrium distribution functions for MOND disk models having a smoothly truncated, exponential surface density profile and a constant Toomre Q-parameter. We find that, indeed, disks of a given "temperature" are locally more stable in MOND than in Newtonian dynamics. As regards global instability to bar formation, we find that as the mean acceleration in the disk is lowered the stability of the disk is increased as we cross from the Newtonian to the MOND regime. The degree of stability levels off deep in the MOND regime, as expected from scaling laws in MOND. For the disk model we use, this maximum degree of stability is similar to the one imparted to a Newtonian disk by a halo 3 times as massive at 5 disk scale lengths.
An analysis of hidden node problem in IEEE 802.11 multihop networks

Prevailed IEEE 802.11 WLAN has been applied widely to wireless multihop networks, but its performance degraded severely from well-known hidden node problem. This paper proposes a novel analysis based on simple mathematical model for the hidden node problem which is classified as two typical cases, this is, the situations within or out of carrier sense ranges among hidden nodes. Our model is, our model is quite simple against existing complex models, but is well matched as the simulation results using NS2 for the performance evaluation.
Systematic Design and Implementation of a Micro Unmanned Quadrotor System

This paper presents a guideline to systematically design and construct a micro quadrotor unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), capable of autonomous flight. The designed micro UAV has a gross weight of less than 40g including power supply sufficient for an 8-min flight. The design is divided into three parts. First, investigation is made on the structural design of a conventional quadrotor. The quadrotor frame is then carefully designed to avoid any potential structural natural frequencies within the range of rotors operating speeds, based on simulation results obtained from MSC Nastran. Second, avionic system of the aircraft will be discussed in detail, mainly focusing on the design of printed circuit boards which include sensors, microprocessors and four electronic speed controllers, specially catered for micro quadrotor design. Last, a mathematical model for the micro quadrotor is derived based on Newton–Euler formalism, followed by methods of identifying the parameters. The flight test results are later described, analyzed and illustrated in this paper.
Sphingosine kinase 1 as an anticancer therapeutic target

The development of chemotherapeutic resistance is a major challenge in oncology. Elevated sphingosine kinase 1 (SK1) levels is predictive of a poor prognosis, and SK1 overexpression may confer resistance to chemotherapeutics. The SK/sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P)/sphingosine-1-phosphate receptor (S1PR) signaling pathway has been implicated in the progression of various cancers and in chemotherapeutic drug resistance. Therefore, SK1 may represent an important target for cancer therapy. Targeting the SK/S1P/S1PR signaling pathway may be an effective anticancer therapeutic strategy, particularly in the context of overcoming drug resistance. This review summarizes our current understanding of the role of SK/S1P/S1PR signaling in cancer and development of SK1 inhibitors.
Hidden Markov models from molecular dynamics simulations on DNA

An enhanced bioinformatics tool incorporating the participation of molecular structure as well as sequence in protein DNA recognition is proposed and tested. Boltzmann probability models of sequence-dependent DNA structure from all-atom molecular dynamics simulations were obtained and incorporated into hidden Markov models (HMMs) that can recognize molecular structural signals as well as sequence in protein–DNA binding sites on a genome. The binding of catabolite activator protein (CAP) to cognate DNA sequences was used as a prototype case for implementation and testing of the method. The results indicate that even HMMs based on probabilistic roll/tilt dinucleotide models of sequence-dependent DNA structure have some capability to discriminate between known CAP binding and nonbinding sites and to predict putative CAP binding sites in unknowns. Restricting HMMs to sequence only in regions of strong consensus in which the protein makes base specific contacts with the cognate DNA further improved the discriminatory capabilities of the HMMs. Comparison of results with controls based on sequence only indicates that extending the definition of consensus from sequence to structure improves the transferability of the HMMs, and provides further supportive evidence of a role for dynamical molecular structure as well as sequence in genomic regulatory mechanisms.
Interpretation of patterns of genetic variation in endemic plant species of oceanic islands

Oceanic islands offer special opportunities for understanding the patterns and processes of evolution. The availability of molecular markers in recent decades has enhanced these opportunities, facilitating the use of population genetics to reveal divergence and speciation in island systems. A common pattern seen in taxa on oceanic islands is a decreased level of genetic variation within and among populations, and the founder effect has often been invoked to explain this observation. Founder effects have a major impact on immigrant populations, but, over millions of years, the original genetic signature will normally be erased as a result of mutation, recombination, drift and selection. Therefore, the types and degrees of genetic modifications that occur must often be caused by other factors, which should be considered when explaining the patterns of genetic variation. The age of the island is extremely important because oceanic islands subside on their submarine plates over time. Erosion caused by wind, rain and wave action combine to grind down soft volcanic substrates. These geomorphological events can have a dramatic impact on population number and size, and hence levels of genetic diversity. The mode of speciation is also of significance. With anagenesis, genetic variation accumulates through time, whereas, with cladogenenesis, the gene pool splits into populations of adaptively radiating species. Breeding systems, population sizes and generation times are also important, as is hybridization between closely related taxa. Human disturbance has affected plant population number and size through the harvesting of forests and the introduction of invasive plants and animals. Therefore, the explanation of the observed levels of genetic variation in species of oceanic islands requires the consideration of many interconnected physical, biological and anthropomorphic factors.
Extensive Identification of Bacterial Riboflavin Transporters and Their Distribution across Bacterial Species

Riboflavin, the precursor for the cofactors flavin mononucleotide (FMN) and flavin adenine dinucleotide, is an essential metabolite in all organisms. While the functions for de novo riboflavin biosynthesis and riboflavin import may coexist in bacteria, the extent of this co-occurrence is undetermined. The RibM, RibN, RfuABCD and the energy-coupling factor-RibU bacterial riboflavin transporters have been experimentally characterized. In addition, ImpX, RfnT and RibXY are proposed as riboflavin transporters based on positional clustering with riboflavin biosynthetic pathway (RBP) genes or conservation of the FMN riboswitch regulatory element. Here, we searched for the FMN riboswitch in bacterial genomes to identify genes encoding riboflavin transporters and assessed their distribution among bacteria. Two new putative riboflavin transporters were identified: RibZ in Clostridium and RibV in Mesoplasma florum. Trans-complementation of an Escherichia coli riboflavin auxotroph strain confirmed the riboflavin transport activity of RibZ from Clostridium difficile, RibXY from Chloroflexus aurantiacus, ImpX from Fusobacterium nucleatum and RfnT from Ochrobactrum anthropi. The analysis of the genomic distribution of all known bacterial riboflavin transporters revealed that most occur in species possessing the RBP and that some bacteria may even encode functional riboflavin transporters from two different families. Our results indicate that some species possess ancestral riboflavin transporters, while others possess transporters that appear to have evolved recently. Moreover, our data suggest that unidentified riboflavin transporters also exist. The present study doubles the number of experimentally characterized riboflavin transporters and suggests a specific, non-accessory role for these proteins in riboflavin-prototrophic bacteria.
The Sec1 Family: A Novel Family of Proteins Involved in Synaptic Transmission and General Secretion

Abstract: The Sec1 family, a novel family of proteins involved in synaptic transmission and general secretion, is described. To date, 14 members of this family have been identified: four yeast proteins, Sec1, Sly1, Slp1/Vps33, and Vps45/Stt10; three nematode proteins, Unc‐18 and the homologues of Sly1 and Slp1; the Drosophila Rop; and six mammalian proteins, the rat Munc‐18/n‐Sec1/rbSec1A and rbSec1B, the mouse Munc‐18b/muSec1 and Munc‐18c, and the bovine Munc‐18 and mSec1. The mammalian proteins share 44–63% sequence identity with the nematode Unc‐18 and Drosophila Rop proteins and 20–29% with the yeast proteins and their nematode homologues. The Sec1 proteins are mostly hydrophilic and lack a transmembrane domain. Nevertheless, Sec1 proteins are found as membrane‐bound proteins. Some of them are also found as soluble, cytoplasmic proteins. Binding of the rat brain Sec1 to the presynaptic membrane may be due to strong interaction with syntaxin, an integral component of this membrane. The rat brain Sec1 is also bound to Cdk5, a neural cyclin‐dependent kinase. The Sec1 proteins play a positive role in exocytosis. Loss of function mutations in SEC1, SLY1, or SLP1 result in blocking of protein transport between distinct yeast subcellular compartments. Inactivation of unc‐18 and rop results in inhibition of neurotransmitter release and, in the case of rop, inhibition of general secretion as well. In addition, studies of Rop and n‐Sec1 indicate that they also play a negative role in synaptic transmission, mediated by their interaction with syntaxin. A working model addressing the dual regulative role of the Sec1 proteins in secretion is presented.
Functional Gradient Motion Planning in Reproducing Kernel Hilbert Spaces

We introduce a functional gradient descent trajectory optimization algorithm for robot motion planning in Reproducing Kernel Hilbert Spaces (RKHSs). Functional gradient algorithms are a popular choice for motion planning in complex many-degree-of-freedom robots, since they (in theory) work by directly optimizing within a space of continuous trajectories to avoid obstacles while maintaining geometric properties such as smoothness. However, in practice, functional gradient algorithms typically commit to a fixed, finite parameterization of trajectories, often as a list of waypoints. Such a parameterization can lose much of the benefit of reasoning in a continuous trajectory space: e.g., it can require taking an inconveniently small step size and large number of iterations to maintain smoothness. Our work generalizes functional gradient trajectory optimization by formulating it as minimization of a cost functional in an RKHS. This generalization lets us represent trajectories as linear combinations of kernel functions, without any need for waypoints. As a result, we are able to take larger steps and achieve a locally optimal trajectory in just a few iterations. Depending on the selection of kernel, we can directly optimize in spaces of trajectories that are inherently smooth in velocity, jerk, curvature, etc., and that have a low-dimensional, adaptively chosen parameterization. Our experiments illustrate the effectiveness of the planner for different kernels, including Gaussian RBFs, Laplacian RBFs, and B-splines, as compared to the standard discretized waypoint representation.
Verification of multi-view point-cloud registration for spherical harmonic cross-correlation

Spherical harmonic cross-correlation is a robust registration algorithm that brings two point-clouds of the same scene into coarse rotational alignment. The found rotation however may not give the desired alignment, as misalignments can occur if there is not enough overlap between point-clouds, or if they contain a form of symmetry. We propose a verification method whose purpose is to determine if registration has failed for a priori unknown registration. The rotational transformation between multiple clouds must satisfy internal consistency, namely multiple rotational transformations are transitive. The rotation verification is performed using triplets of images, which are cross-referenced with each other to classify rotations individually. Testing is performed on a dataset of a priori known registrations. It is found that when the number of images or the percentage of correct rotations is increased, the number of correct rotation classifications improves. Even when tested with only four images and a correct rotation percentage of 17%, the rotation verification is still considered a viable method for classifying rotations. Spherical harmonic cross-correlation is benefited by rotation verification as it provides an additional approach for checking whether found rotations are correct.
Lattice-Boltzmann Simulations of Transport Phenomena and Structuring in Suspensions

We simulate particles suspended in a fluid by means of the lattice-Boltzmann method and its extension to particle suspensions as introduced by Ladd et al. in order to study transport phenomena and structuring effects of particles in the vicinity of sheared rigid walls. We find that a particle free region arises near walls, which has a width depending on the shear rate and the particle concentration. The wall causes the formation of parallel particle layers at low concentrations, where the number of particles per layer decreases with increasing distance to the wall. These findings are in good agreement with a phenomenological theory of Muckenfus and Buggisch. We also study the velocity distributions of suspended particles which turn out to be non-Gaussian, but exponential.
Parents' involvement in children's schooling: a multidimensional conceptualization and motivational model.

This study had 2 goals. The first was to examine a multidimensional conceptualization of parent involvement in children's schooling, defined as the allocation of resources to the child's school endeavors. A second goal was to evaluate a model in which children's motivational resources (i.e., perceived competence, control understanding, and self-regulation) are mediators between parent involvement and children's school performance. 300 11-14-year-old children and their teachers participated. Factor analyses of a set of parent involvement measures supported the hypothesized 3 dimensions of parent involvement: behavior, intellectual/cognitive, and personal. Path analyses revealed indirect effects of mother behavior and intellectual/cognitive involvement on school performance through perceived competence and control understanding, and indirect effects of father behavior on school performance through perceived competence. The results argue against a unidimensional understanding of parent involvement and support the view of the child as an active constructor of his or her school experience.
Efficacy of chemotherapy plus gefitinib treatment in advanced non-small-cell lung cancer patients following acquired resistance to gefitinib

Non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) may exhibit oncogene addiction in patients who benefited from prior treatment with epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)-tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs). Preclinical data suggested that EGFR addiction persists after the development of TKI resistance, leading many clinicians to continue TKI treatment along with chemotherapy. However, this strategy has not been adequately evaluated in clinical practice. Patients who benefited from gefitinib followed by acquired resistance to this drug were reviewed in the Zhejiang Cancer Hospital. Patients were included if they received chemotherapy and gefitinib following failure of prior gefitinib treatment. A total of 26 patients were included in the present study. Six patients (23.1%) exhibited a partial response (PR), 13 (50%) achieved stable disease (SD) and 7 (26.9%) had progressive disease (PD) during the chemotherapy and gefitinib treatment. The disease control rate (DCR) was 73.1% and the median progression-free survival (PFS) was 4.6 months [95% confidence interval (CI): 3.8–5.4]. The toxicities associated with gefitinib and chemotherapy were generally acceptable. In conclusion, continued concurrent gefitinib and chemotherapy may be a valuable strategy, with acceptable and well-tolerated toxicity. However, this treatment requires further investigation.