Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Chip-Package Co-modeling & Verification of Noise Coupling & Generation in CMOS DC/DC Buck Converter

DC/DC Converters are now an essential part in a system due to the various needs of supply voltage that is necessary for different circuits in the system. However, there are many papers which have dealt for efficiency or for a novel structure that would be customized to the specific design, but few dealt with the noise characteristics of DC/DC Converters which could critically affect to the output supply voltage the target circuit would need. In this paper we analyzed the effect of noise to a DC/DC Converter in a chip-package co-design. We figured out that the decoupling capacitors on the PCB board cannot shield all the noise that could affect to the DC/DC converter, and on-chip decoupling capacitor for a DC/DC Converter would be necessary.
C-reactive protein and outcome after ischemic stroke.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Elevated concentrations of the acute-phase reactant C-reactive protein (CRP) predict ischemic cardiac events in both hospital- and population-based studies and may signify a role for inflammation in the destabilization of cardiovascular disease. We examined the relationship between CRP and outcome after acute ischemic stroke. METHODS This was a subgroup analysis from a prospective observational study based in a University Hospital Acute Stroke Unit serving a population of approximately 260 000. Survival time and cause of death for up to 4 years after the index stroke were determined and related to CRP concentration within 72 hours of stroke and known prognostic variables by a Cox proportional hazards regression model. RESULTS Ischemic stroke was diagnosed in 228 of 283 consecutive admissions. Median follow-up was 959 days. Geometric mean CRP concentration was 10.1 mg/L. Survival in those with CRP >10.1 mg/L was significantly worse than in those with CRP </=10.1 mg/L (P=0.00009, log-rank test). Higher CRP concentration was an independent predictor of mortality (hazard ratio, 1.23 per additional natural log unit; 95% CI, 1.13 to 1.35; P=0.02), together with age and stroke severity on the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale. Cardiovascular disease accounted for 76% of deaths in those with CRP >10.1 mg/L and 63% of deaths in those with CRP </=10. 1 mg/L. CONCLUSIONS CRP concentration is an independent predictor of survival after ischemic stroke. These findings are consistent with a role for inflammation in acute ischemic stroke, as well as with the hypothesis that elevated CRP may predict future cardiovascular mortality.
Development of a Chinese medicine assessment measure: an interdisciplinary approach using the delphi method.

BACKGROUND The diagnostic framework and clinical reasoning process in Chinese medicine emphasizes the contextual and qualitative nature of a patient's illness. Chinese medicine assessment data may help interpret clinical outcomes. OBJECTIVES As part of a study aimed at assessing the validity and improving the inter-rater reliability of the Chinese diagnostic process, a structured assessment instrument was developed for use in clinical trials of acupuncture and other Chinese medical therapies. STUDY DESIGN To foster collaboration and maximize resources and information, an interdisciplinary advisory team was assembled. Under the guidance of two group process facilitators, and in order to establish whether the assessment instrument was consistent with accepted Chinese medicine diagnostic categories (face validity) and included the full range of each concept's meaning (content validity), a panel of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) expert clinicians was convened and their responses were organized using the Delphi process, an iterative, anonymous, idea-generating and consensus-building process. An aggregate rating measure was obtained by taking the mean of mean ratings for each question across all 10 experts. RESULTS Over three rounds, the overall rating increased from 7.4 (SD = 1.3) in Round 1 to 9.1 (SD = 0.5) in Round 3. The level of agreement among clinicians was measured by a decrease in SD. CONCLUSIONS The final instrument TEAMSI-TCM (Traditional East Asian Medicine Structured Interview, TCM version) uses the pattern differentiation model characteristic of TCM. This modular, dynamic version was specifically designed to assess women, with a focus on gynecologic conditions; with modifications it can be adapted for use with other populations and conditions. TEAMSI-TCM is a prescriptive instrument that guides clinicians to use the proper indicators, combine them in a systematic manner, and generate conclusions. In conjunction with treatment manualization and training it may serve to increase inter-rater reliability and inter-trial reproducibility in Chinese medicine clinical trials. Testing of the validity and reliability of this instrument currently is underway.
Staphylococcus epidermidis Esp Degrades Specific Proteins Associated with Staphylococcus aureus Biofilm Formation and Host-Pathogen Interaction

ABSTRACT Staphylococcus aureus exhibits a strong capacity to attach to abiotic or biotic surfaces and form biofilms, which lead to chronic infections. We have recently shown that Esp, a serine protease secreted by commensal Staphylococcus epidermidis, disassembles preformed biofilms of S. aureus and inhibits its colonization. Esp was expected to degrade protein determinants of the adhesive and cohesive strength of S. aureus biofilms. The aim of this study was to elucidate the substrate specificity and target proteins of Esp and thereby determine the mechanism by which Esp disassembles S. aureus biofilms. We used a mutant Esp protein (EspS235A) with defective proteolytic activity; this protein did not disassemble the biofilm formed by a clinically isolated methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) strain, thereby indicating that the proteolytic activity of Esp is essential for biofilm disassembly. Esp degraded specific proteins in the biofilm matrix and cell wall fractions, in contrast to proteinase K, which is frequently used for testing biofilm robustness and showed no preference for proteolysis. Proteomic and immunological analyses showed that Esp degrades at least 75 proteins, including 11 biofilm formation- and colonization-associated proteins, such as the extracellular adherence protein, the extracellular matrix protein-binding protein, fibronectin-binding protein A, and protein A. In addition, Esp selectively degraded several human receptor proteins of S. aureus (e.g., fibronectin, fibrinogen, and vitronectin) that are involved in its colonization or infection. These results suggest that Esp inhibits S. aureus colonization and biofilm formation by degrading specific proteins that are crucial for biofilm construction and host-pathogen interaction.
Interactions between the FTO and GNB3 Genes Contribute to Varied Clinical Phenotypes in Hypertension

Background The genes FTO and GNB3 are implicated in essential hypertension but their interaction remains to be explored. This study investigates the role of interaction between the two genes in the pathophysiology of essential hypertension. Methods/Principal Findings In a case-control study comprising 750 controls and 550 patients, interaction between the polymorphisms of FTO and GNB3 was examined using multifactor dimensionality reduction (MDR). The influence of interaction on clinical phenotypes like systolic and diastolic blood pressure, mean arterial pressure and body mass index was also investigated. The 3-locus MDR model comprising FTO rs8050136C/A and GNB3 rs1129649T/C and rs5443C/T emerged as the best disease conferring model. Moreover, the interacted-genotypes having either 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5 risk alleles correlated with linearly increasing odds ratios of 1.91 (P = 0.027); 3.93 (P = 2.08E–06); 4.51 (P = 7.63E–07); 7.44 (P = 3.66E–08) and 11.57 (P = 1.18E–05), respectively, when compared with interacted-genotypes devoid of risk alleles. Furthermore, interactions among haplotypes of FTO (H1−9) and GNB3 (Ha-d) differed by >1.5-fold for protective-haplotypes, CTGGC+TC [H2+Ha] and CTGAC+TC [H4+Ha] (OR = 0.39, P = 0.003; OR = 0.22, P = 6.86E–05, respectively) and risk-haplotypes, AAAGC+CT [H3+Hc] and AAAGC+TT [H3+Hd] (OR = 2.91, P = 9.98E–06; OR = 2.50, P = 0.004, respectively) compared to individual haplotypes. Moreover, the effectiveness of gene-gene interaction was further corroborated with a 1.29-, 1.25- and 1.38-fold higher SBP, MAP and BMI, respectively, in patients having risk interacted-haplotype H3+Hc and 2.48-fold higher SBP having risk interacted-haplotype H3+Hd compared to individual haplotypes. Conclusion Interactions between genetic variants of FTO and GNB3 influence clinical parameters to augment hypertension.
ADVICE: Automated Detection and Validation of Interaction by Co-Evolution

ADVICE (Automated Detection and Validation of Interaction by Co-Evolution) is a web tool for predicting and validating protein-protein interactions using the observed co-evolution between interacting proteins. Interacting proteins are known to share similar evolutionary histories since they undergo coordinated evolutionary changes to preserve interactions and functionalities. The web tool automates a commonly adopted methodology to quantify the similarities in proteins' evolutionary histories for postulating potential protein-protein interactions. ADVICE can also be used to validate experimental data against spurious protein interactions by identifying those that have few similarities in their evolutionary histories. The web tool accepts a list of protein sequences or sequence pairs as input and retrieves orthologous sequences to compute the similarities in the proteins' evolutionary histories. To facilitate hypothesis generation, detected co-evolved proteins can be visualized as a network at the website. ADVICE is available at http://advice.i2r. a-star.edu. sg.
Reply to Comment on ‘High-income does not protect against hurricane losses’

Recently a multitude of empirically derived damage models have been applied to project future tropical cyclone (TC) losses for the United States. In their study (Geiger et al 2016 Environ. Res. Lett. 11 084012) compared two approaches that differ in the scaling of losses with socio-economic drivers: the commonly-used approach resulting in a sub-linear scaling of historical TC losses with a nation’s affected gross domestic product (GDP), and the disentangled approach that shows a sub-linear increase with affected population and a super-linear scaling of relative losses with per capita income. Statistics cannot determine which approach is preferable but since process understanding demands that there is a dependence of the loss on both GDP per capita and population, an approach that accounts for both separately is preferable to one which assumes a specific relation between the two dependencies. In the accompanying comment, Rybski et al argued that there is no rigorous evidence to reach the conclusion that high-income does not protect against hurricane losses. Here we affirm that our conclusion is drawn correctly and reply to further remarks raised in the comment, highlighting the adequateness of our approach but also the potential for future extension of our research.
Phylogeny of Vibrio vulnificus from the Analysis of the Core-Genome: Implications for Intra-Species Taxonomy

Vibrio vulnificus (Vv) is a multi-host pathogenic species currently subdivided into three biotypes (Bts). The three Bts are human-pathogens, but only Bt2 is also a fish-pathogen, an ability that is conferred by a transferable virulence-plasmid (pVvbt2). Here we present a phylogenomic analysis from the core genome of 80 Vv strains belonging to the three Bts recovered from a wide range of geographical and ecological sources. We have identified five well-supported phylogenetic groups or lineages (L). L1 comprises a mixture of clinical and environmental Bt1 strains, most of them involved in human clinical cases related to raw seafood ingestion. L2 is formed by a mixture of Bt1 and Bt2 strains from various sources, including diseased fish, and is related to the aquaculture industry. L3 is also linked to the aquaculture industry and includes Bt3 strains exclusively, mostly related to wound infections or secondary septicemia after farmed-fish handling. Lastly, L4 and L5 include a few strains of Bt1 associated with specific geographical areas. The phylogenetic trees for ChrI and II are not congruent to one another, which suggests that inter- and/or intra-chromosomal rearrangements have been produced along Vv evolution. Further, the phylogenetic trees for each chromosome and the virulence plasmid were also not congruent, which also suggests that pVvbt2 has been acquired independently by different clones, probably in fish farms. From all these clones, the one with zoonotic capabilities (Bt2-Serovar E) has successfully spread worldwide. Based on these results, we propose a new updated classification of the species based on phylogenetic lineages rather than on Bts, as well as the inclusion of all Bt2 strains in a pathovar with the particular ability to cause fish vibriosis, for which we suggest the name “piscis. ”
Gain scheduled active power control for wind turbines

Traditional wind turbine control algorithms attempt to maximize power capture at low speeds and maintain rated power at high wind speeds. Active power control refers to a mode of operation where the turbine tracks a desired power reference command. Active power control enables wind farms to perform frequency regulation and to provide ancillary services in the energy markets. This paper presents a multiple input, multiple output strategy for active power control. An H∞ controller is designed at several operating points to coordinate the blade pitch angle and generator torque. The objective is to track a given power reference command while also minimizing the structural loads. The controller is gain-scheduled based on the wind speed and the power output in order to compensate for the nonlinear turbine dynamics. This allows the turbine to be operated smoothly anywhere within the power / wind speed envelope. The performance of this gain-scheduled design is evaluated using high fidelity simulations.
Regulación y supervisión de la banca en la experiencia de liberalización financiera en Chile: 1974-1988

Analiza los dos planos en los que actuo la politica de liberalizacion de la intermediacion de fondos al credito en el periodo 1974-1987: el mercado de credito y la reestructuracion de la banca, y los mecanismos de regulacion y supervision de las instituciones financieras.
DUX4, a candidate gene for facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy, causes p53‐dependent myopathy in vivo

Facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy (FSHD) is associated with D4Z4 repeat contraction on human chromosome 4q35. This genetic lesion does not result in complete loss or mutation of any gene. Consequently, the pathogenic mechanisms underlying FSHD have been difficult to discern. In leading FSHD pathogenesis models, D4Z4 contractions are proposed to cause epigenetic changes, which ultimately increase expression of genes with myopathic potential. Although no gene has been conclusively linked to FSHD development, recent evidence supports a role for the D4Z4‐encoded DUX4 gene in FSHD. In this study, our objective was to test the in vivo myopathic potential of DUX4.
Concentration and High Avidity of Pneumococcal Antibodies Persist at Least 4 Years after Immunization with Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine in Infancy

ABSTRACT To provide more extensive evidence of long-term effects of vaccination on immunity against Streptococcus pneumoniae, a follow-up study of the Finnish Otitis Media (FinOM) Vaccine Trial was conducted. One of the objectives was to assess the persistence and avidity of pneumococcal antibodies 4 years after pneumococcal vaccination given in infancy. Children with complete follow-up in the FinOM trial up to 24 months of age were invited to a single visit in their fifth year of life. A blood sample was taken from all children for determination of anticapsular antibody concentrations to vaccine serotypes and avidity of antibodies to three serotypes. Children had been vaccinated at 2, 4, 6, and 12 months of age with 7-valent pneumococcal capsular polysaccharide, CRM197 conjugate vaccine (PCV7), or a control vaccine. Serum IgG antibody concentrations to vaccine serotypes remained significantly higher in children who had received PCV7 than in control children for 4 years after the fourth PCV7 dose. Concentrations of antibodies to frequently carried serotypes (6B and 19F) declined less than those of antibodies to a rarely carried serotype (4), suggesting that natural boosting contributed to antibody persistence. Furthermore, antibody avidity was significantly higher in PCV7 than control vaccine recipients. Four doses of PCV7 given in infancy elicit long-lasting antibody responses with high avidity. (This study has been registered at ClinicalTrials.gov under registration no. NCT00378417.)
Effect of the Winter Wheat Cheyenne 5A Substituted Chromosome on Dynamics of Abscisic Acid and Cytokinins in Freezing-Sensitive Chinese Spring Genetic Background

The effect of short- and long-term cold treatment on the abscisic acid (ABA) and cytokinin (CK) metabolism, and their main biosynthesis- and signaling-related genes were investigated in freezing-sensitive and freezing-tolerant wheat genotypes. Varieties Cheyenne and Chinese Spring substituted with the 5A Cheyenne chromosome, which represented freezing-tolerant genotypes, were compared with the freezing-sensitive Chinese Spring. Hormone levels and gene expression data indicated that the short- and long-term cold treatments are associated with specific regulation of the accumulation of cold-protective proteins and phytohormone levels, as well as the expression profiles of the hormone-related genes. The significant differences were observed between the genotypes, and between their leaf and crown tissues, too. The level of dehydrins, including WCS120 protein, and expression of WCS120 gene were considerably higher in the freezing-tolerant genotypes after 21 days of cold treatment. Expression of Cor14b and CBF14, cold-responsive regulator genes, was increased by cold treatment in all genotypes, to higher extent in freezing-tolerant genotypes. Cluster analysis revealed that the tolerant genotypes had a similar response to cold treatment, regarding expression of the ABA and CK metabolic genes, as well as hormone levels in leaves. As far as hormone levels in crowns are concerned, however, the strongly freezing-tolerant Cheyenne variety clustered separately from the Chinese Spring and the substitution line, which were more similar to each other after both 1 and 21 days of cold treatment than to Cheyenne. Based on these results we concluded that the 5A chromosome of wheat might have both a direct and an indirect impact on the phytohormone-dependent cold-induced freezing tolerance. Based on the gene expression data, novel genetic markers could be developed, which may be used to determine the freezing tolerance level in a wide range of wheat varieties.
Detailed modeling and calibration of a Time-of-Flight camera

In this paper we propose a physically motivated sensor model of Time-of-Flight cameras. We provide methods to calibrate our proposed model and compensate all modeled effects. This enables us to reliably detect and filter out inconsistent measurements and to record high dynamic range (HDR) images. We believe that HDR images have a significant benefit especially for mapping narrow-spaced environments as in urban search and rescue. We provide methods to invert our model in real-time and gain significantly higher precision than using the vendor-provided sensor driver. In contrast to previously published purely phenomenological calibration methods our model is physically motivated and thus better captures the structure of the different effects involved.
African American Female Librarians

Summary This article examines the responses of ninety-eight female respondents to a survey on job satisfaction of librarians of African descent employed in seventy-nine Association of Research Libraries (ARL) academic libraries in relation to other gender studies on job satisfaction of librarians. Dependent variables are race, age, years of experience and years at present institution. This article also provides information about the perceptions of the survey respondents regarding isolation in the workplace, racial discrimination in the workplace and diversity programs and how these factors affect their job satisfaction.
St John’s Wort in the treatment against Major Depression Disorder

Depression is a complex mood disorder with many types and treated in a number of ways. There are large numbers of synthetic drugs which are used in treating major depressive disorder. However they are also found to have bad impact on the health of a patient. Depression is multifactorial phenomenon, in which hormonal and neurotransmitter imbalance plays imperative role in its causation. Though large number of pharmaceutical drugs is available but they also pose serious threat due to extended use as serious side effects also develop. It is very important to look for antidepressants from natural sources which are advantageous, less hazardous and has least side effects on human health. This article aims to focus on specific natural antidepressant St John’s Wort and how it can act as alternative medicine exhibiting the potential for the treatment of depression.
Models of Disability, Quality of Life, and Individualized Supports: Implications for Professional Practice in Intellectual Disability

In the past decade, new models have emerged with respect to the constructs of (intellectual) disability, quality of life, and supports. These models have implications both for understanding the underlying phenomena as for validating professional practices. The authors describe the context and key components of models of human functioning (American Association on Intellectual and Development Disabilities; International Classification of Functioning, Disability, and Health), supports, and quality of life, and demonstrate how these are related by synthesizing their similarities and differences. From this they discuss the implications for professional clinical and service good practice. It is argued that these models offer relevant frames of reference for guiding and integrating activities of medical, behavioral, and social disciplines in the field of intellectual disability services. It is also argued that knowledge of these models and their relationships facilitates communication among professionals and between professionals and policy makers.
Visual description and recognition of mechanical tools with a silhouette-based approach

In this paper we propose an original framework for the description and the subsequent recognition of objects of limited size. Although of general applicability, the framework is presented here as a way to trace different yet similar metal tools employed in the mechanical constructions industry. For the purpose of object description, time-varying silhouettes of the object are acquired under turntable motion and collated into a single image. The resulting footprint matrix represents the object in both a compact and effective way. Visual matching of footprint matrices is carried out with a computationally efficient algorithm that is organized into three distinct levels so as to benefit of a progressive suppression of the irrelevant information.