Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Dynamic Reference Voltage Sensing Scheme for Read Margin Improvement in STT-MRAMs

This paper proposes a novel approach to enhance the STT-MRAMs read margin based on the concept of dynamic reference (DR). Our dynamic reference scheme dynamically adjusts the sense amplifier reference voltage according to the bitline voltage, aiming to widen the difference between the bitline and the reference voltage (i.e., the read margin). As a result, larger variations can be accommodated, thus improving the read robustness and substantially reducing the read failure rate. This DR scheme does not require any change in the bitcell and requires minimal modifications of conventional arrays, hence it can be jointly used with existing assist techniques enhancing the read robustness. From Monte Carlo simulations in 65 nm, the proposed DR scheme improves the read bit error rate by two orders of magnitude across a wide range of voltages (0.75–1.2 V) compared with the conventional voltage sensing scheme. This is achieved at 0.3% area overhead, less than 15% performance degradation, and less than 25% energy penalty. Furthermore, the joint adoption of the DR approach and switched-cap bitline boosting further reduces the sense amplifier area by 25% at iso-failure rate, and reduces the energy by 6–10% compared with the standalone DR.
CPG Network Optimization for a Biomimetic Robotic Fish via PSO

In this brief, we investigate the parameter optimization issue of a central pattern generator (CPG) network governed forward and backward swimming for a fully untethered, multijoint biomimetic robotic fish. Considering that the CPG parameters are tightly linked to the propulsive performance of the robotic fish, we propose a method for determination of relatively optimized control parameters. Within the framework of evolutionary computation, we use a combination of dynamic model and particle swarm optimization (PSO) algorithm to seek the CPG characteristic parameters for an enhanced performance. The PSO-based optimization scheme is validated with extensive experiments conducted on the actual robotic fish. Noticeably, the optimized results are shown to be superior to previously reported forward and backward swimming speeds.
Surface acoustic wave devices fabricated on epitaxial AlN film

This paper reports surface acoustic wave (SAW) devices fabricated on AlN epitaxial film grown on sapphire, aiming to avoid the detrimental polarization axis inconsistency and refrained crystalline quality of the normally used polycrystalline AlN films. Devices with center frequency of 357 MHz and 714 MHz have been fabricated. The stop band rejection ratio of the as-obtained device reaches 24.5 dB and the pass band ripple is profoundly smaller compared to most of the reported AlN SAW devices with the similar configuration. Judging from the rather high edge dislocation level of the film used in this study, the properties of the SAW devices have great potential to be improved by further improving the crystalline quality of the film. It is then concluded that the AlN epitaxial film is favorable for high quality SAW devices to meet the high frequency and low power consumption challenges facing the signal processing components.
Apical and Basolateral Endocytic Pathways of MDCK Cells Meet in Acidic Common Endosomes Distinct from a Nearly‐Neutral Apical Recycling Endosome

Quantitative confocal microscopic analyses of living, polarized MDCK cells demonstrate different pH profiles for apical and basolateral endocytic pathways, despite a rapid and extensive intersection between the two. Three‐dimensional characterizations of ligand trafficking demonstrate that the apical and basolateral endocytic pathways share early, acidic compartments distributed throughout the medial regions of the cell. Polar sorting for both pathways occurs in these common endosomes as IgA is sorted from transferrin to alkaline transcytotic vesicles. While transferrin is directly recycled from the common endosomes, IgA is transported to a downstream apical compartment that is nearly neutral in pH. By several criteria this compartment appears to be equivalent to the previously described apical recycling endosome. The functional significance of the abrupt increase in lumenal pH that accompanies IgA sorting is not clear, as disrupting endosome acidification has no effect on polar sorting. These studies provide the first detailed characterizations of endosome acidification in intact polarized cells and clarify the relationship between the apical and basolateral endocytic itineraries of polarized MDCK cells. The extensive mixing of apical and basolateral pathways underscores the importance of endocytic sorting in maintaining the polarity of the plasma membrane of MDCK cells.
Potential of processing potato flakes from popular Kenyan potato varieties

Losses of potatoes are incurred during seasons of glut and farmers are forced to sell their produce to middlemen at low prices due to short storage life of the raw tubers. Processing potatoes after harvesting into dehydrated products such as potato flakes is one of the ways to overcome the problem of inadequate and inappropriate bulk storage of raw potatoes. Potato flakes are known to be shelf stable and hence assure users of the availability of the produce all year round. This study was instituted to establish the potential of processing potato flakes from selected popular Kenyan potato varieties. Five potato varieties (Tigoni, Dutch Robjin, Desiree, Kenya Mpya, and Sherekea) which are popular commercially were used in this study. The varieties were harvested after maturity and processed into potato flakes before evaluation of retained vitamin C, color, oil and moisture content, and sensory attributes. The varieties used in this study had dry matter contents ranging from 18.2% to 23.7%. Oil content of the flakes was significantly (P≤0.05) lower in Dutch Robjin (0.23%) compared to Desiree (0.76%). Oil content of flakes significantly (p=0.011) but negatively correlated (r=-0.956) with dry matter content of the raw potatoes. Reduced ascorbic acid (vitamin C) in raw tubers differed significantly (P≤0.05) 2 among the varieties ranging from 90.37 mg/100g in Kenya Mpya to 127.56 mg/100g in Sherekea. The vitamin decreased in flakes, the reduction being higher in Kenya Mpya (60.34%) and Sherekea (71.71%) compared to Tigoni (18.15%) and Desiree (23.26%). Overall, Dutch Robjin was the best variety for flakes followed by Desiree and Tigoni with regard to overall acceptability. Sherekea was unacceptable while Kenya Mpya was barely acceptable. Promotion of these varieties for flakes processing will not only diversify the range of potato products, but also add value to local potatoes.
Identification of the amino acid residues responsible for stable nucleosome formation by histone H3.Y

ABSTRACT Histone H3.Y is conserved among primates. We previously reported that exogenously produced H3.Y accumulates around transcription start sites, suggesting that it may play a role in transcription regulation. The H3.Y nucleosome forms a relaxed chromatin conformation with flexible DNA ends. The H3.Y-specific Lys42 residue is partly responsible for enhancing the flexibility of the nucleosomal DNA. To our surprise, we found that H3.Y stably associates with chromatin and nucleosomes in vivo and in vitro. However, the H3.Y residues responsible for its stable nucleosome incorporation have not been identified yet. In the present study, we performed comprehensive mutational analyses of H3.Y, and determined that the H3.Y C-terminal region including amino acid residues 124–135 is responsible for its stable association with DNA. Among the H3.Y C-terminal residues, the H3.Y Met124 residue significantly contributed to the stable DNA association with the H3.Y-H4 tetramer. The H3.Y M124I mutation substantially reduced the H3.Y-H4 association in the nucleosome. In contrast, the H3.Y K42R mutation affected the nucleosome stability less, although it contributes to the flexible DNA ends of the nucleosome. Therefore, these H3.Y-specific residues, Lys42 and Met124, play different and specific roles in nucleosomal DNA relaxation and stable nucleosome formation, respectively, in chromatin.
An Efficient Approach for Automatic Rectangular Building Extraction From Very High Resolution Optical Satellite Imagery

This letter presents a new approach for rapid automatic building extraction from very high resolution (VHR) optical satellite imagery. The proposed method conducts building extraction based on distinctive image primitives such as lines and line intersections. The optimized framework consists of three stages: First, a developed edge-preserving bilateral filter is adopted to reduce noise and enhance building edge contrast for preprocessing. Second, a state-of-the-art line segment detector called EDLines is introduced for the real-time accurate extraction of building line segments. Finally, we present a graph search-based perceptual grouping approach to hierarchically group previously detected line segments into candidate rectangular buildings. The recursive process was improved through the efficient examination of geometrical information with line linking and closed contour search, in order to obtain more reasonable omission and commission rate in building contour grouping. Extensive experiments performed on VHR optical QuickBird imageries justify the effectiveness and robustness of the proposed linear-time procedure with an overall accuracy of 80.9% and completeness of 87.3%. This method does not require user intervention and thereby has the potential to be adopted in online applications and industrial use in the near future.
The LapG protein plays a role in Pseudomonas aeruginosa biofilm formation by controlling the presence of the CdrA adhesin on the cell surface

Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a clinically relevant species involved in biofilm‐based chronic infections. We provide evidence that the P. aeruginosa LapG protein functions as a periplasmic protease that can cleave the protein adhesin CdrA off the cell surface, and thereby plays a role in biofilm formation and biofilm dispersal. The P. aeruginosa LapG protein is shown to be a functional homolog of the Pseudomonas putida LapG protein which has previously been shown to function as a periplasmic protease that targets the surface adhesin LapA. Transposon mutagenesis and characterization of defined knockout mutants provided evidence that the CdrA adhesin is a target of LapG in P. aeruginosa. A wspF lapG double mutant was hyper‐aggregating and hyper biofilm forming, whereas a wspF lapG cdrA triple mutant lost these phenotypes. In addition, western blot detection of CdrA in culture supernatants and whole‐cell protein fractions showed that CdrA was retained in the whole‐cell protein fraction when LapG was absent, whereas it was found in the culture supernatant when LapG was present. The finding that CdrA is a target of LapG in P. aeruginosa is surprising because CdrA has no homology to LapA.
Bacterial Signal Transduction by Cyclic Di-GMP and Other Nucleotide Second Messengers

ABSTRACT The first International Symposium on c-Di-GMP Signaling in Bacteria (22 to 25 March 2015, Harnack-Haus, Berlin, Germany) brought together 131 molecular microbiologists from 17 countries to discuss recent progress in our knowledge of bacterial nucleotide second messenger signaling. While the focus was on signal input, synthesis, degradation, and the striking diversity of the modes of action of the current second messenger paradigm, i.e., cyclic di-GMP (c-di-GMP), “classics” like cAMP and (p)ppGpp were also presented, in novel facets, and more recent “newcomers,” such as c-di-AMP and c-AMP-GMP, made an impressive appearance. A number of clear trends emerged during the 30 talks, on the 71 posters, and in the lively discussions, including (i) c-di-GMP control of the activities of various ATPases and phosphorylation cascades, (ii) extensive cross talk between c-di-GMP and other nucleotide second messenger signaling pathways, and (iii) a stunning number of novel effectors for nucleotide second messengers that surprisingly include some long-known master regulators of developmental pathways. Overall, the conference made it amply clear that second messenger signaling is currently one of the most dynamic fields within molecular microbiology, with major impacts in research fields ranging from human health to microbial ecology.
Principles of magnetic resonance imaging

LOS CONCEPTOS DE LA IMAGENOLOGIA POR RESONANCIA MAGNETICA SON REVISADOS Y SE DESCRIBEN ALGUNAS DE SUS APLICACIONES A SISTEMAS BIOLOGICOS Y MEDICOS. EL FENOMENO DE RESONANCIA MAGNETICA PUEDE DESCRIBIRSE TANTO CON UN ENFOQUE MECANICO CUANTICO COMO CLASICO. EL ESCANER PRIMERO ALINEA LOS NUCLEOS DE LOS ESPINES DE LOS ATOMOS DE HIDROGENO QUE SE ENCUENTRAN DENTRO DEL PACIENTE, Y LUEGO COMIENZA A ROTARLOS DE ACUERDO A UN CONCIERTO PERFECTO. LOS NUCLEOS EMITEN ONDAS ELECTROMAGNETICAS AL INICIO, PERO A MEDIDA QUE TRANSCURRE EL TIEMPO LOS ESPINES PIERDEN LA SINCRONIZACION, DEBIDO SIMPLEMENTE A UN DECAIMIENTO QUE REPRESENTA EL DENOMINADO FENOMENO DE RELAJACION. POSTERIORMENTE SE SELECCIONA UNA REBANADA POR MEDIO DE LA APLICACION DE UN GRADIENTE DE CAMPO MAGNETICO EN UN DIRECCION PARTICULAR (X, Y O Z). A LAS SENALES DE RESONANCIA MAGNETICA QUE SE GENERAN SE LES APLICA LA TRANSFORMADA DE FOURIER PARA FORMAR UNA IMAGEN BIDIMENSIONAL O TRIDIMENSIONAL. TAMBIEN SE ESTUDIAN LOS PARAMETROS QUE DETERMINAN LA CALIDAD DE LA IMAGEN COMO EL COCIENTE SENAL A RUIDO, EL CONTRASTE Y LA RESOLUCION. ADEMAS, SE PRESENTA UN BREVE RESUMEN DE LAS SECUENCIAS IMAGENOLOGICAS MAS USADAS INCLUYENDO LAS SECUENCIAS ULTRA RAPIDAS. Abstract THE CONCEPTS OF MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING ARE REVIEWED AND ITS APPLICATION TO MEDICAL AND BIOLOGICAL SYSTEMS IS DESCRIBED. THE MAGNETIC RESONANCE PHENOMENON CAN BE DESCRIBED BY BOTH CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICAL APPROACHES. MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING IS BASED ON THE TECHNIQUES OF NUCLEAR MAGNETIC RESONANCE. THE SCANNER FIRST ALIGNS THE NUCLEAR SPINS OF HYDROGEN ATOMS IN THE PATIENT AND STARTS ROTATING THEM IN A PERFECT CONCERT. THE NUCLEI EMIT MAXIMUM-STRENGTH ELECTROMAGNETIC WAVES AT THE START, BUT OVER TIME THE ROTATING SPINS GET OUT OF SYNCH, SIMPLY DUE TO SMALL DIFFERENCES IN LOCAL MAGNETIC FIELDS. THE UNSYNCHRONIZED SPINS CAUSE THE COMBINED ELECTROMAGNETIC SIGNAL TO DECAY WITH TIME, A PHENOMENON CALLED RELAXATION. A SLICE IS SELECTED
Deferred vs. performed revascularization for coronary stenosis with grey-zone fractional flow reserve values: data from the IRIS-FFR registry

Aims The optimal fractional flow reserve (FFR) cut-off value for revascularization is debated. We evaluated the prognosis for deferred and performed revascularization in coronary stenosis with FFR values in the grey zone (0.75-0.80). Methods and results This study included 1334 native coronary stenosis with grey-zone FFR values in 1334 patients from the prospective multicentre Interventional Cardiology Research In-cooperation Society Fractional Flow Reserve registry. Revascularization was deferred for 683 patients (deferred group) and performed for 651 (performed group). The primary outcome, a composite of death, target-vessel myocardial infarction (MI), and target vessel revascularization (TVR) occurred in 55 (8.1%) patients in the deferred group and 55 (8.4%) in the performed group [adjusted hazard ratio (aHR) 1.05, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.67-1.66; P = 0.79] during a median follow-up of 2.9 years (interquartile range 1.5-4.1 years). Overall mortality and spontaneous MI did not differ between the groups (mortality 2.5% vs. 2.0%; aHR 0.82, 95% CI 0.34-2.00; P = 0.66; spontaneous MI 0.7% vs. 0.5%; aHR 1.85, 95% CI 0.35-9.75; P = 0.47). Myocardial infarction was significantly higher in the performed group (0.7% vs. 3.2%; aHR 0.27, 95% CI 0.09-0.80; P = 0.02) mainly because of a higher risk of periprocedural MI. Target vessel revascularization was significantly higher in the deferred group (5.7% vs. 3.7%; aHR 2.17, 95% CI 1.17-4.02; P = 0.01). Conclusion For coronary stenosis with grey-zone FFR, revascularization was not associated with better clinical outcomes. The higher likelihood of periprocedural MI with revascularization was offset by the higher likelihood of TVR with deferral. Trial registration Clinicaltrials.gov identifier: NCT01366404.
Nicotine Adenine Dinucleotides: The Redox Currency of the Cell.

There has been tremendous and rapidly growing interest in understanding intermediary metabolism as a key aspect of both normal cellular function and as a participant in the molecular pathogenesis of many different complex diseases. This area of research naturally intersects at virtually every level with the substantial and expanding body of knowledge regarding mechanisms of cellular redox balance. In this Forum, the contributing authors address specifically the union of intermediary metabolism and redox biology through detailed consideration of the biochemistry and biology of nicotine adenine dinucleotides, the cell's "redox currency. " From technical considerations of how to measure nicotine adenine dinucleotides all the way to detailed treatments of their potential roles in specific disease states, this Forum provides a thorough introduction to a topic that is positioned to be at the heart of the next wave of research in metabolism and redox biology. Antioxid. Redox Signal. 28, 165-166.
Received-Signal-Strength Threshold Optimization Using Gaussian Processes

There is a big trend nowadays to use event-triggered proximity report for indoor positioning. This paper presents a generic received-signal-strength (RSS) threshold optimization framework for generating informative proximity reports. The proposed framework contains five main building blocks, namely the deployment information, RSS model, positioning metric selection, optimization process and management. Among others, we focus on Gaussian process regression (GPR)-based RSS models and positioning metric computation. The optimal RSS threshold is found through minimizing the best achievable localization root-mean-square-error formulated with the aid of fundamental lower bound analysis. Computational complexity is compared for different RSS models and different fundamental lower bounds. The resulting optimal RSS threshold enables enhanced performance of new fashioned low-cost and low-complex proximity report-based positioning algorithms. The proposed framework is validated with real measurements collected in an office area where bluetooth-low-energy (BLE) beacons are deployed.
Constrained hierarchical networked optimization for energy markets

In this paper, we propose a distributed control strategy for the design of an energy market. The method relies on a hierarchical structure of aggregators for the coordination of prosumers (agents which can produce and consume energy). The hierarchy reflects the voltage level separations of the electrical grid and allows aggregating prosumers in pools, while taking into account the grid operational constraints. To reach optimal coordination, the prosumers communicate their forecasted power profile to the upper level of the hierarchy. Each time the information crosses upwards a level of the hierarchy, it is first aggregated, both to strongly reduce the data flow and to preserve the privacy. In the first part of the paper, the decomposition algorithm, which is based on the alternating direction method of multipliers (ADMM), is presented. In the second part, we explore how the proposed algorithm scales with increasing number of prosumers and hierarchical levels, through extensive simulations based on randomly generated scenarios.
NMR spectroscopy-based metabolomic study of serum in sulfur mustard exposed patients with lung disease

Abstract Sulfur mustard (SM) is a vesication chemical warfare agent for which there is currently no antidote. Despite years of research, there is no common consensus about the pathophysiological basis of chronic pulmonary disease caused by this chemical warfare agent. In this study, we combined chemometric techniques with nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy to explore the metabolic profile of sera from SM-exposed patients. A total of 29 serum samples obtained from 17 SM-injured patients, and 12 healthy controls were analyzed by Random Forest. Increased concentrations of seven amino acids, glycerol, dimethylamine, ketone bodies, lactate, acetate, citrulline and creatine together with the decreased very low-density lipoproteins (VLDL) levels were observed in patients compared with control subjects. Our study reveals the metabolic profile of sera from SM-injured patients and indicates that NMR-based methods can distinguish these patients from healthy controls.
Osteoblast‐derived factors promote metastatic potential in human prostate cancer cells, in part via non‐canonical transforming growth factor β (TGFβ) signaling

Transforming growth factor β (TGFβ) functions as a double‐edged sword in prostate cancer tumorigenesis. In initial stages of the disease, TGFβ acts as a growth inhibitor upon tumor cells, whereas it in later stages of disease rather promotes invasion and metastatic potential. One well‐known cellular source of TGFβ in the bone metastatic site is the bone‐forming osteoblasts. Here we have studied the effects by osteoblast‐derived factors on metastatic potential in several human prostate cancer cell lines.
Chronic lactate supplementation does not improve blood buffering capacity and repeated high‐intensity exercise

Since there is conflicting data on the buffering and ergogenic properties of calcium lactate (CL), we investigated the effect of chronic CL supplementation on blood pH, bicarbonate, and high‐intensity intermittent exercise performance. Sodium bicarbonate (SB) was used as a positive control. Eighteen athletes participated in this double‐blind, placebo‐controlled, crossover, fully counterbalanced study. All participants underwent three different treatments: placebo (PL), CL, and SB. The dose was identical in all conditions: 500 mg/kg BM divided into four daily individual doses of 125 mg/kg BM, for five consecutive days, followed by a 2–7‐day washout period. On the fifth day of supplementation, individuals undertook four 30‐s Wingate bouts for upper body with 3‐min recovery between bouts. Total mechanical work (TMW) for the overall protocol and for the initial (1st+2nd) and final (3rd+4th) bouts was determined at each session. Blood pH, bicarbonate, and lactate levels were determined at rest, immediately and 5 min after exercise. CL supplementation did not affect performance (P > 0.05 for the overall TMW as well for initial and final bouts), nor did it affect blood bicarbonate and pH prior to exercise. SB supplementation improved performance by 2.9% for overall TMW (P = 0.02) and 5.9% in the 3rd+4th bouts (P = 0001). Compared to the control session, SB also promoted higher increases in blood bicarbonate than CL and PL (+0.03 ± 0.04 vs +0.009 ± 0.02 and +0.01 ± 0.03, respectively). CL supplementation was not capable of enhancing high‐intensity intermittent performance or changing extracellular buffering capacity challenging the notion that this dietary supplement is an effective buffering agent.