Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Narcissus: Deriving Correct-By-Construction Decoders and Encoders from Binary Formats

It is a neat result from functional programming that libraries of parser combinators can support rapid construction of decoders for quite a range of formats. With a little more work, the same combinator program can denote both a decoder and an encoder. Unfortunately, the real world is full of gnarly formats, as with the packet formats that make up the standard Internet protocol stack. Most past parser-combinator approaches cannot handle these formats, and the few exceptions require redundancy -- one part of the natural grammar needs to be hand-translated into hints in multiple parts of a parser program. We show how to recover very natural and nonredundant format specifications, covering all popular network packet formats and generating both decoders and encoders automatically. The catch is that we use the Coq proof assistant to derive both kinds of artifacts using tactics, automatically, in a way that guarantees that they form inverses of each other. We used our approach to reimplement packet processing for a full Internet protocol stack, inserting our replacement into the OCaml-based MirageOS unikernel, resulting in minimal performance degradation.
Hi-tech start-ups: legitimacy challenges and funding dynamics

ABSTRACT Studies on the legitimacy challenges faced by hi-tech start-ups are still scarce, leaving room for research, and policymaking debate. Legitimacy issues may become difficult to face for hi-tech firms in comparison with other start-ups, because they work in an extreme environment where the technological challenges are at the edge of the scientific possibility. The paper proposes a conceptual model to grasp the relevance of three legitimacy drivers of the hi-tech start-ups for investment decisions. We investigated the ability of 30 hi-tech start-up firms to obtain financial resources from the US investors, employing a set-theoretic approach and carried out fuzzy-set Qualitative Comparative Analysis. Our findings clarify that the funding decisions of US investors are driven by the location of headquarter and R&D of hi-tech start-ups and by the educational experience of the founders. Our study has significant theoretical, practical, and policymaking implications.
A 200Mb/s inductively coupled wireless transcranial transceiver achieving 5e-11 BER and 1.5pJ/b transmit energy efficiency

Recent advancements in medical neural science and brain research have enabled the potential of uninterrupted simultaneous recording of thousands of neurons. To minimize the risk of infection to the patients, wireless data transmission is the preferred option. Therefore, the large amount of data generated by the neural recorder must be transmitted through the scalp and skull bone to an outside data processor to translate into action or to be analyzed. A next-generation 1024-channel implanted neural recorder that uses 20KS/s 8b ADC to capture action and field potential can generate up to 164Mb/s data, which imposes a stringent requirement on the communication throughput of the implanted transmitter (TX). In addition, TX power consumption must be kept as low as possible for longer battery life or safe wireless power transfer, while the power consumption of the receiver (RX) chip outside the scalp can be relaxed. Current state-of-the-art designs that use backscattering [1], pulse harmonic modulation (PHM) [2] or ultra-wide-band (UWB) communication [3,4] suffer either from limited throughput or low TX energy efficiency. Other techniques such as ultrasound [5] usually have data-rates limited to tens of Kb/s and do not penetrate through the skull. In this paper, we utilize inductive coupling for transcranial wireless data transfer to achieve 200Mb/s data-rate and ultra-low TX power. Series de-Q resistors are employed to alleviate inter-symbol-interference (ISI) caused by the inductor self-resonance. The entire TX chip uses a single 0.5V Vdd to save power. To generate 200MHz TX clock from 10MHz reference at such low supply, an injection-locked PLL with fully digital frequency tracking and spur suppression is used.
Intrinsic and extrinsic cues regulate the daily profile of mouse lateral habenula neuronal activity

Light input from the retina acts on clock neurones in the suprachiasmatic nuclei (SCN) and the intrinsic daily electrical output of these cell autonomous clocks coordinates circadian rhythms in the brain and body. Cells in the lateral habenula express clock genes and anatomical studies indicate that SCN output and retinal pathways terminate in this structure. Using a brain slice preparation isolating the lateral habenula from retinal and SCN inputs, we found mouse lateral habenula neurones exhibit a daily variation in their electrical properties that is dependent on a functional molecular clock. Prokineticin 2, a putative output signal of the SCN, changed lateral habenula neuronal activity through enhancing inhibitory signalling. In response to retinal illumination in vivo, lateral habenula neurones sluggishly altered their electrical activity. These studies indicate that mouse lateral habenula neurones possess intrinsic timekeeping capabilities and show for the first time that they are responsive to extrinsic SCN and retinal signals.
An Online Emergency Demand Response Mechanism for Cloud Computing

This article studies emergency demand response (EDR) mechanisms from a data center perspective, where a cloud participates in a mandatory EDR program while receiving computing job bids from cloud users in an online fashion. We target a realistic EDR mechanism where (i) the cloud provider dynamically packs different types of resources on servers into requested VMs and computes job schedules to meet users’ requirements, (ii) the power consumption of servers in the cloud is limited by the grid through the EDR program, and (iii) the operation cost of the cloud is considered in the calculation of social welfare, measured by an electricity cost that consists of both volume charge and peak charge. We propose an online auction for dynamic cloud resource provisioning that is under the control of the EDR program, runs in polynomial time, achieves truthfulness, and close-to-optimal social welfare for the cloud ecosystem. In the design of the online auction, we first propose a new framework, compact exponential LPs, to handle job scheduling constraints in the time domain. We then develop a posted pricing auction framework toward the truthful online auction design, which leverages the classic primal-dual technique for approximation algorithm design. We evaluate our online auctions through both theoretical analysis and empirical studies driven by real-world traces.
Determinants of FDI Localization in China: A County-Level Analysis for the Pharmaceutical Industry

Foreign direct investments (FDIs) have been widely recognized as a crucial feature of the Chinese industrial development process. Over the past decades, China has been attracting huge amounts of inward FDIs as a consequence of both spontaneous market dynamics and place-based preferential policies at the sub-national level. However, the Chinese market exhibits large dissimilarities in terms of FDI localization across territories that are worth investigating at a more disaggregated level. In this regards, our study explores the determinants of attraction of inward FDIs in China, at the county level. It focuses on the pharmaceutical industry and attempts to assess whether factors related to location advantages, agglomeration dynamics, information cost effects and environmental regulation costs affect foreign firms’ localization choices as well as invested amounts in that location. By means of discrete choice models, our paper confirms the findings of the prevalent literature about the positive effects of location advantages on pharmaceutical FDI attraction. Different from our expectations, a higher proportion of foreign enterprises do not stimulate significant effects on FDI localization, while preferential policies and sectoral agglomeration are positively correlated with the localization of pharmaceutical foreign firms. Finally, our results suggest that investing firms tend to avoid areas with strict environment regulation.
High-Value Consults: A Curriculum to Promote Point-of-Care, Evidence-Based Recommendations.

BACKGROUND In an era when value-based care is paramount, teaching trainees to explicitly communicate the evidence behind recommendations fosters high-value care (HVC) in the consultation process. OBJECTIVE To implement an HVC consult curriculum highlighting the need for clear consult questions, evidence-based recommendations to improve consult teaching, clinical decision-making, and the educational value of consults. METHODS A pilot curriculum was implemented for residents on cardiology consult electives utilizing faculty and fellows as evidence-based medicine (EBM) coaches. The curriculum included an online module, an EBM teaching point template, EBM presentations on rounds, and "coach" feedback on notes. RESULTS A total of 15 residents and 4 fellows on cardiology consults participated, and 87% (13 of 15) of residents on consults felt the curriculum was educationally valuable. A total of 80% (72 of 90) of residents on general medicine rotations responded to the survey, and 25 of 72 residents (35%) had a consult with the EBM template. General medicine teams felt the EBM teaching points affected clinical decision-making (48%, 12 of 25) and favored dissemination of the curriculum (90%, 72 of 80). Checklist-guided chart review showed a 22% improvement in evidence-based summaries behind recommendations (7 of 36 precurriculum to 70 of 146 charts postcurriculum, P = .015). CONCLUSIONS The HVC consult curriculum during a cardiology elective was perceived by residents to influence clinical decision-making and evidence-based recommendations, and was found to be educationally valuable on both parties in the consult process.
Effects of Rebamipide on Gastrointestinal Symptoms in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

Background Gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms are common in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Rebamipide is an effective gastric cytoprotective agent, but there are few data on its usefulness in T2DM. The aim of this study is to evaluate the improvement of GI symptoms after rebamipide treatment in patients with T2DM. Methods Patients with T2DM and atypical GI symptoms were enrolled. They took rebamipide (100 mg thrice daily) for 12 weeks and filled out the diabetes bowel symptom questionnaire (DBSQ) before and after rebamipide treatment. The DBSQ consisted of 10 questions assessing the severity of GI symptoms by a 1 to 6 scoring system. Changes in the DBSQ scores before and after rebamipide treatment were analyzed to evaluate any improvements of GI symptoms. Results A total of 107 patients were enrolled, and 84 patients completed the study. The mean age was 65.0±7.8, 26 patients were male (24.8%), the mean duration of T2DM was 14.71±9.12 years, and the mean glycosylated hemoglobin level was 6.97%±0.82%. The total DBSQ score was reduced significantly from 24.9±8.0 to 20.4±7.3 before and after rebamipide treatment (P<0.001). The DBSQ scores associated with reflux symptoms, indigestion, nausea or vomiting, abdominal bloating or distension, peptic ulcer, abdominal pain, and constipation were improved after rebamipide treatment (P<0.05). However, there were no significant changes in symptoms associated with irritable bowel syndrome, diarrhea, and anal incontinence. No severe adverse events were reported throughout the study. Conclusion Rebamipide treatment for 12 weeks improved atypical GI symptoms in patients with T2DM.
HIV Epidemic Appraisals for Assisting in the Design of Effective Prevention Programmes: Shifting the Paradigm Back to Basics

Background To design HIV prevention programmes, it is critical to understand the temporal and geographic aspects of the local epidemic and to address the key behaviours that drive HIV transmission. Two methods have been developed to appraise HIV epidemics and guide prevention strategies. The numerical proxy method classifies epidemics based on current HIV prevalence thresholds. The Modes of Transmission (MOT) model estimates the distribution of incidence over one year among risk-groups. Both methods focus on the current state of an epidemic and provide short-term metrics which may not capture the epidemiologic drivers. Through a detailed analysis of country and sub-national data, we explore the limitations of the two traditional methods and propose an alternative approach. Methods and Findings We compared outputs of the traditional methods in five countries for which results were published, and applied the numeric and MOT model to India and six districts within India. We discovered three limitations of the current methods for epidemic appraisal: (1) their results failed to identify the key behaviours that drive the epidemic; (2) they were difficult to apply to local epidemics with heterogeneity across district-level administrative units; and (3) the MOT model was highly sensitive to input parameters, many of which required extraction from non-regional sources. We developed an alternative decision-tree framework for HIV epidemic appraisals, based on a qualitative understanding of epidemiologic drivers, and demonstrated its applicability in India. The alternative framework offered a logical algorithm to characterize epidemics; it required minimal but key data. Conclusions Traditional appraisals that utilize the distribution of prevalent and incident HIV infections in the short-term could misguide prevention priorities and potentially impede efforts to halt the trajectory of the HIV epidemic. An approach that characterizes local transmission dynamics provides a potentially more effective tool with which policy makers can design intervention programmes.
Morphine Analgesia Pre-PPCI Is Associated with Prothrombotic State, Reduced Spontaneous Reperfusion and Greater Infarct Size

Abstract The emergency management of ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) involves treatment with dual-antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) and primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PPCI). Pain is generally treated with opiates, which may delay gastric transit and reduce DAPT absorption. We sought to assess the effect of morphine on reperfusion, infarct size and thrombotic status in 300 patients presenting for PPCI. Morphine was given in a non-randomized fashion as required by emergency teams en route to the heart attack centre. All patients received DAPT and PPCI according to standard care, with optional glycoprotein IIb/IIIa inhibitor (GPI) use. Patients were assessed for ST-segment resolution, coronary flow, thrombotic status and peak troponin. Patients receiving morphine (n = 218; 72.7%) experienced less spontaneous ST-segment resolution pre-PPCI, lower rate of TIMI 2/3 flow in the infarct-related artery pre-PPCI and higher peak troponin level post-PPCI (median [interquartile range]; 1,906 [1,002–4,398] vs. 1,268 [249–2,920] ng/L; p = 0.016) than those who did not. Patients receiving morphine exhibited significantly enhanced platelet reactivity and impaired endogenous fibrinolysis on arrival, compared with no-morphine patients. Morphine administration was an independent predictor of failure of spontaneous ST-segment resolution after adjustment for other variables (odds ratio: 0.26; confidence interval: 0.08–0.84; p = 0.025). Among patients receiving GPI, there was no difference in pre-PPCI flow or peak troponin according to morphine use, suggesting that the adverse effects of morphine relate to delayed DAPT absorption, which may be overcome by GPI. Our hypothesis-generating data suggest that morphine use in STEMI is associated with enhanced platelet reactivity, reduced spontaneous myocardial reperfusion (pre-PPCI) and larger infarct size, and these adverse effects may be influenced by GPI use. Clinical Trial Registration URL: http://www.clinicaltrials. gov. Unique identifier: NCT02562690.
Correlation between computer tomography‐derived scar topography and critical ablation sites in postinfarction ventricular tachycardia

Myocardial wall thickness (WT) in patients with a prior myocardial infarction has been used to indicate scarring. However, the correlation of WT with sites critical to ventricular tachycardia (VT) has not been previously investigated. The purpose of this study was to correlate electroanatomic mapping data obtained during VT ablation with WT determined by cardiac computed tomography (CT).
Retinal dystrophy in the pigmented rat.

The genetic pattern for obtaining a darkly pigmented Royal College of Surgeons' (RCS) rat is described. The rat dystrophy initially shows a build-up of rod outer segment material because the pigment epithelium does not phagocytize it. The progressive ophthalmoscopic appearance of the fundus of the pigmented dystrophic eye is described. The first abnormal finding is a lightening of the retinal appearance. Thereafter, the choroid and pigment epithelium become obscured. Finally, as the accumulated old rod outer segment debris is removed, the retina thins and pigment clumping is observed. In some pigmented dystrophic rats, a zone of thinned retina with pigmentary changes can be seen to abruptly thicken to the white appearance which hides deep retinal and choroidal detail. Histologic evaluation of this zone shows that the difference is in the amount of remaining old rod outer segment debris. Autoradiography confirmed that the pink-eyed rat and the pigmented dystrophic rat both exhibit an inability of the pigment epithelium to remove their old rod outer segment material. Similarities between human retinitis pigmentosa and the dystrophic rat are noted.
Primary Malignant Melanoma of the Urinary Bladder-A Case

Primary malignant melanoma in the bladder is very rare, with only 18 cases having been currently reported. A 65-year-old male patient presented with a 5-month history of gross hematuria. On ultrasonography, an 8.1 × 6.1 cm mass was revealed on the bladder wall. A partial cystectomy was performed. Microscopically, the tumor was composed of atypical, pigmented melanocytes that were positive for S-100 protein and they were negative for human melanoma black-45. Although he underwent supportive therapy, an 8.7 × 5.9 cm mass occupying the prevesical space was noted on a follow-up computed tomography scan 4 months later. Two nodules of the left lower lung and multiple enlarged lymph nodes in the left external iliac chain were also revealed. The patient declined any further treatment. The histogenesis of primary bladder melanoma is uncertain, but an origin from neural crest cells has been proposed. The prognosis for patients with this tumor is still poor despite the availability of several therapeutic options.
Visualization of Host-Polerovirus Interaction Topologies Using Protein Interaction Reporter Technology

ABSTRACT Demonstrating direct interactions between host and virus proteins during infection is a major goal and challenge for the field of virology. Most protein interactions are not binary or easily amenable to structural determination. Using infectious preparations of a polerovirus (Potato leafroll virus [PLRV]) and protein interaction reporter (PIR), a revolutionary technology that couples a mass spectrometric-cleavable chemical cross-linker with high-resolution mass spectrometry, we provide the first report of a host-pathogen protein interaction network that includes data-derived, topological features for every cross-linked site that was identified. We show that PLRV virions have hot spots of protein interaction and multifunctional surface topologies, revealing how these plant viruses maximize their use of binding interfaces. Modeling data, guided by cross-linking constraints, suggest asymmetric packing of the major capsid protein in the virion, which supports previous epitope mapping studies. Protein interaction topologies are conserved with other species in the Luteoviridae and with unrelated viruses in the Herpesviridae and Adenoviridae. Functional analysis of three PLRV-interacting host proteins in planta using a reverse-genetics approach revealed a complex, molecular tug-of-war between host and virus. Structural mimicry and diversifying selection—hallmarks of host-pathogen interactions—were identified within host and viral binding interfaces predicted by our models. These results illuminate the functional diversity of the PLRV-host protein interaction network and demonstrate the usefulness of PIR technology for precision mapping of functional host-pathogen protein interaction topologies. IMPORTANCE The exterior shape of a plant virus and its interacting host and insect vector proteins determine whether a virus will be transmitted by an insect or infect a specific host. Gaining this information is difficult and requires years of experimentation. We used protein interaction reporter (PIR) technology to illustrate how viruses exploit host proteins during plant infection. PIR technology enabled our team to precisely describe the sites of functional virus-virus, virus-host, and host-host protein interactions using a mass spectrometry analysis that takes just a few hours. Applications of PIR technology in host-pathogen interactions will enable researchers studying recalcitrant pathogens, such as animal pathogens where host proteins are incorporated directly into the infectious agents, to investigate how proteins interact during infection and transmission as well as develop new tools for interdiction and therapy.
Effect of high‐frequency subthalamic neurostimulation on gait and freezing of gait in Parkinson's disease: a systematic review and meta‐analysis

The aim of this meta‐analysis was to summarize the short‐ and long‐term effects of bilateral deep brain stimulation of the subthalamic nucleus (STN‐DBS) on gait and freezing of gait (FOG) in Parkinson's disease and to detect predictors of post‐stimulation outcome. A comprehensive review of the literature was conducted up to October 2015 using Medline Ovid databases for studies analyzing the effect of bilateral STN‐DBS on FOG and/or gait. Sixteen studies with available data for the gait item (no. 29) of the Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS) and six studies with the FOG item (no. 14) were included. Data were summarized for the following follow‐up periods: 6–15, 24–48 and >48 months. For the medication (Med)‐Off/stimulation(Stim)‐On condition compared with baseline Med‐Off, STN‐DBS significantly improved gait on average from 2.43 to 0.96, 2.53 to 1.31 and 2.56 to 1.40 points at 6–15, 24–48 and >48 months, respectively (P < 0.05). Pre‐operative levodopa responsiveness of UPDRS‐III and Med‐Off severity of gait were the predictors of this beneficial effect. STN‐DBS significantly improved FOG for the Med‐Off/Stim‐On condition compared with baseline on average from 2.26 to 0.82, 2.43 to 1.13 and 2.48 to 1.38 points at 6–15, 24–48 and >48 months, respectively (P < 0.05). There was no significant effect in the Med‐On/Stim‐On condition. This meta‐analysis showed a robust improvement of gait and FOG by STN‐DBS for more than 4 years in the Med‐Off/Stim‐On condition. No beneficial effect was found for the On state of medication. Pre‐operative levodopa responsiveness of global motor performance (UPDRS‐III) is the strongest predictor of the effect of deep brain stimulation on gait.