Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A Low-Power Column-Parallel Gain-Adaptive Single-Slope ADC for CMOS Image Sensors

A low-power column-parallel gain-adaptive single-slope analog-to-digital converter (ADC) for CMOS image sensors is proposed. The gain-adaptive function is realized with the proposed switched-capacitor based gain control structure in which only minor changes from the traditional single-slope ADC are required. A switched-capacitor controlled dynamic bias comparator and a flip-reduced up/down double-data-rate (DDR) counter are proposed to reduce the power consumption of the column circuits. A 12-bit current steering digital-to-analog converter (DAC) with a two-dimensional gradient error tolerant switching scheme is adopted in the ramp generator to improve the linearity of the ADC. The proposed techniques were experimentally verified in a prototype chip fabricated in the TSMC 180 nm CMOS process. A single-column ADC consumes a total power of 63.2 μ W and occupies an area of 4.48 μ m × 310 μ m. The measured differential nonlinearity (DNL) and integral nonlinearity (INL) of the ADC are −0.43/+0.46 least significant bit (LSB) and −0.84/+1.95 LSB. A 13-bit linear output is acquired in nonlinearity within 0.08% of the full scale after calibration.
The influence of supplemental alpha-galactosidase and phytase in a vegetable ration for dogs on the digestibility of organic components and phytate phosphorus

The use of dry feeds for dogs is increasing for different reasons: in comparison to wet canned feed it is easier to handle, the amount to be given is smaller and the daily cost is less. In producing a dry pellet more vegetable ingredients are used that can contain several antinutritional factors. Some of them can be eliminated by heating. Others like galactosides and phytates are heat-resistant but can be broken down by adding the appropriate enzymes. The specific enzymes are indeed not secreted by the animal itself. In farm animals, e.g. pigs, alpha-galactosidase has been introduced in order to enhance the energetic value of these alphagalactosides (Veldman et al. 1993). In companion animals this enzyme is more often indicated as an antiflatulence agent, because the main alpha-galactosides present in legume seeds (stachyose, raffinose) are known as flatulence components (Fleming 1981). These oligosaccharides do not necessarily imply an overall lower nutrient digestibility. Zuo et al. (1996) did not prove a significant difference in digestibility between conventional and low oligosaccharide soybean meal in dog rations. Others however, (Wiernusz et al. 1995) reported the highest digestibilities and the best stool quality of those rations that contained the least amount of soybean oligosaccharides. On the other hand, phytates (phospho-inositols) are known as complexing agents of several divalent cations (Fe, Mg, Zn, Ca) and are themselves considered as a phosphorus source, unavailable to monogastric animals. Phytase is the appropriate enzyme, which is not secreted by the animal itself, but, when added to the diet, can enhance the bio-availability of several minerals and trace elements (Rimbach et al. 1994) by hydrolysing the phospho-inositol molecule. The aim of the experiment, reported here, is to investigate the influence of the addition of alpha-galactosidase, phytase, or both to a nearly complete vegetable ration, consisting of a relatively high content of galactosides and phytates. The combination of both enzymes was carried out because Wenk et al. (1993) reported a possible interaction between a carbohydrase and a phytase enzyme in pigs.
The effect of trimethazidine on mortality in an experimental acute pancreatitis model1.

BACKGROUND/AIMS Acute pancreatitis has a high morbidty and mortality. Its physiopathogenesis has not been enlightened up to the present. This study aims to investigate trimetazidine (antiischemic, antioxidant and cardioprotective agent) 's effects on the acute pancreatitis. MATERIALS AND METHODS In this study, four aqual groups are formed with 43 female Spraque-dawley type rats weighed between230-300 gr (mean 265 gr). 0.9% NaCl is injected intraperitoneally after laparotomy to the Group 1 (n=6). Group 2 (n=6) is control group that without any intervention. Acute pancreatitis is formed in Group 3 (n=16) via injection of Na-taurokolat in the common bile duct. Group 4 (n=15) is being formed pancreatitis and treated with Trimetazidine. In group 4 Trimetazidine 10 mg/kg/day drugs were given, 30 minutes, 24 and 72 hours after formation of acute pancreatitis, in three equal doses by orogastric way. In all groups, the rats have been laparatomised 72 hours later under general anesthesia and pancreas tissues has been extracted and studied histopathologically. Amylase, lipase, lactate dehydrogenase, aspartate transaminase, alanine tranaminase levels in the rats serum and superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione, malondialdehyde, nitric oxide, protein carbonyl, glutathione peroxidase levels in the rats tissue also have been looked up. RESULTS Serum and tissue findings and histopathologically examination of the pancreas tissues show significant decrease in the treatment group compare to study group. CONCLUSION Trimetazidine protects pancreas tissue and decreases the mortality by significantly lowering the biochemical and histopathological changes in the early stages of acute pancreatitis.
Exploring culturally sustaining practice for indigenous learners in initial teacher education in Aotearoa New Zealand

Culturally sustaining practices are advocated for enhancing learning experiences of Indigenous learners. Developing the use of culturally sustaining practice is challenging, in part as many educators do not have Indigenous heritage and have not themselves experienced such teaching. Here we discuss an investigation into how we develop student teacher understanding of practice culturally sustaining for Indigenous Māori learners in our initial mathematics teacher education courses. We show how a four-dimension framework (accommodation, reformation, transformation, and representation) can expose strengths and opportunities for improvement in course content and approaches towards developing culturally sustaining practices. Factors considered include education policy, resources, course development and content. Affordances (e.g., ease of use) and challenges (e.g., contextal factors) of using the framework are discussed. We demonstrate that the framework can be a useful tool for teacher educators working to strengthen their focus on developing culturally sustaining teacher practice to enhance educational opportunities of Indigenous learners.
The Mediterranean Fruit Fly (Ceratitis capitata)

after its repeated eradication” (p. 53). These claims are similar to the arguments put forth in letters sent to the Science editor by the late Henry Voss (Voss 1992), then Director of the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA), and the late Steven Saul (Saul 1992), then an entomologist at the University of Hawaii, after my article appeared in 1991. I am disappointed that the “pathways theory” is still being used to account for
A qualitative study examining the quality of working alliance as a function of the social identifies of clients and therapists during the mental health intake

Therapists are faced with the challenge of developing effective ways to advance cross-cultural engagement with a rapidly growing diverse client population. In this qualitative study, we characterized the way clients and therapists described the quality of working alliance during the mental health intake and examined whether these descriptions vary as a function of their social identities. We conducted in-depth interviews with Ashkenazi (socially advantaged group; n = 22) therapists and their Mizrahi (socially disadvantaged group n = 29) or Ashkenazi (n = 26) clients immediately following their intake session in four mental health clinics in Israel. We performed a thematic analysis. Overall, interrater reliability among three raters who coded the narratives was high (kappa = 0.72, therapist; 0.70, client). Across all client and therapist interviews, we identified eight central themes detailing different qualities of the working alliance: (1) feeling understood, (2) feeling comfortable, (3) openness and cooperation, (4) trust, (5) empathy and identification, (6) frustration and disappointment, (7) anger and hostility, and (8) emotional disengagement. On average, clients reported 2.56 (standard deviation = 1.17) and therapists described 2.65 (standard deviation = 1.45) themes in each session. Overall, concordant and discordant dyads described similar themes with few exceptions. In particular, being part of a discordant dyad may affect the client’s interpretation of non-verbal communication as well as the therapist’s evaluation of the client’s openness and trustworthiness. Although less frequent, when anger and hostility were described by therapists, these characterized the interaction with Mizrahi clients. We discuss implications to care including the need to promote a culturally humble approach to providing care for minorities.
Effect of Temperature on Growth and Autolysis of Blue-Green Algae, Spirulina platensis

スピルリナの比増殖速度および比自己分解速度に及ぼす温度の影響を明らかにするため，278–323 Kでスピルリナの培養を行った．スピルリナの比増殖速度は温度305 K付近で最大となる．温度288 K，または323 Kでは比増殖速度がゼロまたは負の値となるが，温度を303 Kに戻すと増殖した．スピルリナの比自己分解速度定数は温度が低くなるほど大きくなった．
The effect of Daphnia body size on filtering rate inhibition in the presence of a filamentous cyanobacterium.

We tested the hypothesis that shifts in the size structure of daphnid assemblages may be caused by differing sensitivities of particular species to interfering filamentous cyanobacteria. Three Daphnia species of different size were fed the green alga Scenedesmus and filtering rates were measured in the presence and absence of straight filaments of the cyanobacterium Cylindrospermopsis raciborskii. Cylindrospermopsis was not lethally toxic to Daphnia, but was inadequate as the sole food. The filtering rates of all three Daphnia species were reduced in the presence of the filaments. The larger Daphnia pulicaria and Daphnia hyalina were more affected than the smallest, Daphnia cucullata, and within the size range of each species larger individuals were more affected than smaller ones. Our results are consistent with field observations that body size is an important factor determining the competitive success of Daphnia species in the presence of cyanobacterial filaments.
Phytase and cholecalciferol supplementation of low-calcium and low-phosphorus diets for pigs

The effects of different levels of calcium, phytase, and cholecalciferol in low-phosphorus diets were studied in individually-penned 20-kg pigs for 28 d. The positive control diet, used in all three experiments, was formulated to contain 6 g Ca and 5.4 g P kg−1. In the first experiment, four barrows and four gilts received one of seven diets arranged as a positive control plus 2 × 3 factorial of phytase (0 or 1, 600 units kg−1) and calcium (3, 4.5 or 6 g kg−1) containing phosphorus at 3.4 g kg−1. Phytase addition increased (P < 0.05) plasma phosphorus concentration, weight gain and gain:feed ratio. Plasma phosphorus, weight gain and gain:feed ratio were linearly reduced (P < 0.05) as dietary calcium level increased in the low-phosphorus diets but not in the phytase-supplemented low-phosphorus diets. The second experiment was similar to the first experiment, except that phytase was reduced to 800 units kg−1 and dietary calcium levels were 2.5, 3, or 3.5 g kg−1. Phytase addition increased (P < 0.05) weight .
Mathematical model and simulated power performance of a novel O-type engine

Reciprocating engines such as V-type, L-type and W-type engines are used widely in our daily life. However, there is still some room for the improvement of power performance if the configuration of the cylinder and connecting rod system is changed. In this paper, a novel O-type engine is put forward firstly. The structural features of the O-type cylinder sets are described briefly, and then the relevant mathematical model with hypotheses is established to conduct the performance analysis. Secondly, the O-type engine is compared with the general range of power performance of gasoline engine to demonstrate its merits. Then, the power performance indicators, namely the mean indicated pressure (PMI), space occupation efficiency (SOE) and heat efficiency (HE) of the novel engine are analysed and discussed in detail through MATLAB with the verification and validation which are conducted to ensure the reliability of results. And the results show that the power performance of the O-type engine is better than most of gasoline engines; the power performance indicators in the research are not monotonous at different volumes with the bore stroke ratio increasing; the proper range of the volume and the bore stroke ratio is obtained to make the engine achieve a high power performance. All in all, the research is helpful for the development and application of the O-type engine.
NEM tubulin inhibits microtubule minus end assembly by a reversible capping mechanism.

Although microtubule (MT) dynamic instability is thought to depend on the guanine nucleotide (GTP vs GDP) bound to the β-tubulin of the terminal subunit(s), the MT minus end exhibits dynamic instability even though the terminal β-tubulin is always crowned by GTP−α-tubulin. As an approach toward understanding how dynamic instability occurs at the minus end, we investigated the effects of N-ethylmaleimide-modified tubulin (NTb) on elongation and rapid shortening of individual MTs. NTb preferentially inhibits minus end assembly when combined with unmodified tubulin (PCTb), but the mechanism of inhibition is unknown. Here, video-enhanced differential interference contrast microscopy was used to observe the effects of NTb on MTs assembled from PCTb onto axoneme fragments. MTs were exposed to mixtures of PCTb (25 μM) and NTb (labeled on ≈1 Cys per monomer) in which the NTb/PCTb ratio varied from 0.025 to 1. The NTb/PCTb mixture had a slight inhibitory effect on the plus end elongation rate, but significantly in.
Automatic Tuning of Vessel Models Offshore: A Feasibility Study Using High-Precision Data from Model Test

Model-based prediction of vessel response is valuable for planning and execution of marine operations. Response-based operation criteria are expected to give less downtime and cheaper and safer operations than criteria based on wave height and wave period. At least this holds if the response model has sufficient accuracy. The accuracy can in principle be improved by tuning the model using measured inputs and outputs. It is envisioned that an advisory system for planning and execution of marine operations will contain a module for continuous model improvement based on on-site measurements of excitation and response. A premise for this is that the measurements be of sufficiently high quality. To test the potential of automatic model tuning an established numerical vessel model is subjected to tuning with high-precision data from a model test with wave disturbance only. This may give information of how well modelling can be achieved using tuning under favourable conditions and serve as a benchmark for tuning under noisy conditions. In addition the results may give suggestions for improvement of the mathematical model. A prototype tuning software is written in Matlab. The tuning principle is to minimize the output error, i.e. the difference between measured and simulated response, by adjusting the model's parameters. For the minimization a quasi-Newton method is used. The tuning software is tested with data from the model test and found to function as intended. Examples of tuning are given.
Cocoon Predation by Small Mammals, and Pine Sawfly Population Dynamics

Neodiprion sertifer (Hymenoptera: Diprionidae) cocoons were planted singly (50 cocoons per site), in groups of 10 (20 groups per site) and in groups of 50 (10 groups per site) at 21 mostly one-hectare sites representing a wide range of forest types. Small mammals destroyed 70% (range 28-99.6%) of the cocoons in one month at the 21 sites. In stands of barren pine forest on poor soil the numbers of predators were positively correlated with predation rate, but at more fertile sites, where predators were twice as numerous, there was no such correlation, perhaps because of more abundant alternative food. The masked shrew Sorex caecutiens and the bank vole Clethrionomys glareolus were the two most important predators. The shrew destroyed especially scattered cocoons while the vole destroyed especially clumped cocoons. The shrew and the vole memorized the locations of the cocoon groups within their home ranges, distinguished between small and large groups, and their movements were affected for (at least) one to five weeks by the previous presence of cocoon groups. We tested whether bird predation of cocoons in tree canopies would be less severe than small-mammal predation on the ground, where larvae spin cocoons. It would not: 85% in trees vs 70% on the ground. Small-mammal predation may contribute to two observations about pine sawfly outbreaks in northern Europe: the vulnerability of stands on poor soils (few predators) and the high outbreak frequency of N. sertifer, the only northern European pine sawfly with a short cocoon period in summer (short predation period).
The importance of genetic evidence for identifying intra‐specific brood parasitism

Intra-specific brood parasitism is widespread among birds. When genetic evidence is not available, criteria like super-normal clutch size, high within-clutch variance in egg morphology, and shorter than normal laying intervals have been used to identify parasitized broods. Here we report genetically determined parentage of a clutch of super-normal size in a species with fixed clutch size, the northern lapwing Vanellus vanellus. Results from multi-locus DNA fingerprinting revealed no loss of parentage in this brood. Furthermore, no loss of parentage was found in another clutch with a high variance in egg size and colouration. These findings add to previous evidence that reliable classification of brood parasitism requires molecular analysis.
Primary Hemiepiphytism in Colysis ampla (Polypodiaceae) Provides New Insight into the Evolution of Growth Habit in Ferns

Premise of research. Epiphytes are prominent in many tropical floras; however, the evolution of epiphytism, especially among ferns, remains poorly understood. Transitions in habit have been proposed as evolutionary stepping stones in the radiation of ferns in the epiphytic niche, with hemiepiphytes playing an important role. However, few examples of hemiepiphytism have been conclusively documented in ferns, and evidence for this transition is limited. Because of this lack of information, the relationship between hemiepiphytism and epiphytism remains unclear. We fill this gap with new observations and analysis of habit evolution in the Polypodiaceae. Methodology. We document primary hemiepiphytism in Colysis ampla from field observations of both gametophytes and sporophytes, and we examine its sporophyte anatomy in relation to its growth habit. Using cpDNA sequence data, we place the species within a phylogenetic context and perform ancestral state reconstruction of growth habit to infer the evolution of hemiepiphytism in C. ampla. Pivotal results. Here we provide the first examination of gametophyte morphology and sporophyte growth habit in this species as well as the first conclusive documentation of primary hemiepiphytism in the Polypodiaceae. Phylogenetic analyses place C. ampla in a small clade of probable hemiepiphytes closely allied to the Old World ant-fern genus Lecanopteris. We infer a transition from epiphytism to hemiepiphytism in the clade consisting of C. ampla and closely related species, the first such transitional series reported for the polypod ferns. A hemiepiphyte syndrome consisting of gametophyte, rhizome, root, and leaf characteristics is presented to guide future investigation of this growth habit. Conclusions. Hemiepiphytes are likely underreported among climber- and epiphyte-rich groups of ferns. Primary hemiepiphytes may be more frequently derived from holoepiphytic ancestors because epiphytic gametophytes and sporophytes are preadapted to hemiepiphytic growth. We propose that hemiepiphytism provides a mechanism for acquisition of stable nutrient and water supplies by tree-dwelling plants.
Validation and reliability of the Turkish version of the inflammatory bowel disease questionnaire for ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease.

BACKGROUND/AIMS Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) impairs patients' quality of life (QoL). Inflammatory bowel disease questionnaire (IBDQ) is created to measure the health-related QoL specific for IBD. We planned to investigate the validation and reliability of the Turkish translation of IBDQ. MATERIALS AND METHODS Patients filled self-report questionnaires (Turkish Inflammatory bowel disease questionnaire (TrIBDQ) and Short Form-36 (SF-36)) themselves under a physician's supervision, and they were free to ask questions about the questionnaires. The participants then filled the same questionnaire after at least two weeks. Construct validity, discriminant ability, reliability, and susceptibility to change were analyzed separately for the IBD patients. Intra-class correlation coefﬁcient (ICC) was used to assess test-retest reliability. Cronbach's alpha values were used to assess internal consistency. RESULTS A hundred patients enrolled in the study, 53 with Crohn's disease (CD), 47 with ulcerative colitis (UC). We found a moderate to high positive correlation between the TrIBDQ domains and the SF-36 dimensions. In UC and CD, TrIBDQ was able to differentiate active disease and remission. We found Cronbach's alpha for TrIBDQ domains ranged from 0.76-0.94 in CD and from 0.79-0.92 in UC. The total Cronbach's alpha for TrIBDQ was 0.96 in CD and 0.95 in UC. Sensitivity-to-change analyses of the bowel, systemic, and emotional scores showed statistically significant differences between their baseline and follow-up values. CONCLUSION TrIBDQ is a valid and reliable tool for assessing the quality of life in Turkish speaking IBD patients. Thus it can be used in clinical research and practice.