Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Endoscopic diagnosis of pharyngeal carcinoma by NBI

Head and neck cancer, especially pharyngeal cancer, frequently co-exist with esophageal cancer, but pharyngeal cancer has proven difficult to detect in such cases before its progression to an advanced stage. Several recent reports have indicated that narrow-band imaging (NBI) endoscopy with magnification is able to improve the detection of superficial pharyngeal cancer. NBI is a relatively new optical technology based on limiting the depth of light penetration into the mucosa. The recognition of these lesions is dramatically improved and the microvascular structure of the mucosal surface is significantly enhanced by NBI. As a result, NBI enables more accurate diagnosis and increases the detection rate of superficial pharyngeal cancer. This particular field has only been developed in recent years, however, and there are still a number of problems that need to be addressed in the future. It will be necessary to accumulate and evaluate resected specimens and follow up patients in order to establish the appropriate criteria for curative endoscopic treatment in these patients. The ease in using NBI in combination with this new diagnostic concept based on microvascular changes makes NBI suitable for worldwide use in the future.
Coordinated downlink precoder design for regenerative multi-user relaying

Regenerative relaying is an efficient method of increasing the achievable capacity and cell coverage. We propose a weighted mean squared error (WMSE) minimization based throughput maximizing precoder design subject to separate sum transmit power constraints for the base station (BS) and relay station (RS). The proposed algorithm is implemented in a distributed manner, thus, further improving the efficiency. We assume a system consisting of a single multi-antenna BS and multi-antenna RS, both of which are serving multiple single-antenna users. We consider a two-stage transmission strategy, in which, at the first stage, BS transmits to the associated users and the RS. At the second stage, the BS and RS transmit to their associated users. It is demonstrated that, with appropriate over-the-air (OTA) signaling, the system performance can be significantly improved.
Menstrual abnormalities in school going girls - are they related to dietary and exercise pattern?

CONTEXT Adolescence is the transitional phase of physical and mental development between childhood and adulthood and is characterized by immense hormonal changes.75% of girls experience some problems associated with menstruation. AIM We tried to find out the prevalence of menstrual abnormalities in school going girls in Pondicherry and their association with dietary and exercise habits. SETTING AND DESIGN A cross-sectional questionnaire based study was conducted in adolescent girls who attained menarche in four secondary schools of Pondicherry, India. MATERIAL AND METHODS All students who attained menarche and willing to participate in the study were invited to answer the questionnaire, which dealt with anthropometric data, socioeconomic data, menstrual history, and diet and exercise pattern. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS Chi-square test and Fisher's exact test was used to compare the dietary and exercise patterns among students having menstrual abnormalities and those who do not have menstrual abnormalities. RESULTS A total of 853 students participated in the study. Dysmenorrhea and premenstrual symptoms were the most frequent problems encountered. Premenstrual symptoms were significantly more common among girls who were overweight, in girls who were eating junk food regularly, in girls who were eating less food (dieting) in order to lose weight and in those who were not doing regular physical activity. Dysmenorrhea was significantly more common in the girls who were dieting to lose weight. Passage of clots was also significantly high in the girls who were dieting. CONCLUSION Lifestyle modifications like regular physical activity, decreasing the intake of junk food and promoting healthy eating habits should be emphasised in school health education programs to improve their menstrual health.
Association of physical activity and heart failure with preserved vs. reduced ejection fraction in the elderly: the Framingham Heart Study

Reduced physical activity is associated with increased risk of heart failure (HF) in middle‐aged individuals. We hypothesized that physical inactivity is also associated with greater HF risk in older individuals, and examined if the association was consistent for HF with preserved ejection fraction (HFPEF) vs. HF with a reduced ejection fraction (HFREF).
Different effects of nanophase and conventional hydroxyapatite thin films on attachment, proliferation and osteogenic differentiation of bone marrow derived mesenchymal stem cells.

UNLABELLED It is suggested that nanophase hydroxyapatite (nHAP) might have advantages over conventional hydroxyapatite (cHAP) as a biomaterial for bone regeneration. To be a satisfactory candidate for bone tissue engineering, it is important to support the growth and differentiation of bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs). The purpose of this study is to determine whether nHAP as cell growth substrata could give better support for attachment, proliferation and osteogenic differentiation of BMSCs than cHAP. MATERIALS AND METHODS nHAP and cHAP films were prepared as the substrata for the cell growth. BMSCs obtained from rabbit were seeded on the films. Attachment, proliferation and osteogenic differentiation of BMSCs on the two kinds of films were evaluated. RESULTS Cell attachment ratio on nHAP films was significantly higher than that on cHAP films. Doubling time on nHAP films was significantly shorter than that on cHAP films. Amount of total proteins detected from cells cultured on nHAP films was significantly higher than that on cHAP films. However, alkaline phosphatase activity and osteocalcin content of the two groups showed no significant difference. CONCLUSIONS nHAP films favored cell attachment and proliferation but not osteogenic differentiation of BMSCs compared with cHAP films.
Regulation of Replication Fork Progression Through Histone Supply and Demand

DNA replication in eukaryotes requires nucleosome disruption ahead of the replication fork and reassembly behind. An unresolved issue concerns how histone dynamics are coordinated with fork progression to maintain chromosomal stability. Here, we characterize a complex in which the human histone chaperone Asf1 and MCM2–7, the putative replicative helicase, are connected through a histone H3-H4 bridge. Depletion of Asf1 by RNA interference impedes DNA unwinding at replication sites, and similar defects arise from overproduction of new histone H3-H4 that compromises Asf1 function. These data link Asf1 chaperone function, histone supply, and replicative unwinding of DNA in chromatin. We propose that Asf1, as a histone acceptor and donor, handles parental and new histones at the replication fork via an Asf1–(H3-H4)–MCM2–7 intermediate and thus provides a means to fine-tune replication fork progression and histone supply and demand.
Hypertension is critically dependent on the carotid body input in the spontaneously hypertensive rat

Peripheral chemoreflex sensitivity is enhanced in hypertension yet the role of these receptors in the development and maintenance of high blood pressure remains unknown. Carotid chemoreceptors were denervated in both young and adult spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs) by sectioning the carotid sinus nerves bilaterally while recording arterial blood pressure chronically using radio telemetry. Carotid sinus denervation (CSD) in the young animals prevented arterial pressure from reaching the hypertensive levels observed in sham‐operated animals whereas in adult SHRs arterial pressure fell by ∼20 mmHg. After CSD there was a decrease in sympathetic activity, measured indirectly using power spectral analysis and hexamethonium, and an improvement in baroreceptor reflex gain. Carotid bodies are active in the SHR and contribute to both the development and maintenance of hypertension; whether carotid body ablation is a useful anti‐hypertensive intervention in drug‐resistant hypertensive patients remains to be resolved.
A 17 GHz programmable frequency divider for space applications in a 130 nm SiGe BiCMOS technology

A programmable frequency divider for fractional-N frequency synthesizers is presented. The input frequency range is from DC to 17GHz for divider ratios from 16 to 255. We show by analysis and time-domain simulations that the quantization noise folding in a fractional-N PLL can be reduced tremendously, if a prescaler between VCO and programmable divider can be avoided by using this high-speed divider. The programmable divider was manufactured in a 130nm SiGe BiCMOS technology. Robust operation is obtained from a supply voltage VCC=3D2.3-3.9 V. The measured divider phase noise floor for a 100 MHz output signal is as low as -156dBc/Hz. The chip occupies 1.7 mm2 including bondpads and draws 154mA from a 2.3V supply.
Perceived hearing status and attitudes toward noise in young adults.

PURPOSE To estimate the prevalence of perceived hearing loss, tinnitus, and temporary threshold shift (TTS) in community college students and to see whether those students' attitudes toward noise affected their perception of their own possible hearing loss, tinnitus, and TTS. METHOD Young adults (N = 245; age 18-27) completed 3 questionnaires: the Hearing Symptom Description, Youth Attitude to Noise Scale, and Adolescents' Habits and Hearing Protection Use. RESULTS Perceived TTS and pain associated with loud noise were the most common hearing related factors, followed by perceived tinnitus and hearing loss. The students' attitudes toward noise in their daily environment showed the most negative response, whereas attitudes toward noise and concentration indicated a more positive, or less harmful, response. Chi-square analysis indicated a significant correlation between perceived hearing loss and respondents' overall attitudes toward noise exposure. Hearing protection use was limited for all participants, with the majority reporting never having used hearing protection. CONCLUSION Approximately 6% of respondents reported perceived hearing loss, and 13.5% reported prolonged tinnitus. In general, participants had neutral attitudes toward noise. Over 20% of participants reported ear pain, tinnitus, and/or TTS after noise exposure at least sometimes. Coincidentally, few participants reported consistent use of hearing protection.
Modeling and characterization of thin film coatings for high frequency CMUT annular arrays

Sub-mm CMUT annular arrays are very attractive for generating high quality imaging beams with a small channel count for intravascular imaging. In this work, we analyzed the performance of 840 μm diameter, 40 MHz CMUT annular arrays using analytical and FEA methods. We experimentally characterized several types of RTV films at high frequencies as protective coatings and evaluated their effect on the annular array performance through FEA. The FEA of the CMUT array was conducted using ANSYS and the analytical calculations were based on the Rayleigh integral. To accurately model the effects of RTV layers in ANSYS with the FLUID79 element, the frequency dependent attenuation of ~1 mm thick RTV-60 and RTV-615 samples were measured using two high frequency CMUT arrays in water. The attenuation of the RTV samples was fit to the relation α~Bfn (Np/m) over the frequency range of 5 MHz to 30 MHz with excellent agreement (B= 2.46E-9, n=1.67 for RTV-60, B=2.13E-4, n= 0.956 for RTV-615). With these measurements, attenuation was included in the FEA for 5-15 μm thick RTV layers and the resulting fields were subsequently propagated into the fluid via post processing in MATLAB. The frequency domain and transient pressure fields for both focused and unfocused operation were obtained using axisymmetric models. An ideal equal area annular piston array, CMUT piston array, CMUT array, and an RTV coated CMUT array were considered. Initial hydrophone results with annular arrays are presented showing a loss in bandwidth when coated with RTV-615, in agreement with simulations.
An improved method of FPGA-based TDC for time-of-flight PET

Time-to-digital converter (TDC) implemented in field-programmable-gate arrays (FPGAs) with the use of tapped delay line (TDL) methods using dedicated carry chain structures has been utilized to obtain precise timing information for time-of-flight (TOF) PET. However, such chain-structural FPGA-based TDCs suffer from the uneven tap delay, which is one of the main limitations for enhancing the timing performance of TDC. To subdivide the non-uniform tap delay, we propose a TDC with dual-TDL having different starting points. In a FPGA (Spartan-6 LX45, Xilinx USA), two delay lines for a channel were implemented close to the FPGA input pad and one of two delay lines had starting point in further slice from the input pad. In calibration process, the size of wide time bins from the uneven tap delay was reduced using different characteristics of two delay lines. In simulation study, the average time bin size was reduced from 24.7 ps to 12.6 ps and the size of widest time bin was reduced from 168 ps to 56 ps. The performance of the proposed TDC was measured with two input pulses that were generated from a pulse generator. The timing resolution of the TDC was 35 ps FWHM which was improved compared to single-TDL TDC pair (56 ps FWHM). The results of this preliminary study present dual-TDL calibration can effectively improve the time resolution of TDC. The subject of further study will be to extend the number of TDC channels in a FPGA for TOF-PET applications.
Molecular differential pathology of renal cell tumours

Recent application of molecular cytogenetic techniques to the evaluation of renal cell tumours revealed four subtypes, each with a characteristic combination of genetic alterations within the chromosomal and mitochondrial DNA. The most common, nonpapillary renal cell carcinomas are characterized by the loss of chromosome 3p sequences, rearrangement of the chromosome 5q region and loss of the chromosome 14q sequences. Papillary renal cell tumours can be divided into two groups. Tumours with a combined trisomy of chromosomes 7 and 17 as well as loss of the Y chromosome are papillary renal cell adenomas. Tumours with additional trisomies such as trisomy 16, 20 or 12 are pipillary renal cell carcinomas. Chromophobe renal cell carcinomas show a combination of allelic losses, which do not occur in other types of renal tumours. In addition, they have a rearrangement in the mitochondrial DNA. Renal oncocytomas are benign tumours marked by normal or abnormal karyotypes with balanced or unbalanced translocations and an altered restriction pattern of the mitochondrial DNA. Although the major cytological characteristics of renal cell tumours, such as clear, granular, chromophobe and oncocytic cell phenotypes correspond to nonpapillary, papillary and chromophobe renal cell carcinomas and renal oncocytomas, there are many cases with overlapping phenotype. Therefore, a classification of renal cell tumours based on specific genetic alterations is proposed.
Privacy-Preserving Data Mining

Despite its benefits in various areas (e.g., business, medical analysis, scientific data analysis, etc), the use of data mining techniques can also result in new threats to privacy and information security. The problem is not data mining itself, but the way data mining is done. “Data mining results rarely violate privacy, as they generally reveal high-level knowledge rather than disclosing instances of data” (Vaidya & Clifton, 2003). However, the concern among privacy advocates is well founded, as bringing data together to support data mining projects makes misuse easier. Thus, in the absence of adequate safeguards, the use of data mining can jeopardize the privacy and autonomy of individuals. Privacy-preserving data mining (PPDM) cannot simply be addressed by restricting data collection or even by restricting the secondary use of information technology (Brankovic & V. Estivill-Castro, 1999). Moreover, there is no exact solution that resolves privacy preservation in data mining. In some applications, solutions for PPDM problems might meet privacy requirements and provide valid data mining results (Oliveira & Zaiane, 2004b). We have witnessed three major landmarks that characterize the progress and success of this new research area: the conceptive landmark, the deployment landmark, and the prospective landmark. The Conceptive landmark characterizes the period in which central figures in the community, such as O’Leary (1995), Piatetsky-Shapiro (1995), and others (Klosgen, 1995; Clifton & Marks, 1996), investigated the success of knowledge discovery and some of the important areas where it can conflict with privacy concerns. The key finding was that knowledge discovery can open new threats to informational privacy and information security if not done or used properly. The Deployment landmark is the current period in which an increasing number of PPDM techniques have been developed and have been published in refereed conferences. The information available today is spread over countless papers and conference proceedings. The results achieved in the last years are promising and suggest that PPDM will achieve the goals that have been set for it. The Prospective landmark is a new period in which directed efforts toward standardization occur. At this stage, there is no consensus on privacy principles, policies, and requirements as a foundation for the development and deployment of new PPDM techniques. The excessive number of techniques is leading to confusion among developers, practitioners, and others interested in this technology. One of the most important challenges in PPDM now is to establish the groundwork for further research and development in this area.
Metaheuristics for feature selection: Application to sepsis outcome prediction

This paper proposes the application of a new binary particle swarm optimization (BPSO) method to feature selection problems. Two enhanced versions of binary particle swarm optimization, designed to cope with premature convergence of the BPSO algorithm, are proposed. These methods control the swarm variability using the velocity and the similarity between best swarm solutions. The proposed PSO methods use neural networks, fuzzy models and support vector machines in a wrapper approach, and are tested in a benchmark database. It was shown that the proposed BPSO approaches require an inferior simulation time, less selected features and increase accuracy. The best BPSO is then compared with genetic algorithms (GA) and applied to a real medical application, a sepsis patient database. The objective is to predict the outcome (survived or deceased) of the sepsis patients. It was shown that the proposed BPSO approaches are similar in terms of model accuracy when compared to GA, while requiring an inferior simulation time and less selected features.
Design Optimization of On-Chip Inductive Peaking Structures for 0.13-$\mu{\hbox {m}}$ CMOS 40-Gb/s Transmitter Circuits

This paper describes design methodologies for the optimal inductive peaking structures used for the 40-Gb/s serializing transmitter circuits presented in. The implemented transmitter had more than 400 on-chip inductors and transformers in order to achieve the bandwidth required for the 38.4-Gb/s operation demonstrated in a 0.13-μm CMOS process. A bridged T-coil network with inverted mutual coupling was found more effective than the conventional T-coil with sizeable driver-side capacitance. An iterative refinement procedure that directly optimizes the circuit's large-signal transient response at the presence of the inductor parasitics and device nonlinearities via HSPICE-ASITIC joint-simulation is described. The procedure resulted in more than 3 × improvement in bandwidth for the CML buffer, multiplexer, and latch circuits. It is shown that the area and the achievable bandwidth of the optimal inductive peaking structures will scale favorably with the CMOS technology trends.
Model validation and state estimation for uncertain continuous-time systems with missing discrete-continuous data

This paper considers two related problems of state estimation and model validation for a class of uncertain linear systems. The main contribution of the paper is that it considers a general information structure which allows for discrete and continuous measurements as well as missing data. The results are given in terms of a recursive state estimator involving a jump Riccati differential equation and jump state equations. These equations can be solved online.
A VLSI architecture for computing the tree-to-tree distance

The distance between two labeled ordered trees, /spl alpha/ and /spl beta/ is the minimum cost sequence of editing operations (insertions, deletions and substitutions, needed to transform or into /spl beta/ such that the predecessor-descendant relation between nodes and the ordering of nodes is not changed). Approximate tree matching has applications in genetic sequence comparison, scene analysis, error recovery and correction in programming languages, and cluster analysis. Edit distance determination is a computationally intensive task, and the design of special purpose hardware could result in a significant speed up. This paper describes in detail a VLSI architecture for computing the edit distance between arbitrary ordered trees, based on a parallel, systolic realization of the dynamic programming algorithm proposed by S.Y. Lu (1979). This architecture represents a significant improvement over that described by Sastry and Ranganathan (1994), which restricted the type of trees that could be processed by it. Two partitioning strategies to process trees of arbitrary sizes and structures on a fixed size implementation in multiple passes are proposed and analyzed. <<ETX>>
Identity of the Organic Cation Transporter OCT3 as the Extraneuronal Monoamine Transporter (uptake2) and Evidence for the Expression of the Transporter in the Brain*

We investigated the transport of cationic neurotoxins and neurotransmitters by the potential-sensitive organic transporter OCT3 and its steroid sensitivity using heterologous expression systems and also analyzed the expression of OCT3 in the brain. When expressed in mammalian cells, OCT3 mediates the uptake of the neurotoxin 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium (MPP+) and the neurotransmitter dopamine. Competition experiments show that several cationic neuroactive agents including amphetamines interact with OCT3. When expressed in Xenopus laevis oocytes, OCT3-mediated MPP+ uptake is associated with inward currents under voltage-clamp conditions. The MPP+-induced currents are saturable with respect to MPP+ concentration, and half-maximal saturation (K 0.5) occurs at about 25 μm MPP+ with membrane potential clamped at −50 mV. The K 0.5 for MPP+ is markedly influenced by membrane potential. OCT3 is inhibited by several steroids, and β-estradiol is the most potent inhibitor (K i ∼1 μm). The pattern of steroid sensitivity of OCT3 is different from that of OCT1 and OCT2 but correlates significantly with that of the extraneuronal monoamine transporter (uptake2). The transport characteristics and steroid sensitivity provide strong evidence for the molecular identity of OCT3 as uptake2. OCT3 is expressed in the brain as evidenced from Northern blot analysis, reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction, and in situ hybridization using OCT3-specific probes. The molecular identity of the transcript hybridizing to the probe has been established by sequencing the reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction product and also by the isolation of the OCT3 cDNA from a brain cDNA library. Regional distribution studies with in situ hybridization show that OCT3 is expressed widely in different brain regions, especially in the hippocampus, cerebellum, and cerebral cortex. OCT3 is likely to play a significant role in the disposition of cationic neurotoxins and neurotransmitters in the brain.