Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Area-power-efficient 11-bit hybrid dual-Vdd ADC with self-calibration for neural sensing application

Miniaturized neural sensing microsystem has become increasingly important for brain function investigation. This paper presented a low voltage area-power-efficient 11-bit hybrid analog-to-digital convertor (ADC) with self-calibration for neural sensing application. To reduce the total amount of capacitance, the proposed hybrid ADC is composed of 3 bit coarse-tune and 8 bit fine-tune with delay-lined based ADC and successive approximation register (SAR) ADC. The three most significant bits are detected by a modified vernier structure delay-line-based ADC. Self-timed power management including dual voltage supply, power-gating and multi-threshold CMOS are employed and the capacitance mismatch due to process variation is compensated using a self-calibration scheme. The proposed 11 bit ADC is implemented in TSMC 90nm general propose (GP) CMOS technology. Post-sim results indicate that ENOB of 9.71-bits at 32KS/s sampling rate can be achieved with only 982nW power consumption and 0.026-mm2. The FOM of the proposed hybrid ADC is 36.75fJ/conversion-step.
Adaptation for YouTube Video Transcription

Automatic closed-captioning of video is a useful application of speech recognition technology but poses numerous challenges when applied to open-domain user-uploaded videos such as those on YouTube. In this work, we explore a strategy to improve decoding accuracy for video transcription by decoding each video with a language model (LM) adapted specifically to the topics that the video covers. Taxonomic topic classifiers are used to determine the topic content of videos and to build a large set of topic-specific LMs from web documents. We consider strategies for selecting and interpolating LMs in both supervised and unsupervised scenarios in a two-pass lattice rescoring framework. Experiments on a YouTube video corpus show a 3.6 absolute reduction in WER over generic single-pass transcriptions as well as a statistically significant 0.8 absolute improvement over rescoring with a very large non-adapted LM built from all the documents.
Intravenous Albumin Administration for Prevention of Spinal Hypotension during Cesarean Section

Five percent albumin in Ringer's lactate with 5% dextrose solution (D5RL) (15 ml/kg) was prophylactically infused preanesthetically over 15 to 20 minutes to prevent hypotension during spinal anesthesia in 46 patients undergoing elective cesarean section. Apgar scores and the incidence and severity of hypotension were compared to results obtained in 41 patients who were given D5RL solution without albumin (15 ml/kg). The incidence of hypotension was significantly less in patients given 5% albumin than in patients hydrated with D5RL alone. Mean arterial pressure decreased up to 18 ton from control values in patients hydrated with D5RL but mean arterial pressure did not change significantly in patients given 5% albumin. The Apgar scores, both at 1 minute and 5 minutes, were significantly higher (p < 0.01) in infants born of mothers given albumin than in infants whose mothers were given D5RL solution. Prophylactic administration of 5% albumin in D5RL solution is an effective method for prevention of spinal hypotension.
‘European’ Data Privacy Standards Implemented in Laws Outside Europe

The implementation of 'European' (2nd generation) data privacy principles in laws outside Europe continues to be substantial, including in high-GDP countries. This article updates my 2012 study by examining, 5 years later, the data privacy laws of the 20 highest GDP countries outside Europe that have such laws. The result is that these 'significant' countries implement, on average, 5.95 of the 10 distinctive 'European' privacy principles (those going beyond the 1980's OECD standard). Bills in some of these countries, when enacted, will make the average closer to 6.5. The article argues that the current global standard for data privacy laws is closer to the EU Directive's standards than those of the OECD.
Activity of ethanol extract of purpleleaves (Graptophyllumpictum(Linn.)Griff.) onalloxan-induced diabetes mice

Diabetes mellitus is a common endocrine disorder characterized by hyperglycemia and one of the major causes of death. This study aims to determine the antidiabetic activity of ethanol extract of purple leaves (Graptophyllumpictum (Linn.) Griff. )in mice. In this study, the inductionalloxan dose of 168 mg/kgbw in male mice and divided into 5 treatment groups. Group 1 to 3 are given the extract orally each concentration 140, 210, and 280 mg/kgbw, group 4 was given glibenclamide a dose of 0.65 mg/kgbw and group 5 given Na.CMC solution of 1% w/v. The results obtained in the analysis by paired t-test and test-one-way ANOVA showed a significant decrease (p <0.05). Based on the results of this study concluded that the ethanol extract of purple leaves has an activities in reducing blood glucose levels and the most effective concentration was 210 mg / kgbw with a percent decrease of 70.4%.
Vision based system for driver drowsiness detection

Drowsiness of drivers is amongst the significant causes of road accidents. Every year, it increases the amounts of deaths and fatalities injuries globally. In this paper, a module for Advanced Driver Assistance System (ADAS) is presented to reduce the number of accidents due to drivers fatigue and hence increase the transportation safety; this system deals with automatic driver drowsiness detection based on visual information and Artificial Intelligence. We proposed an algorithm to locate, track, and analyze both the drivers face and eyes to measure PERCLOS, a scientifically supported measure of drowsiness associated with slow eye closure.
CO-PYROLYSIS OF PINUS SAWDUST AND COAL IN FIXED BED BENCH SCALE REACTOR

Nowadays, co-pyrolysis processes involving biomass and fossil fuels have attracted increasing interests for power generation. This paper presents an experimental study of a co-pyrolysis process of five blends composed by Pinus elliottii sp. sawdust residue and subbituminous coal from South Brazil (0, 15, 50, 85 and 100 wt. % of biomass in the mixture). Tests with replicate were conducted in a fixed bed bench scale reactor at temperatures ranging from 345 to 555 °C and heating rate of 10 °C.min-1 in order to verify the influence of blend composition and reactor temperature on the pyrolysis process. The yield of the liquid products (oils), which showed two or three phases and small heating value, varied from 5.9 to 32.8 wt. % as material fed in the reactor changed from pure coal to pure biomass. On the other hand, the yield of the solid products (chars) was reduced from 87.4 wt. % (coalpyrolysis) to 35.4 wt. % (biomass pyrolysis). Both the highest liquid yield and highest heating value for the char fraction were obtained at 555 oC and 85 wt. % of sawdust in the mixture, showing the presence of synergetic effects on oil properties at such operational condition. These results can be used as preliminary data for further pyrolysis studies using these materials as fuel.
CXCR4‐independent rescue of the myeloproliferative defect of the gata1low myelofibrosis mouse model by Aplidin®

The discovery of JAK2 mutations in Philadelphia‐negative myeloproliferative neoplasms has prompted investigators to evaluate mutation‐targeted treatments to restore hematopoietic cell functions in these diseases. However, the results of the first clinical trials with JAK2 inhibitors are not as promising as expected, prompting a search for additional drugable targets to treat these disorders. In this paper, we used the hypomorphic Gata1low mouse model of primary myelofibrosis (PMF), the most severe of these neoplasms, to test the hypothesis that defective marrow hemopoiesis and development of extramedullary hematopoiesis in myelofibrosis is due to insufficient p27Kip1 activity and is treatable by Aplidin®, a cyclic depsipeptide that activates p27Kip1 in several cancer cells. Aplidin® restored expression of Gata1 and p27Kip1 in Gata1low hematopoietic cells, proliferation of marrow progenitor cells in vitro and maturation of megakaryocytes in vivo (reducing TGF‐β/VEGF levels released in the microenvironment by immature Gata1low megakaryocytes). Microvessel density, fibrosis, bone growth, and marrow cellularity were normal in Aplidin®‐treated mice and extramedullary hematopoiesis did not develop in liver although CXCR4 expression in Gata1low progenitor cells remained low. These results indicate that Aplidin® effectively alters the natural history of myelofibrosis in Gata1low mice and suggest this drug as candidate for clinical evaluation in PMF. J. Cell. Physiol. 225: 490–499, 2010. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Sustainability and innovation : the case of a global carpet manufacturing company.

Sustainability requires urgent, radical innovation from the private sector. However, private sector-led sustainability which meaningfully advances social, environmental and economic goals remains a rare occurrence. Despite the potential role of balanced environmental strategies such as ecological modernisation, there remains a lack of understanding of how such theories can be translated to actions at the level of a single organisation. This thesis explores the topics of ecological modernisation, employee engagement and sustainability-oriented innovation, grounded by a case study of Interface, a global manufacturing company. The work helps to build an understanding of the practicalities of organisation-level ecological modernisation, corporate sustainability and innovation in practice. It makes use of a case study research strategy combined with a grounded theory methodological approach. Three themes; ecological modernisation, employee engagement and sustainability-oriented innovation, are discussed and are applied to the analysis of the case material. The following key findings emerge: • Ecological modernisation, a theory typically applied and discussed at the macro-sociological level, is explored at the level of a single organisation, where it is used to contextualise the actions of Interface which contribute to wider, system-level sustainable disruptions. This is found to be a useful unit of analysis compared with typical explorations of EM, and reveals a number of interesting pathways by which EM organisations might impact upon the wider system in which they operate; • Social dimensions of EM theory are discussed and explored. By considering Interface at the centre of a larger, interconnected network of actors, it is found that there are numerous dynamics at play, including the role of employees and their levels of engagement, the role of competitors and the wider industry, the role of customers and the role of suppliers; • Temporal dimensions of EM are revealed and discussed, and several barriers are shown to emerge for Interface as it progresses further into a 20-year journey towards sustainability. Most strikingly, the low-hanging fruit is no longer available, and Interface finds itself in the “tall canopy” in seeking further reductions in emissions and waste; • Net-Works, a radical, innovative recycling project is presented and compared with other, less successful innovations from Interface. The contextual factors that gave rise to Net-Works are a combination of a radical goal, deliberate adoption of a social goal, and a safe failure space. Success is owed to developed capabilities, incorporation into an existing product, and partnering with an NGO and academia for accountability and credibility.
Leukocyte Adhesion Deficiency II: Therapy and Genetic Defect

Leukocyte adhesion deficiency II (LAD II) is a rare congenital disease which is caused by a defect in fucosylation of glycoconjugates. Hypofucosylated structures include ligands for the selectin family of adhesion molecules. This results in a leukocyte adhesion defect causing an immunodeficiency. In addition, LAD II patients show severe mental and growth retardations suggesting a role of fucose in development. Recently, a LAD II patient was treated with oral supplementation of fucose. This simple therapy restored selectin ligands and corrected the immunodeficiency. However, in another patient the treatment protocol had no effect indicating that the biochemical defect in the latter patient is somewhat different. The genetic defect in LAD II has now been located to a gene encoding a GDP-fucose transporter which gates GDP-fucose into the Golgi where fucose is transferred onto glycoconjugates. Point mutations have been detected in this gene in several LAD II patients, which inactivate the transporter function. Thus, LAD II represents the first developmental and immune defect that is based on a malfunctioning nucleotide sugar transporter.
Single-phase two-switch PCCM buck-boost PFC converter with fast dynamic response for universal input voltage

A novel single-phase two-switch pseudo-continuous conduction mode (PCCM) buck-boost PFC converter and its corresponding control strategy are proposed in this paper. The two-switch PCCM buck-boost topology provides an additional degree of control freedom to realize PFC control, which can offer significant performance improvements over single-switch buck-boost converters or two-switch buck-boost converters in continuous conduction mode (CCM) and discontinuous conduction mode (DCM). A simple and fast voltage control loop can be designed to realize output voltage regulation. The additional degree of control freedom introduced by inductor current freewheeling operation helps to achieve unity power factor control. Analysis and simulation results of PCCM buck-boost PFC converter have been presented. The experiment results show that the dynamic response of the PCCM buck-boost PFC converter is significantly faster than the CCM and DCM buck-boost PFC converter.
A New Reversible/Quantum Ternary Comparator

Multi-valued quantum circuits are the new generation of quantum circuits and they have some advantages over their binary counterparts. Ternary logic is the simplest type of multi-valued logic and it is more applicable than the other types of multi-valued logic. Comparators are widely used in search conditions, such as tree-based searches. In this paper, we design an n-qutrit comparator for quantum computing. The proposed comparator has less constant input and less quantum cost. To design a new comparator, we used quantum versions of ternary 1-qutrit permutation gates, 3-qubit Toffoli gates, Muthkrishnan-Stroud gates and lower quantum cost ternary full adders. The quantum gates used here can be realized using a liquid ion trap. In this work, we used ternary full adders to subtract two n-qutrit and then end full adder carry out and SUM output of all full adders has been used to compare the ternary numbers. The main output of the proposed circuit is f. Thus, the single circuit has been designed to discover the operation less-than, equal and greater-than, leading to low quantum cost and low ancilla qutrits. All of the scales are in the nanometric area.
Characterization of a Therapeutic Model of Inhalational Anthrax Using an Increase in Body Temperature in New Zealand White Rabbits as a Trigger for Treatment

ABSTRACT The development of an appropriate animal therapeutic model is essential to assess the potential efficacy of therapeutics for use in the event of a Bacillus anthracis exposure. We conducted a natural history study that showed New Zealand White rabbits exhibited a significant increase in body temperature (SIBT), changes in hematologic parameters, and increases in C-reactive protein and succumbed to disease with an average time to death of approximately 73 h following aerosol challenge with B. anthracis Ames spores. The SIBT was used as a trigger to treat with a fully human monoclonal antibody directed at protective antigen (PA). Ninety percent (9/10) of the treated rabbits survived the lethal inhalational challenge of B. anthracis. Further characterization investigated the protective window of opportunity for anti-PA antibody administration up to 12 h post-onset of SIBT. Eighty-three percent (5/6) of the rabbits treated at SIBT and 100% (6/6) of those treated at 6 h after SIBT survived challenge. Only 67% (4/6) of the rabbits treated at 12 h after SIBT survived. The increase in body temperature corresponded with both bacteremia and antigenemia (PA in the blood), indicating that SIBT is a suitable trigger to initiate treatment in a therapeutic model of inhalational anthrax.
Alcohol Caps or Alcohol Swabs With and Without Chlorhexidine: An In Vitro Study of 648 Episodes of Intravenous Device Needleless Connector Decontamination

The incidence of central venous access device (CVAD)–associated bloodstream infection (CABSI) has been reported to be as high as 21%. 1 Inadequate needleless connector decontamination can result in microbial contamination of the CVAD internal lumen, resulting in device colonization and CABSI.2 Guidelines vary in recommendations for antiseptic type and duration of application to needleless connectors.3 Scrubbing needleless connectors with chlorhexidine in alcohol swabs is recommended by some guidelines to prevent infection.2,4 However, lack of consistent needleless connector decontamination prior to use may negate the effectiveness of this approach. There is a need to define the most effective needleless connector decontamination techniques, including the antiseptic type and the duration of application. In this study, we investigated the comparative efficacy of 3 needleless connector decontamination methods and 3 connector types with different durations of application to prevent microbial contamination.
Interaction of exogenous DNA with the nuclear matrix of live spermatozoa

Sperm chromatin is a highly organized array of protamines and DNA, with the protamines serving to tightly condense the DNA into a compact, defined structure. We have previously demonstrated that the sperm nucleus is an ordered library of DNA organized into functional zones, such as the nuclear matrix and nuclear annulus. Other laboratories have suggested that mouse spermatozoa can interact with exogenous pSV2CAT plasmid DNA. In this work, we explored this interaction and examined the subcellular localization of the exogenous DNA. We found a repeatable association of exogenous DNA with a specific region of the sperm nuclear matrix. This region of the nucleus correlates with the equatorial segment of the sperm head. This interaction requires only a defined fertilization media, transfection quality DNA, and incubation with spermatozoa. Mol. Reprod. Dev. 56:235–237, 2000. © 2000 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Placebo-controlled trial of sertraline in the treatment of children with generalized anxiety disorder.

OBJECTIVE The study compared the safety and efficacy of sertraline, a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor, and placebo in the treatment of generalized anxiety disorder in children and adolescents. METHOD The study subjects were 22 children and adolescents age 5-17 years who met the DSM-IV criteria for generalized anxiety disorder according to the Anxiety Disorders Interview Schedule for Children-Revised and who had a Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale score > or = 16. The patients underwent a 2-3-week prestudy evaluation period, followed by a 9-week double-blind treatment phase in which they were randomly assigned in blocks of four to receive either sertraline or pill placebo. The maximum dose of sertraline was 50 mg/day. Primary outcome measures were the Hamilton anxiety scale and the Clinical Global Impression scale. RESULTS The Hamilton anxiety scale total score, psychic factor, and somatic factor and the Clinical Global Impression severity and improvement scales showed significant differences with treatment in favor of sertraline over placebo beginning at week 4. Self-report measures reflected these results at the end of treatment. CONCLUSIONS The results of this double-blind, placebo-controlled trial suggest that sertraline at the daily dose of 50 mg is safe and efficacious for the treatment of generalized anxiety disorder in children and adolescents.
Commentary: short‐term efficacy of tacrolimus in steroid‐refractory ulcerative colitis

The medical management of patients with refractory ulcerative colitis (UC) remains a significant challenge. Up to one-third of patients with UC require surgery. Immunomodulators are fundamental in the management of refractory UC. However, a proportion of patients are unresponsive to, or intolerant of, thiopurines. Data for other medical options are limited, with serious potential adverse effects. Further data for other pharmacological agents are needed for these patients. Two randomised studies 4 demonstrate the efficacy of tacrolimus in the induction of remission of moderate to severe UC in hospitalised patients at 2 weeks. Only small retrospective analyses have assessed longer term outcomes following tacrolimus treatment for this group. 6 Additional evidence is necessary regarding the efficacy of tacrolimus for steroid-refractory UC beyond the first few weeks of treatment. Schmidt et al. report a large retrospective study conducted across three centres of 130 patients with moderate to severe UC treated with tacrolimus. Clinical remission was achieved in 72% of patients after 3 months. Remission was achieved significantly more frequently in patients concomitantly treated with a thiopurine. Fourteen per cent of patients underwent colectomy within 3 months of initiating tacrolimus treatment. Adverse effects were observed in over half of the patients, but only in two cases was tacrolimus discontinued with no opportunistic infections or deaths occurring. This study is subject to the limitations of retrospective data. One-third of patients were treated de novo with a thiopurine concomitantly, data regarding patients’ tacrolimus levels are limited and other biological and endoscopic data are not presented. However, it provides an evaluation of a large group of patients with steroidrefractory UC treated with tacrolimus, with promising short-term outcomes, although longer term outcomes with tacrolimus in UC remain unclear.
The Effects of Well Management and the Nature of the Aquifer on Groundwater Resources

We compare groundwater use under collective well management in China, where village leaders allocate water among households, and under private well management where farmers either pump from their own wells or buy water from wells owned by other farmers. Villages are divided into connected or isolated groups depending on whether there are lateral groundwater flows between aquifers underlying a village and neighboring ones. In rural China, households under collective well management use less water. Even under collective management, households located in connected villages use more water, indicating that the connectedness of the aquifers may undermine leaders' incentives to conserve water. Copyright 2013, Oxford University Press.