Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Level Converting Flip-Flops for High-Speed and Low-Power Applications

This letter presents two high-performance level-convert-ing flip-flops (LCFF) for multi-VDD systems, indirect precharging flip-flop (IPFF) and multi-supply complementary pass-transistor flip-flop (MCPFF). Employing a simple precharging scheme, IPFF provides high operating speed. MCPFF, on the other hand, provides low power operations by implementing the edge-triggering function with complementary pass transistors. Performance comparison indicates that IPFF operates at the highest speed and MCPFF consumes the lowest power among the seven LCFFs under evaluation.
Flight Speeds of Birds in Relation to Energetics and Wind Directions

RECENTLY it has become possible to measure accurately the power expenditures of birds flying freely in a wind tunnel (Tucker, 1968, 1969). The measurements show that power expenditure is influenced by the air speed and the angle of flight, which may be level, ascending, or descending. As the air speed and angle of flight in a wind tunnel are chosen by the investigator, we were interested in determining if birds flying in natural conditions choose air speeds that minimize their power expenditures. Accurate measurements of air speed and angle of flight in nature are difficult to make. The velocity vectors of both the bird and the wind must be measured, and then the motion of the bird relative to the air must be determined by vector addition. Both vectors may change in time and space. As the unaided human eye usually is incapable of measuring the distances and angles on which accurate measurements of the velocities must be based, relatively elaborate tracking and recording devices are needed. Although many estimates of bird flight speeds have been published (Baker, 1922; Cooke, 1937; Cottam et al., 1942; McCabe, 1942; Broun and Goodwin, 1943; Spiers, 1945; Meinertzhagen, 1955; Pearson, 1961; Thompson, 1961; Lanyon, 1962; Schnell, 1965; Lokemoen, 1967; Michener and Walcott, 1967), the accuracy of most of them cannot be evaluated because the descriptions of methodology are incomplete. Most estimates are for ground speed with little or no information on wind velocity. Often the birds were chased by automobiles or aircraft, or were otherwise disturbed, and angles of ascent or descent were not measured. We measured velocities with respect to air and ground of birds in nature by using a double theodolite system. In this technique, the bird is sighted on through telescopes operated by two observers at different locations. The horizontal angles and one vertical angle of the lines of sight of the telescopes are recorded simultaneously and at known times. The position of the bird in space at each time can be reconstructed from these data so that three-dimensional velocity vectors can be determined. Wind velocity vectors in two dimensions can be measured in a similar manner by tracking helium balloons.
AWARD NUMBER: W81XWH-04-1-0800 TITLE: A Dual-Action Armed Replicating Adenovirus for the Treatment of Osteoblastic Bone Metastases of Prostate Cancer

Vectors are based on human adenovirus serotypes 2 (Ad2) and 5 (Ad5) of species C possess a number of features that have favored their widespread employment for gene delivery both in vitro and in vivo. However, the use of recombinant Ad2and Ad5-based vectors for gene therapy also suffers from a number of disadvantages. These vectors possess the tropism of the parental viruses, which infect all cells that possess the appropriate surface receptors, precluding the targeting of specific cell types. Conversely, some cell types that represent important targets for gene transfer express only low levels of the cellular receptors, which leads to inefficient infection. Another major disadvantage of Ad2and Ad5-based vectors in vivo is the elicitation of both an innate and an acquired immune response. Considerable attention has therefore been focused on strategies to overcome these limitations, thereby permitting the full potential of adenoviral vectors to be realized.
Rate limited stabilization: Sub‐optimal encoder–decoder schemes

We extend in this paper results from packet‐based control theory and present sufficient conditions on the rate of a packet network to guarantee asymptotic stabilizability of unstable discrete LTI systems with less inputs than states. We use a truncation‐based encoder/decoder scheme and two types of network control systems are considered in the absence of communication delays, then for one of the two types, the case of a constant time delay is discussed. For one of the network types, we also propose a zoom‐in‐type dynamic quantizer scheme with lower data rate but a more complex encoding scheme than the truncation‐based one. The new dynamic quantizer requires a lower data rate to achieve stabilization, and while it does not achieve the minimum data rate given by the Data Rate Theorem, it uses an encoding algorithm that is simpler than others reported in the literature. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Predator‐Mediated Plasticity in Morphology, Life History, and Behavior of Daphnia: The Uncoupling of Responses

We studied the way 12 traits responded to fish kairomones in a set of 16 Daphnia magna clones derived from four different habitats—two where daphnids co‐occur with fish and two without fish. These clones differed widely in their response to predator kairomones, with none of the clones showing a significant response in all traits and all clones showing a response for at least one trait. Most of the clones showed a significant response in one to four traits, with no evidence for an association between different traits. Clones from fish habitats were slightly more responsive to the presence of fish kairomones than clones from fishless locations. We conclude that most clones show an induced response to the presence of their predators (fish) but that there is a large genetic variability with respect to the traits for which clones show a response. Our results indicate that the major distinction is not between inducible and noninducible genotypes but rather that the genotypes differ in the combination of traits for which they show inducible responses.
Experimental observation of synchronization in a biomechanical rotational motors system

Summary form only given. Spatio-temporal dynamics of complex collective systems are of general interest in nonlinear physics due to the general underlying principles of complex systems' dynamics that can be found in many disciplines. Among these scenarios, synchronization demonstrates impressively how order can emerge from chaos by the coordination of single entities to operate a collective system in unison. Synchronization is known to emerge in mechanical, optical or biological systems [1,2] for example in coupled oscillators as they are represented by metronomes, coupled lasers or nonlinear optical systems [3,4]. Despite of vast theoretical and numerical modeling [2] and impressive demonstrations in nature (fire flies) [5], sociology (clapping hands), or technical systems, experimental verification is still limited for small scales. Especially biomechanical systems on the micro and nano scale, as flagellated bacteria, feature one of the smallest known rotational motors, which drive the flagella and allow the cell to propel through its environment, seem to be interesting candidates to observe synchronization. However, the biophysical properties of this kind of motors are not yet fully understood and even less is known about the role of hydrodynamic interactions of multiple motors, including possible cooperative effects and the resulting spatio-temporal dynamics. Therefore, nonlinear dynamical effects observed with bacterial molecular motors are typically limited to collective effects of thousands of bacteria [6]. We investigate interactions of multiple bio-rotational motors in optically induced arrangements of surfaceadhered bacteria. For the induction of defined configurations, we employ holographic optical tweezers (HOT), as a precise and at the same time flexible positioning and orientation scheme which has been optimized for rodshaped bacteria [7]. By means of structured, optically induced adherence at homogeneous surfaces, monitoring without possible influences of the trapping laser is achieved [8]. Figure 1 shows a schematic representation of the configuration of a pair of bacteria adhered to the surface. The distance between the two bacteria is varied from 2. 5μm to 32μm (Fig. 1a). Digital image processing of video data with high temporal resolution allows accessing information on rotation frequencies and of the instantaneous bacterial body orientation (see Fig.1b) of single and multiple bacterial cells [9]. This provides the prerequisites to study their interaction and effects on their rotation behavior directly. We present our experimental platform for the investigation of bacterial coupling, discuss conditions for successful measurements of bacterial synchronization and show first experimental demonstration of phase synchronization and effects of (harmonic) frequency coupling.
Bronchiectasis detected with thin-section CT as a predictor of chronic lung allograft rejection.

PURPOSE To evaluate bronchiectasis detected with thin-section computed tomography (CT) as a potential early finding of chronic lung allograft rejection. MATERIALS AND METHODS Forty patients were studied at least 6 months after transplantation. Follow-up CT scans were obtained 6-48 months after transplantation and were retrospectively reviewed for evidence and anatomic extent of bronchiectasis. Irreversible dysfunction of the lung transplant, called the bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome (BOS), was staged according to pulmonary function testing. Pathologic proof of bronchiolitis obliterans was obtained. RESULTS BOS occurred in 14 (35%) of the 40 patients. When considering bronchiectasis preceding BOS, bronchiectasis was a predictor of chronic rejection with a sensitivity of 14%, a specificity of 77%, a positive predictive value of 25%, and a negative predictive value of 63%. Bronchiectasis appeared concomitantly with BOS in eight (67%) of 12 patients. CONCLUSION The diagnosis of chronic rejection relies on the degree of impairment of pulmonary function. When the diagnosis is only suspected on the basis of minimal impairment, CT can aid in the diagnosis of rejection by depicting early pulmonary changes.
Greater Night-to-Night Variability in Sleep Discrepancy Among Older Adults with a Sleep Complaint Compared to Noncomplaining Older Adults

Research in younger adults suggests sleep discrepancy (objective/subjective measurement difference) is a consistent pattern that primarily occurs within individuals with insomnia. To examine whether older adults exhibit a similar pattern, this study compared night-to-night inconsistency in sleep discrepancy between older adults with and without sleep complaints. Older adults (N = 103; mean age = 72.81, SD = 7.12) wore an Actiwatch-L® (24 hr per day) and concurrently completed sleep diaries for 14 days. Sleep discrepancy = diary (sleep onset latency [SOL] or wake [time] after sleep onset [WASO]) − actigraphy (SOL or WASO). Both groups exhibited sleep discrepancy, but complainers exhibited significantly more night-to-night variability. Sleep discrepancy was a variable behavior that was not limited to insomnia, but instead manifested by degree throughout our older sample. Greater attention to variability in sleep research and clinical practice is warranted.
A conceptual framework for component-based system metrics definition

The lack of standard formalism for defining software metrics has led to ambiguity in their definitions which hampers their applicability, comparison and implementation. In this paper we propose a conceptual framework for defining metrics for component-based systems. The proposed approach defines a metamodel of the corresponding context where metrics are applied. The use of algebraic sets and relations allows us to formally define metrics, thus providing clear and precise definitions.
Distinct Effector Mechanisms in the Development of Autoimmune Neuropathy versus Diabetes in Nonobese Diabetic Mice1

NOD mice deficient for the costimulatory molecule B7-2 (NOD-B7-2KO mice) are protected from autoimmune diabetes but develop a spontaneous autoimmune peripheral neuropathy that resembles human diseases Guillain-Barre syndrome and chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy. Similar observations have now been made in conventional NOD mice. We have shown previously that this disease was mediated by autoreactive T cells inducing demyelination in the peripheral nervous system. In this study, we analyzed the molecular pathways involved in the disease. Our data showed that neuropathy developed in the absence of perforin or fas, suggesting that classic cytotoxicity pathways were dispensable for nerve damage in NOD-B7-2KO mice. In contrast, IFN-γ played an obligatory role in the development of neuropathy as demonstrated by the complete protection from disease and infiltration in the nerves in NOD-B7-2KO mice deficient for IFN-γ. This result was consistent with the inflammatory phenotype of T cells infiltrating the peripheral nerves. Importantly, the relative role of perforin, fas, and IFN-γ appears completely different in autoimmune diabetes vs neuropathy. Thus, there are sharp contrasts in the pathogenesis of autoimmune diseases targeting different tissues in the same NOD background.
Scatterers characterisation in radar imaging using joint time-frequency analysis and polarimetric coherent decompositions

Classical radar imaging generally considers targets as set of isotropic independent sources with a constant response in the measured frequency band. Nevertheless, new radar capabilities, in terms of signal bandwidth and angular excursion, may challenge this bright point model. Studies based on multidimensional time-frequency (TF) analysis, describing the angular and frequency behaviour of a scene-s reflectivity, showed that some scatterers may have anisotropic and dispersive responses. Polarisation diversity is an interesting additional source of information in radar imaging, and provides indicators closely linked to some geometric and electromagnetic properties of the observed objects. In this study, a fully polarimetric TF analysis is proposed for radar imaging (SAR, ISAR) that characterises the anisotropic and dispersive behaviour of the polarimetric response of deterministic targets. This method is based on the hyper-image concept, which describes the response of scatterers as a function of the observation angle, the emitted frequency and polarimetric canonical behaviours. Polarimetric hyper-images point out that non-stationary behaviours can be related to physical properties of the target (geometrical shape, relative orientation) and allow a better understanding of the scattering mechanisms. This polarimetric hyper-image representation is then used to detect non-stationary scatterers and to classify their behaviour.
Risk of COPD from exposure to biomass smoke: a metaanalysis.

BACKGROUND Although many studies have suggested that biomass smoke is a risk factor for COPD, the relationship between the two has not been firmly established. In particular, the extent of the association between exposure of biomass smoke and COPD in different populations, as well as the relationship between biomass smoke and cigarette smoke, is not clear. To ascertain the relationship between biomass smoke and COPD, we performed a metaanalysis. METHODS We searched MEDLINE, EMBASE, and the Latin American and Caribbean Literature in Health Sciences Database and analyzed 15 epidemiologic (11 cross-sectional and four case-control) studies that met our criteria. Data were extracted and analyzed independently by two investigators using a standardized protocol. RESULTS Overall, people exposed to biomass smoke have an odds ratio (OR) of 2.44 (95% CI, 1.9-3.33) for developing COPD, relative to those not exposed to biomass smoke. Biomass smoke exposure was clearly identified as a risk factor for developing COPD in both women (OR, 2.73; 95% CI, 2.28-3.28) and men (OR, 4.30; 95% CI, 1.85-10.01), and in both the Asian population (OR, 2.31; 95% CI, 1.41-3.78) and the non-Asian population (OR, 2.56; 95% CI, 1.71-3.83). This risk factor has also been revealed in patients with chronic bronchitis (OR, 2.56; 95% CI, 1.77-3.70) and COPD (OR, 2.65; 95% CI, 1.75-4.03), and in cigarette smokers (OR, 4.39; 95% CI, 1.40-4.66) and non-cigarette smokers (OR, 2.55; 95% CI, 2.06-3.15). CONCLUSIONS Exposure to biomass smoke is a risk factor for COPD.
Transitoire d'énergie pour l' instabilité de Bénard-Von Karman sous-critique

Nous etudions experimentalement la reponse impulsionnelle du sillage d'un cylindre en regime sous-critique, dans un tunnel hydrodynamique. L'evolution du paquet d'ondes genere, en fonction du nombre de Reynolds et de la force de perturbation, est etudiee quantitativement avec la methode PIV a deux dimensions et permet de rendre compte de la croissance transitoire de l'energie, due a l'inhomogeneite du milieu.
Biphasic Functions of the Kinase-defective Ephb6 Receptor in Cell Adhesion and Migration*

EphB6 is a unique member in the Eph family of receptor tyrosine kinases in that its kinase domain contains several alterations in conserved amino acids and is catalytically inactive. Although EphB6 is expressed both in a variety of embryonic and adult tissues, biological functions of this receptor are largely unknown. In the present study, we examined the function of EphB6 in cell adhesion and migration. We demonstrated that EphB6 exerted biphasic effects in response to different concentrations of the ephrin-B2 ligand; EphB6 promoted cell adhesion and migration when stimulated with low concentrations of ephrin-B2, whereas it induced repulsion and inhibited migration upon stimulation with high concentrations of ephrin-B2. A truncated EphB6 receptor lacking the cytoplasmic domain showed monophasic-positive effects on cell adhesion and migration, indicating that the cytoplasmic domain is essential for the negative effects. EphB6 is constitutively associated with the Src family kinase Fyn. High concentrations of ephrin-B2 induced tyrosine phosphorylation of EphB6 through an Src family kinase activity. These results indicate that EphB6 can both positively and negatively regulate cell adhesion and migration, and suggest that tyrosine phosphorylation of the receptor by an Src family kinase acts as the molecular switch for the functional transition.
Inner nuclear membrane protein Ima1 is dispensable for intranuclear positioning of centromeres

Inner nuclear membrane (INM) proteins play a role in spatial organization of chromosomes within the nucleus. In the fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe, Sad1, an INM protein of the conserved SUN‐domain family, plays an active role in moving chromosomes along the nuclear membranes during meiotic prophase. Ima1 is another conserved INM protein recently identified. A previous study claimed that Ima1 is essential for mitotic cell growth, linking centromeric heterochromatin to the spindle‐pole body. However, we obtained results contradictory to the previously proposed role for Ima1: Ima1 was dispensable for mitotic cell growth or centromere positioning. This discrepancy was attributed to incorrect ima1 deletion mutants used in the previous study. Our results show that Ima1 collaborates with two other conserved INM proteins of the LEM‐domain family that are homologous to human Man1 and Lem2. Loss of any one of three INM proteins has no effect on mitotic cell growth; however, loss of all these proteins causes severe defects in mitotic cell growth and nuclear membrane morphology. Considering that all three INM proteins interact with Sad1, these results suggest that Ima1, Lem2 and Man1 play at least partially redundant roles for nuclear membrane organization.
Excess mortality and hospitalized morbidity in newly treated epilepsy patients

Objective: To assess the burden of mortality and hospitalized morbidity in newly treated epilepsy patients. Methods: We extracted relevant data of patients with newly treated epilepsy between September 16, 2005, and September 15, 2010, from the data repository covering all public hospitals in Hong Kong. Patients were followed up until September 15, 2011. Mortality and hospitalized morbidity were assessed, stratified by baseline comorbidities, number of antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) used, and treatment with enzyme-inducing AEDs (EIAEDs). Mortality was compared to the age- and sex-specific general population in Hong Kong. Results: Of the 7,461 newly treated epilepsy patients (55% male; median age 60 years), 2,166 (29%) died during the study period. The standardized mortality ratio was 5.09 (95% confidence interval [CI] 4.88–5.31), and was higher among those with physical or psychiatric baseline comorbidity (5.46; 95% CI 5.22–5.71) than those without (3.28; 95% CI 2.87–3.73). Standardized hospitalization ratio was 6.76 (95% CI 6.70–6.82). Baseline physical comorbidity–free patients (n = 3,514) exhibited higher risk of developing stroke (standardized incidence ratio [SIR] 4.96; 95% CI 4.19–5.84) and ischemic heart disease (SIR 4.18; 95% CI 3.54–4.91), and male patients had elevated risk of developing cancer (SIR 2.30; 95% CI 1.75–2.97). Patients treated with EIAEDs had higher risk of being subsequently recorded with new physical comorbidities than those with non-EIAEDs (relative risk [RR] 1.48; 95% CI 1.19–1.85), especially for cerebrovascular disease (RR 1.78; 95% CI 1.14–2.77). Conclusions: Newly treated epilepsy patients bear excess mortality and hospitalization risks. They have higher risk of developing stroke, ischemic heart disease, and cancer. Treatment with EIAEDs was associated with increased overall morbidity.
Metacognitive theories of visual programming: what do we think we are doing?

The research involved a qualitative and quantitative study of statements made by computer scientists about the ways in which they think that visual programming assists the thought processes of the programmer. This type of metacognitive knowledge has been shown in psychological experiments to have significant effects on performance in cognitive tasks. It is particularly important in the design of programming environments, where HCI factors of the environment constrain the programmer's design behaviour according to the beliefs of the environment designer. The metacognitive knowledge expressed in the visual programming literature is categorised in the paper into a range of micro-theories, the frequency of statements found in each category are compared, and the theoretical assumptions are evaluated in terms of relevant research in cognitive psychology.
Hyperinsulinaemia and blood pressure in patients with insulinoma.

A possible link between hyperinsulinaemia or insulin resistance and hypertension is currently debated. Recent evidence suggests that patients with essential hypertension are insulin resistant'2 and that hyperinsulinaemia is associated with raised blood pressure in subjects with normal glucose tolerance.3 Insulin enhances sodium reabsorption from the renal tubules and stimulates the activity of the sympathetic nervous system.5 Nevertheless, it is yet unknown whether hyperinsulinaemia itself is causally related to increased blood pressure or is merely the consequence of insulin resistance in hypertensive patients. This study was designed to evaluate the relation between serum insulin concentration and blood pressure in non-obese patients with insulinoma in order to study the effect of chronic hyperinsulinaemia on blood pressure.