Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Car audio equalizer system using music classification and loudness compensation

In this paper, we present an automatic equalizer system controlled by the integration of a musical genre classification and loudness compensation in an automobile stereo player. The musical genre is classified based on content analysis of the musical segment detected from the audio stream. In parallel with the classification, the sound quality of the music disrupted by vehicle noise is recovered using loudness compensation. Thereafter, the musical sound is boosted with the given frequency gains based on the musical genre and the loudness compensation when played back. Experiments measured the accuracy of detecting the musical segment from the audio stream and its musical genre classification. A listening test was performed based on the loudness compensation.
Hormonal and enzymatic parameters of hepatic regeneration in patients undergoing major liver resections

Thirteen patients who underwent 40% to 80% removal of their livers had blood samples drawn initially and daily on postoperative days 1 to 7. The enzyme marker of heightened polyamine metabolism, ornithine decarboxylase, and the indicator of DNA synthesis, thymidine kinase, were measured. In addition, the hormones (insulin, glucagon, estradiol and androgen), which in animals are known to reflect and possibly modulate regeneration, were measured. Changes in all these indices followed the same pattern as in rats, dogs and swine but at a slower rate. Ornithine decarboxylase and estradiol increased within 24 hr, but thymidine kinase and insulin rises did not become statistically significant until 3 to 5 days. Using these plasma or serum indices as surrogate measures of biochemical events in the liver itself, regeneration reached a maximum after 4 or 5 days. By computed tomography scan analysis, restoration of hepatic cell mass was not complete until 3 wk. (HEPATOLOGY 1990;12:1134–1138).
Indocyanine green increases light‐induced oxidative stress, senescence, and matrix metalloproteinases 1 and 3 in human RPE cells

Purpose: Indocyanine green (ICG) is a commonly used vital dye for macular surgery. Recent reports implicate that its use might be associated with less favourable results regarding postoperative visual outcome and damage of retinal cells, and atrophic degeneration of the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) has been described. This study investigates the effects of ICG on light‐induced senescence of RPE cells.
Voltage-Dependent and Frequency-Independent Inhibition of Recombinant Cav3.2 T-Type Ca2+ Channel by Bepridil

Effects of bepridil on the low voltage-activated T-type Ca2+ channel (CaV3.2) current stably expressed in human embryonic kidney (HEK)-293 cells were examined using patch-clamp techniques. Bepridil potently inhibited ICa,T with a markedly voltage-dependent manner; the IC50 of bepridil was 0.4 µmol/l at the holding potential of –70 mV, which was 26 times as potent as that at –100 mV (10.6 µmol/l). Steady-state inactivation curve (8.4 ± 1.7 mV) and conductance curve (5.9 ± 1.9 mV) were shifted to the hyperpolarized potential by 10 µmol/l bepridil. Bepridil exerted the tonic blocking action but not the use-dependent block. Bepridil had no effect on the recovery from inactivation of T-type Ca2+ channels. Thus, high efficacy of bepridil for terminating atrial fibrillation and atrial flutter may be considered to be attributed, at least in a part, to the T-type Ca2+ channel-blocking actions.
The role of nucleus accumbens shell GABA receptors on ventral tegmental area intracranial self-stimulation and a potential role for the 5-HT2C receptor

Brain γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) and 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT)2C receptors are implicated in the neuronal regulation of reward- and aversion-related behaviour. Within the mesocorticolimbic pathways of the brain, relationships between GABA containing neurons and 5-HT2C receptor activity may be important in this context. The primary aim of this study was to investigate the role of NAc shell GABA receptors on ventral tegmental area intracranial self-stimulation (ICSS) and to examine the systemic effects of GABAergic ligands in this context. The second aim was to investigate the relationship between GABA receptor- and 5-HT2C receptor-related ICSS behaviour, using systemic administration of the selective agonist WAY 161503. Locomotor activity was assessed to compare the potential motor effects of drugs; feeding behaviour and intra-NAc injections of amphetamine (1.0 µg/side) were used as positive controls. When administered systemically the GABAA receptor agonist muscimol and antagonist picrotoxin did not selectively change ICSS reward thresholds, although the 5-HT2C receptor agonist WAY 161503 (1.0 mg/kg) decreased reward measures. Intra-NAc shell administration of muscimol (225 ng/side) and picrotoxin (125 ng/side), respectively, decreased and increased measures of reward. Intra-NAc shell baclofen (0-225 ng/side; GABAB receptor agonist) did not affect any ICSS measures although it increased feeding. Combining picrotoxin and WAY 161503 attenuated the effects of each. These results suggest that a 5-HT2C and GABAA receptor-mediated neuronal relationship in the NAc shell may be relevant for the regulation of brain reward pathways.
Spectral Niche Complementarity and Carbon Dynamics in Pelagic Ecosystems

Positive effects of biodiversity on ecosystem function are described from an increasing number of systems, but the underlying mechanisms frequently remain elusive. A truly predictive understanding of biodiversity–ecosystem function relationships requires the a priori identification of traits conferring specific (and possibly complementary) functions to individual species. Although planktonic organisms are responsible for approximately half of the world’s primary production, few studies have reported on the relationship between phytoplankton biodiversity and planktonic primary production. We argue that taxon‐specific differential equipment with photosynthetically active pigments provides a biochemical mechanism of resource use complementarity among phototrophic microorganisms, enabling more diverse communities to more completely harvest the light spectrum. In line with this, more diverse phytoplankton communities showed higher pigment diversity, higher biomass‐specific light absorbance, and higher rates of primary production and biomass accrual.
Millimeter-wave conformal antenna array for 5G wireless applications

This paper presents a compact, flexible and wideband antenna array designed at millimeter-wave (MMW) frequencies for upcoming 5th generation (5G) applications. The concept of Franklin array is geometrically modified to transform a conventional narrowband antenna into wideband antenna array. Fabrication of antenna is accomplished by inkjet printing on a thin PET film to achieve conformity and flexibility. Measurements show that the designed array covers 24.6–30 GHz. Moreover, radiation pattern is directive and offers beam scanning at the desired angles with frequency sweep, like a leaky-wave antenna (LWA). The proposed antenna array is an attractive candidate for flexible and conformal wireless devices at MMW frequencies.
Characterization of statistical prior image constrained compressed sensing (PICCS): II. Application to dose reduction.

PURPOSE The ionizing radiation imparted to patients during computed tomography exams is raising concerns. This paper studies the performance of a scheme called dose reduction using prior image constrained compressed sensing (DR-PICCS). The purpose of this study is to characterize the effects of a statistical model of x-ray detection in the DR-PICCS framework and its impact on spatial resolution. METHODS Both numerical simulations with known ground truth and in vivo animal dataset were used in this study. In numerical simulations, a phantom was simulated with Poisson noise and with varying levels of eccentricity. Both the conventional filtered backprojection (FBP) and the PICCS algorithms were used to reconstruct images. In PICCS reconstructions, the prior image was generated using two different denoising methods: a simple Gaussian blur and a more advanced diffusion filter. Due to the lack of shift-invariance in nonlinear image reconstruction such as the one studied in this paper, the concept of local spatial resolution was used to study the sharpness of a reconstructed image. Specifically, a directional metric of image sharpness, the so-called pseudopoint spread function (pseudo-PSF), was employed to investigate local spatial resolution. RESULTS In the numerical studies, the pseudo-PSF was reduced from twice the voxel width in the prior image down to less than 1.1 times the voxel width in DR-PICCS reconstructions when the statistical model was not included. At the same noise level, when statistical weighting was used, the pseudo-PSF width in DR-PICCS reconstructed images varied between 1.5 and 0.75 times the voxel width depending on the direction along which it was measured. However, this anisotropy was largely eliminated when the prior image was generated using diffusion filtering; the pseudo-PSF width was reduced to below one voxel width in that case. In the in vivo study, a fourfold improvement in CNR was achieved while qualitatively maintaining sharpness; images also had a qualitatively more uniform noise spatial distribution when including a statistical model. CONCLUSIONS DR-PICCS enables to reconstruct CT images with lower noise than FBP and the loss of spatial resolution can be mitigated to a large extent. The introduction of statistical modeling in DR-PICCS may improve some noise characteristics, but it also leads to anisotropic spatial resolution properties. A denoising method, such as the directional diffusion filtering, has been demonstrated to reduce anisotropy in spatial resolution effectively when it was combined with DR-PICCS with statistical modeling.
Analysis and design of CMOS full-wave rectifying charge pump for RF energy harvesting applications

A high-efficiency integrated full-wave CMOS rectifying charge pump using diode-connected PMOS transistors for radio-frequency (RF) energy harvesting was designed. Leakage current and body effect were taken into account in deriving the output voltage, power consumption and power conversion efficiency (PCE) of the rectifying charge pump. Negative rectifying charge pump was introduced to handle full-wave RF signal and to improve PCE and a body-connected structure was adopted to lower threshold voltage. By using the commercially available 40 nm CMOS process, low-voltage operation as low as 390 mV was achieved. Simulation results indicate that the circuit can achieve a PCE of over 44% and output voltage 1 V for input voltage larger than 390 mV of a single narrow band 900 MHz RF signal.
Family history of psychosis moderates early auditory cortical response abnormalities in non‐psychotic bipolar disorder

Bipolar I disorder is a disabling illness affecting 1% of people worldwide. Family and twin studies suggest that psychotic bipolar disorder (BDP) represents a homogeneous subgroup with an etiology distinct from non‐psychotic bipolar disorder (BDNP) and partially shared with schizophrenia. Studies of auditory electrophysiology [e.g., paired‐stimulus and oddball measured with electroencephalography (EEG)] consistently report deviations in psychotic groups (schizophrenia, BDP), yet such studies comparing BDP and BDNP are sparse and, in some cases, conflicting. Auditory EEG responses are significantly reduced in unaffected relatives of psychosis patients, suggesting that they may relate to both psychosis liability and expression.
New Approach to Stroke Subtyping: The A-S-C-O (Phenotypic) Classification of Stroke

We now propose a new approach to stroke subtyping. The concept is to introduce a complete ‘stroke phenotyping’ classification (i.e. stroke etiology and the presence of all underlying diseases, divided by grade of severity) as distinguished from past classifications that subtype strokes by characterizing only the most likely cause(s) of stroke. In this phenotype-based classification, every patient is characterized by A-S-C-O: A for atherosclerosis, S for small vessel disease, C for cardiac source, O for other cause. Each of the 4 phenotypes is graded 1, 2, or 3. One for ‘definitely a potential cause of the index stroke’, 2 for ‘causality uncertain’, 3 for ‘unlikely a direct cause of the index stroke (but disease is present)’. When the disease is completely absent, the grade is 0; when grading is not possible due to insufficient work-up, the grade is 9. For example, a patient with a 70% ipsilateral symptomatic stenosis, leukoaraiosis, atrial fibrillation, and platelet count of 700,000/mm3 would be classified as A1-S3-C1-O3. The same patient with a 70% ipsilateral stenosis, no brain imaging, normal ECG, and normal cardiac imaging would be identified as A1-S9-C0-O3. By introducing the ‘level of diagnostic evidence’, this classification recognizes the completeness, the quality, and the timing of the evaluation to grade the underlying diseases. Diagnostic evidence is graded in levels A, B, or C: A for direct demonstration by gold-standard diagnostic tests or criteria, B for indirect evidence or less sensitive or specific tests or criteria, and C for weak evidence in the absence of specific tests or criteria. With this new way of classifying patients, no information is neglected when the diagnosis is made, treatment can be adapted to the observed phenotypes and the most likely etiology (e.g. grade 1 in 1 of the 4 A-S-C-O phenotypes), and analyses in clinical research can be based on 1 of the 4 phenotypes (e.g. for genetic analysis purpose), while clinical trials can focus on 1 or several of these 4 phenotypes (e.g. focus on patients A1-A2-A3).
Measurement of human arm impedance using the human arm posture

In a tele-operation system, the work efficiency can be improved by altering the impedance of a slave robot in accordance with the characteristics of the work. The impedance intended by an operator should be measured because the impedance of a slave robot should reflect the intention of the operator. Besides, the measured impedance should be obliged to include the information of its value and direction. In this paper, the method of using a single-axis force sensor as well as the posture of an operator is proposed so as to measure the value and direction of the impedance intended by the operator. Also, the proposed method is applied to Phantom that is widely used in tele-operation systems to validate its usefulness.
Second trimester cardiac diagnosis: screening standards and outcomes

Abstract Second trimester screening for congenital heart defects occurs during the routine 18–20 weeks’ anomaly scan in many countries. Most congenital heart defects can be prenatally detected by experts in foetal echocardiography working in tertiary centres with high-risk pregnancies. Many studies, however, have shown that detection rates obtained by experts are not reproducible in the low-risk peripheral practices where most of the foetal screening takes place. As the majority of foetuses with congenital heart defects are born to mothers with no identifiable risk factors, it is important that widespread screening of the low-risk population occurs. To facilitate this, standard protocols have been introduced in several countries, but they are not universal and have differing sensitivities depending on the screening views advocated and the area studied. Initially, only performing the four-chamber view (basic scan) was advocated. By adding the outflow tract views (extended scan), three-vessel, and laterality views, the sensitivity of the examination can be significantly increased. Unfortunately, the sensitivity of these extended protocols still does not meet that obtainable in experienced hands, reflecting the additional skill required to obtain these extended views. Thus, close links are required between the tertiary centres and the screening centres to teach and maintain the skills required to obtain and interpret the required views, and to support the sonographer’s commitment. Furthermore, an audit system is required to trace false-positive and -negative cases so that targeted interventions can be planned. This is important, as a missed case of prenatal congenital heart defect is potentially a missed opportunity to reduce postnatal morbidity and mortality.
NF-κB Downregulates Cbl-b through Binding and Suppressing Cbl-b Promoter in T Cell Activation

T cell activation causes the translocation of NF-κB dimers from the cytoplasm into the nucleus where NF-κB regulates inflammatory and immune response genes. Cbl-b is a negative regulator of T cell activation. However, the correlation between NF-κB activity and Cbl-b expression remains unclear. We showed that IκBαΔN-Tg T cells exhibited less NF-κB activity but higher levels of Cbl-b when compared with wild-type T cells. Furthermore, ursolic acid suppressed NF-κB activation and inhibited the downregulation of Cbl-b in wild-type T cells. NF-κBp65 specifically bound to an 11-bp NF-κB consensus sequence (gcaggaagtcc) in the Cbl-b promoter. Binding of NF-κB to this sequence suppressed Cbl-b transcription, thereby resulting in the negative regulation of Cbl-b expression. In addition, Cbl-b knockout led to the loss of cardiac allograft tolerance in IκBαΔN-Tg mice. These results indicated that NF-κB downregulated Cbl-b by binding and suppressing Cbl-b promoter in T cell activation. Our findings provide a novel role for NF-κB signaling in T cell activation.
A review on use of municipal solid waste ash in concrete

As landfill space for the disposal of ash from Municipal Solid Waste Incineration (MSWI) becomes scarce, it becomes more attractive to reduce the volume of materials being disposed there. Recycling is one approach, waste minimization is the second, and combustion for energy production is the third, and the best one. Ash from municipal solid waste combustors can have less than 10% of the original volume entering the facility. A further reduction in land filling, though, can be realized by developing a beneficial use for the ash. One of the possibilities is to use Municipal Solid Waste Incineration (MSWI) ashes in concrete production, as it is done with coal combustion products. The bottom ash features the most convenient composition for this purpose, and it is available in highest amounts among the MSWI ashes. Untreated bottom ash was used as partial replacement of sand in concrete; strength was not negatively affected up to 30% percentage of replacement and the prepared concrete had sufficient durability. This has the additional advantage of replacing sand and gravel, which must be mined sometimes from environmentally sensitive areas. The appropriate utilization of MSWI residues is a topic studied around the world in the last few decades. In this review, we discuss the current status of research on the use of MSWI ashes in concrete. INTRODUCTION
Low energy 16-bit Booth leapfrog array multiplier using dynamic adders

The paper presents a low-voltage (1–1.5 V) 16-bit Booth leapfrog array multiplier with emphasis on low energy dissipation, relatively high speed and small IC area. These attributes are achieved in two ways. First, low (hardware) complexity dynamic adders (DAs) are proposed and they are used to reduce spurious switching in the multiplier. Second, the specificities of the leapfrog architecture are exploited with the use of different output rates of the sum and carry outputs of the proposed DAs. When compared with other array multiplier designs, the proposed multiplier features the lowest energy dissipation and one of the shortest delays, resulting in the lowest energy–delay product. Furthermore, when compared with the reported dynamic array multiplier that features somewhat similar electrical characteristics, the proposed multiplier is advantageous in its substantially smaller (∼33%) IC area. Based on a 0.35 µm dual-poly four-metal CMOS process and at 1 V operation, the proposed multiplier dissipates ∼18 pJ, has a delay of ∼188 ns and occupies 0.11 mm2 of IC area. The proposed design is appropriate for low-voltage energy-critical and IC area-critical applications including hearing aids.
Risk factors for various causes of failure in initial corneal grafts.

OBJECTIVE To determine the risk factors for specific causes of initial corneal graft failure. METHODS This study analyzed corneal graft survival rates in a longitudinal noncomparative case series of 3992 consecutive penetrating keratoplasties performed at a single large referral center. Regrafts (n = 352) were excluded from the analysis of risk factors for initial graft failure. Data were collected retrospectively from August 1, 1982, through December 31, 1986, and prospectively from January 1, 1987, through August 31, 1996. Patients were examined preoperatively, at 1, 3, 6, 9, 12, 18, and 24 months posttransplantation, and annually thereafter. Potential risk factors were evaluated individually by Kaplan-Meier survival analysis. Cox proportional hazards regression modeling was then used to investigate the impact of each independent variable, adjusted for the confounding influence of the other independent variables. RESULTS The use of topical glaucoma medications was a significant risk factor for corneal graft failure by 3 major causes: rejection, endothelial decompensation without a documented immunologic reaction, and ocular surface disease. Deep stromal vascularization was an independent risk factor for rejection failure. Diabetes mellitus, peripheral anterior synechiae, recipient race, and small trephination size were significant risk factors for endothelial failure. CONCLUSION Independent risk factors differentially impact specific causes of corneal graft failure.
Withaferin a suppresses estrogen receptor‐α expression in human breast cancer cells

We have shown previously that withaferin A (WA), a promising anticancer constituent of Ayurvedic medicine plant Withania somnifera, inhibits growth of MCF‐7 and MDA‐MB‐231 human breast cancer cells in culture and MDA‐MB‐231 xenografts in vivo by causing apoptosis. However, the mechanism of WA‐induced apoptosis is not fully understood. The present study was designed to systematically determine the role of tumor suppressor p53 and estrogen receptor‐α (ER‐α) in proapoptotic response to WA using MCF‐7, T47D, and ER‐α overexpressing MDA‐MB‐231 cells as a model. WA treatment resulted in induction as well as increased S15 phosphorylation of p53 in MCF‐7 cells, but RNA interference of this tumor suppressor conferred modest protection at best against WA‐induced apoptosis. WA‐mediated growth inhibition and apoptosis induction in MCF‐7 cells were significantly attenuated in the presence of 17β‐estradiol (E2). Exposure of MCF‐7 cells to WA resulted in a marked decrease in protein levels of ER‐α (but not ER‐β) and ER‐α regulated gene product pS2, and this effect was markedly attenuated in the presence of E2. WA‐mediated down‐regulation of ER‐α protein expression correlated with a decrease in its nuclear level, suppression of its mRNA level, and inhibition of E2‐dependent activation of ERE2e1b‐luciferase reporter gene. Ectopic expression of ER‐α in the MDA‐MB‐231 cell line conferred partial but statistically significant protection against WA‐mediated apoptosis, but not G2/M phase cell cycle arrest. Collectively, these results indicate that WA functions as an anti‐estrogen, and the proapoptotic effect of this promising natural product is partially attenuated by p53 knockdown and E2‐ER‐α. © 2011 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.