Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Estimating MOSFET Leakage from Low-cost, Low-resolution Fast Parametric Test

A method of estimating the subthershold component of MOSFET off-state current (Ioffs) using low-cost, low-resolution fast parallel parametric test is introduced. This method measures the subthreshold slope and uses it to estimate Ioffs. Measurements of individual transistors show a very good agreement between measured Ioffs and Ioffs estimated using our approach. For a simple pad-efficient transistor array test-structure, where unselected devices can add additional noise to the subthreshold measurements, the sum of extracted Ioffs for all transistors in an array is strongly correlated to the measured array Ioffs, even though it does not match the measured array Ioffs. The strong correlation is used to derive calibration factors which are then used to estimate individual transistor Ioffs from array test structures. This allows statistical characterization of transistor leakage during volume production with minimal test time overhead. The applications of statistical off-state leakage characterization to diagnose IDDQ yield problems during production are also described.
Hyperglycemia Has a Greater Impact on Left Ventricle Function in South Asians Than in Europeans

OBJECTIVE Diabetes is associated with left ventricular (LV) diastolic and systolic dysfunction. South Asians may be at particular risk of developing LV dysfunction owing to a high prevalence of diabetes. We investigated the role of diabetes and hyperglycemia in LV dysfunction in a community-based cohort of older South Asians and white Europeans. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS Conventional and Doppler echocardiography was performed in 999 participants (542 Europeans and 457 South Asians aged 58–86 years) in a population-based study. Anthropometry, fasting bloods, coronary artery calcification scoring, blood pressure, and renal function were measured. RESULTS Diabetes and hyperglycemia across the spectrum of HbA1c had a greater adverse effect on LV function in South Asians than Europeans (N-terminal-probrain natriuretic peptide β ± SE 0.09 ± 0.04, P = 0.01, vs. −0.04 ± 0.05, P = 0.4, P for HbA1c/ethnicity interaction 0.02), diastolic function (E/e′ 0.69 ± 0.12, P < 0.0001, vs. 0.09 ± 0.2, P = 0.6, P for interaction 0.005), and systolic function (s′ −0.11 ± 0.06, P = 0.04, vs. 0.14 ± 0.09, P = 0.1, P for interaction 0.2). Multivariable adjustment for hypertension, microvascular disease, LV mass, coronary disease, and dyslipidemia only partially accounted for the ethnic differences. Adverse LV function in diabetic South Asians could not be accounted for by poorer glycemic control or longer diabetes duration. CONCLUSIONS Diabetes and hyperglycemia have a greater adverse effect on LV function in South Asians than Europeans, incompletely explained by adverse risk factors. South Asians may require earlier and more aggressive treatment of their cardiometabolic risk factors to reduce risks of LV dysfunction.
Tests of finline-coupled TES bolometers forCℓOVER

CLOVER aims to detect the signature of gravitational waves from inflation by measuring the B-mode polarization of the cosmic microwave background. CLOVER consists of two polarimeters. One operates at 97 GHz, using finline-coupled transition edge sensors (TES). The other has a combined 150/220-GHz focal plane populated by radial-probe coupled TES detectors. The 97-GHz instrument will have 100 feedhorns and 200 detectors while the combined 150 and 220-GHz instrument will have a total of 200 horns. To achieve the target NEP of 1.5 x 10-17 W Hz-1 the 97-GHz detectors will have a transition temperature of 190 mK and will operate with a base temperature of ~ 100 mK. CLOVER's detectors are fabricated on 225-micron silicon substrates. In the 97-GHz instrument a finline transition feeds a microstrip which is terminated by a matched resistor on the silicon nitride island that carries the TES. Each detector is fabricated as a single chip to ensure a 100% operational focal plane. The detectors are mounted in linear modules made of copper which form split-block waveguides. Each detector module contains a time-division SQUID multiplexer to read out the detectors. The multiplexed signals are further amplified by SQUID series arrays. The first prototype detectors for CLOVER have a transition temperature of 350 mK and were fabricated to validate the detector design and the polarimeter technology. We have characterised these detectors in a dedicated test facility. The CLOVER testbed contains cryogenics similar to those in the final instrument: a pulse-tube cooler, He-7 sorption fridge, and a mini dilution fridge so that the detectors are tested in a realistic environment. The test bed has a cryogenic black- body source with band-defining filters for optical testing. As well as the multi-channel electronics that will be used on the final instrument the test bed has an analogue SQUID readout which allows us to characterise the readout fully. We discuss the results of the detector tests and the design changes needed to achieve the required sensitivity.
Disposition of Histamine, Its Metabolites, and pros‐Methylimidazoleacetic Acid in Brain Regions of Rats Chronically Infused with α‐Fluoromethylhistidine

Abstract: In mammalian brain, histamine is known to be metabolized solely by histamine methyltransferase (HMT), forming tele‐methylhistamine (t‐MH), then tele‐methylimidazoleacetic acid (t‐MIAA). We previously showed that imidazoleacetic acid (IAA), a GABA agonist, and histamine's metabolite in the periphery, is present in brain where its concentration increased after inhibition of HMT. Also, when [3H]histamine was given intracerebroventricularly to rats, a portion was converted to IAA, a process increased by inhibition of HMT. These results indicated that brain has the capacity to oxidize histamine but did not show whether this pathway is operative under physiological conditions. To address this question, rats were infused for >4 weeks with α‐fluoromethylhistidine (α‐FMHis), an irreversible inhibitor of histamine's synthetic enzyme, l‐histidine decarboxylase. Compared with controls (untreated and saline‐treated rats), brain levels of histamine, t‐MH, and t‐MIAA in all regions were markedly reduced in treated rats. As a percentage of controls, depletion of t‐MIAA > t‐MH > histamine in all regions, and regional depletions of histamine corresponded to its turnover rates in regions of rat brain. In contrast, levels of IAA were unchanged as were levels of pros‐methylimidazoleacetic acid, an isomer of t‐MIAA unrelated to histamine metabolism. Results suggest that in brains of rats, unlike in the periphery, most IAA may not normally derive from histamine. Because histamine in brain can be converted to IAA under certain conditions, direct oxidation of histamine may be a conditional phenomenon. Our results also support the existence of a very slow turnover pool of brain histamine and use of chronic α‐FMHis infusion as a model to probe the histaminergic system in brain.
Regulation of Helicobacter pylori adherence by gene conversion

Genetic diversification of Helicobacter pylori adhesin genes may allow adaptation of adherence properties to facilitate persistence despite host defences. The sabA gene encodes an adhesin that binds sialyl‐Lewis antigens on inflamed gastric tissue. We found variability in the copy number and locus of the sabA gene and the closely related sabB and omp27 genes due to gene conversion among 51 North American paediatric H. pylori strains. We determined that sabB to sabA gene conversion is predominantly the result of intra‐genomic recombination and RecA, RecG and AddA influence the rate at which it occurs. Although all clinical strains had at least one sabA gene copy, sabA and sabB were lost due to gene conversion at similar rates in vitro, suggesting host selection to maintain the sabA gene. sabA gene duplication resulted in increased SabA protein production and increased adherence to sialyl‐Lewis antigens and mouse gastric tissue. In conclusion, gene conversion is a mechanism for H. pylori to regulate sabA expression level and adherence.
Incorporating prior information via shrinkage: a combined analysis of genome‐wide location data and gene expression data

Transcriptional control is a critical step in regulation of gene expression. Understanding such a control on a genomic level involves deciphering the mechanisms and structures of regulatory programmes and networks. A difficulty arises due to the weak signal and high noise in various sources of data while most current approaches are limited to analysis of a single source of data. A natural alternative is to improve statistical efficiency and power by a combined analysis of multiple sources of data. Here we propose a shrinkage method to combine genome‐wide location data and gene expression data to detect the binding sites or target genes of a transcription factor. Specifically, a prior ‘non‐target’ gene list is generated by analysing the expression data, and then this information is incorporated into the subsequent binding data analysis via a shrinkage method. There is a Bayesian justification for this shrinkage method. Both simulated and real data were used to evaluate the proposed method and compare it with analysing binding data alone. In simulation studies, the proposed method gives higher sensitivity and lower false discovery rate (FDR) in detecting the target genes. In real data example, the proposed method can reduce the estimated FDR and increase the power to detect the previously known target genes of a broad transcription regulator, leucine responsive regulatory protein (Lrp) in Escherichia coli. This method can also be used to incorporate other information, such as gene ontology (GO), to microarray data analysis to detect differentially expressed genes. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A Rule-Based Evolutionary Approach to Music Performance Modeling

We describe an evolutionary approach to one of the most challenging problems in computer music: modeling how skilled musicians manipulate sound properties such as timing and amplitude in order to express their view of the emotional content of musical pieces. Starting with a collection of audio recordings of real performances, we apply a sequential-covering genetic algorithm in order to obtain computational models for different aspects of expressive performance. We use these models to automatically synthesize performances with the timing and energy expressiveness that characterizes the music generated by a professional musician. The reported results indicate that evolutionary computation is an appropriate technique for solving the problem considered. Specifically, our evolutionary algorithm provides a number of potential advantages over other supervised learning algorithms, such as a method for non-deterministically obtaining models capturing different possible interpretations of a musical piece.
Me, My Self, and I(T): Conceptualizing Information Technology Identity and its Implications

As social roles and relationships become increasingly inseparable from people's interactions with information technologies (ITs), new constructs representing this intertwinement are needed to expand understandings of human behavior. As part of that endeavor, this paper draws on structural symbolic interactionist identity theories to systematically develop a conceptual definition of one such construct, IT identity--defined as the extent to which an individual views use of an IT as integral to his or her sense of self--as a new form of identity. The construct is framed within a theoretical model. Our goal is to facilitate the establishment of IT identity as an important and relevant construct that can improve our understanding of a variety of phenomena. In doing so, this paper makes three contributions to the information systems (IS) literature. First, it delineates current understanding of IT as a medium, determinant, or consequent of identity. Second, it defines the conceptual domain and theme of IT identity, which is necessary for investigating the construct's theoretical influence. Third, it demonstrates the utility of IT identity to a wide range of IS topics relating to how people express, maintain, and expand their self-concepts. In doing so, it offers potential directions and opportunities for IS researchers to incorporate this novel concept into IS research.
Assessment methods for alcohol consumption, prevalence of high risk drinking and harm: a sensitivity analysis.

BACKGROUND There are no standardized ways to assess alcohol consumption in epidemiological studies. The main objective of the present study was to compare three widely used methods for assessing alcohol consumption with respect to resulting prevalence estimates for high risk drinking and harm as defined by morbidity and mortality indicators. METHODS A within-subjects design was used to compare a quantity frequency, a graduated frequency, and a weekly drinking recall measure. Data consisted of a representative sample of 3961 adult residents of the province of Ontario, Canada, who participated in a multi-wave cross-sectional survey between 1990-1994. Cross-tabulation, Spearman correlation, and standard methodologies for prevalence-based cost-of-illness studies were used. RESULTS The graduated frequency measure consistently yielded higher estimates of the prevalences of high risk drinking and harm. Differences were marked on all indicators, but were most pronounced for harmful drinking as defined by consuming an average of >60 g pure alcohol per day for males, and >40 g per day for females. Prevalence estimates of harmful drinking were almost five times higher for graduated frequency versus weekly drinking measures, and almost three times higher for graduated frequency versus quantity frequency measures. CONCLUSIONS The characteristics of different measures of alcohol consumption should be considered in future research in epidemiology.
The many faces of confusion

PREVIEW The confused patient sitting across from you presents a number of diagnostic challenges. The range of explanations for confusion is daunting, to say the least. It could be a symptom of delirium, depression, dementia, or sensory deprivation, and each of these conditions has numerous causes that could require sub' stantial investigation. Dr Bostwick uses four scenarios involving a single patient, Mr S, to highlight the roles of physical and laboratory examination, collateral history, and clarification of time course in making sense of the syndrome of confusion.
Impact of concomitant immunosuppression on the presentation and prognosis of patients with melanoma

Melanoma has been reported to be susceptible to immune control, although the degree of impact of immunosuppression on the course of this disease is uncertain. The Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center's Cutaneous Oncology Program database was examined to identify patients receiving immunosuppressive therapy at the time of melanoma diagnosis. Demographics and the stage of these patients were compared with the other patients in the database, and three controls matched for age, sex, stage, and tumor location were identified from the database for each case and disease outcomes for the two groups compared. Nineteen patients were identified with melanoma and concomitant immunosuppression in a database of 1839 patients. Patients were receiving immunosuppressive therapy for a variety of conditions, including solid organ transplant and inflammatory or autoimmune diseases. Compared with the remaining database, patients on immunosuppression were more likely to be women (84 vs. 44%) with an amelanotic primary melanoma (21 vs. 5.3%). Patients with immunosuppression were equally likely to relapse, but more likely to have died of melanoma than controls (42 vs. 23%) (P=0.01, log-rank test). These findings suggest that immunosuppressive therapy is associated with a more aggressive disease course in patients with melanoma. The additional observation that the stage-specific recurrence rates were similar, however, suggests that routine dermatologic screening of immunosuppressed patients may lead to earlier diagnosis and improved outcomes.
A Synthetic Approach to the Grounds of Global Justice

This paper argues that neither the relational approach nor the non-relational approach to global justice is at once necessary and sufficient to deal with complex cases of global (in)justice. In this intervention in the dispute between relational and non-relational approaches, the aim of the paper is not to support one side and oppose the other, but to combine both approaches in order to arrive at a more robust approach. Using the strengths of the relational approach to compensate for the weaknesses of the non-relational approach and vice versa, the aim of the paper is to set out a mixed, combinatorial or synthetic approach that will be used to address complex cases of global (in)justice. Rather thandiscussing how the synthetic approach applies to a particular complex case of global (in)justice, the paper shows how a synthetic approach that intends to address complex cases of global (in)justice will look like. Perhaps, colloquially in Hegelian dialectics, the relational approach can be seen as a thesis, the non-relational approach as an antithesis and the combination of both approaches as a synthesis.
Phakometric measurement of ocular surface radii of curvature, axial separations and alignment in relaxed and accommodated human eyes

Measurements (autokeratometry, A‐scan ultrasonography and video ophthalmophakometry) of ocular surface radii, axial separations and alignment were made in the horizontal meridian of nine emmetropes (aged 20–38 years) with relaxed (cycloplegia) and active accommodation (mean ± 95% confidence interval: 3.7 ± 1.1 D). The anterior chamber depth (−1.5 ± 0.3 D) and both crystalline lens surfaces (front 3.1 ± 0.8 D; rear 2.1 ± 0.6 D) contributed to dioptric vergence changes that accompany accommodation. Accommodation did not alter ocular surface alignment. Ocular misalignment in relaxed eyes is mainly because of eye rotation (5.7 ± 1.6° temporally) with small amounts of lens tilt (0.2 ± 0.8° temporally) and decentration (0.1 ± 0.1 mm nasally) but these results must be viewed with caution as we did not account for corneal asymmetry. Comparison of calculated and empirically derived coefficients (upon which ocular surface alignment calculations depend) revealed that negligible inherent errors arose from neglect of ocular surface asphericity, lens gradient refractive index properties, surface astigmatism, effects of pupil size and centration, assumed eye rotation axis position and use of linear equations for analysing Purkinje image shifts.
Construction of prokaryotic expression system of ureB gene from a clinical Helicobacter pylori strain and identification of the recombinant protein immunity.

AIM To clone ureB gene from a clinical isolate of Helicobacter pylori and construct a prokaryotic expression system of the gene and identify immunity of the expressed recombinant protein. METHODS ureB gene from a clinical H pylori strain Y06 was amplified by the high fidelity polymerase chain reaction technique. The target DNA fragment amplified from ureB gene was sequenced after T-A cloning. Prokaryotic recombinant expression vector pET32a inserted with ureB gene (pET32a-ureB) was constructed. The expression of recombinant UreB protein (rUreB) in E. coli BL21DE3 induced by isopropylthio-beta-D-galactoside (IPTG) at different concentrations was examined by SDS-PAGE. Western blot using commercial antibodies against whole cell of H pylori and an immunodiffusion assay using a self-prepared rabbit anti-rUreB antibody were applied to determine immunity of the target recombinant protein. ELISA was used to detect the antibody against rUreB in sera of 125 H pylori infected patients and to examine rUreB expression in 109 H pylori isolates. RESULTS In comparison with the reported corresponding sequences, the nucleotide sequence homology of the cloned ureB gene was from 96.88-97.82% while the homology of its putative amino acid sequence was as high as 99.65-99.82%. The rUreB output expressed by pET32a-ureB-BL21DE3 was approximate 30% of the total bacterial proteins. rUreB specifically combined with the commercial antibodies against whole cell of H pylori and strongly induced rabbits to produce antibody with a 1:8 immunodiffusion titer after the animals were immunized with the recombinant protein. Serum samples from all H pylori infected patients were positive for UreB antibody and UreB expression were detectable in all tested H pylori isolates. CONCLUSION A prokaryotic expression system with high expression efficiency of H pylori ureB gene was successfully established. The expressed rUreB showed qualified immunoreactivity and antigenicity. High frequencies of UreB expression in different H pylori isolates and specific antibody against UreB in sera of H pylori infected patients indicate that UreB is an excellent antigen candidate for developing H pylori vaccine.
Characterization of the ςB Regulon inStaphylococcus aureus

ABSTRACT The ςB-dependent stress regulon in gram-positive bacteria might fulfill a physiological role in stress response and virulence similar to that of the ςS regulon inEscherichia coli and other gram-negative bacteria. In order to obtain evidence for the function of the ςB regulon ofStaphylococcus aureus, especially in virulence control, ςB-dependent stress genes were identified. The two-dimensional protein pattern of wild-type cells of S. aureus COL was compared with that of an isogenic sigBmutant. By this approach, we found that the synthesis of about 27 cytoplasmic proteins seemed to be under the positive control of ςB. N-terminal sequencing of 18 proteins allowed the identification of their genes on the almost finished genome sequence ofS. aureus COL and the analysis of the promoter structure. Transcriptional analyses of 11 of these genes confirmed their ςB dependency, and moreover, about 7 additional ςB-dependent genes were found which are cotranscribed with the newly detected genes, forming operons. Altogether, we identified 23 ςB-dependent genes and their corresponding proteins. Among them are proteins probably involved in the generation of NADH or in membrane transport mechanisms. Furthermore, at least oneclpC-homologous gene was localized on the S. aureus sequence solely transcribed by ςB. In contrast, a second clpC-homologous gene in S. aureus forming an operon with ctsR, yacH, and yacI was ςB independently expressed.
Glutathione conjugation of aflatoxin B1 exo- and endo-epoxides by rat and human glutathione S-transferases.

Much evidence supports the view that the rate of conjugation of glutathione (GSH) with aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) exo-epoxide is an important factor in determining the species variation in risk to aflatoxins and that induction of GSH S-transferases can yield a significant protective effect. An assay has been developed in which the enzymatic formation of the conjugates of GSH and AFB1 exo-epoxide and the recently described AFB1 endo-epoxide is measured directly. 1H NMR spectra are reported for both the AFB1 exo- and endo-epoxide-GSH conjugates. Structural assignments were made by comparison with AFB1 exo- and endo-epoxide-ethanethiol conjugates, for which nuclear Overhauser effects were measured to establish relative configurations. The endo-epoxide was found to be a good substrate for GSH conjugate formation in rat liver cytosol while mouse liver cytosol conjugated the exo-epoxide almost exclusively. Human liver cytosol conjugated both epoxide isomers to much lower extents than did cytosols prepared from rats or mice. Purified rat GSH S-transferases catalyzed the formation of the AFB1 exo-epoxide-GSH conjugate in the order 1-1 approximately 4-4 approximately 3-3 greater than 2-2 greater than 4-6 (7-7 and 8-8 did not form the exo-epoxide-GSH conjugate at levels above the nonenzymatic rate). The only rat GSH S-transferases that conjugated the endo-epoxide were 4-4 and 4-6, with 4-4 being the more active. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)