Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A 10b/12b 40 kS/s SAR ADC With Data-Driven Noise Reduction Achieving up to 10.1b ENOB at 2.2 fJ/Conversion-Step

This paper presents a power-efficient 10/12 bit 40 kS/s SAR ADC for sensor applications. It supports resolutions of 10 and 12 bit and sample rates from DC up to 40 kS/s to accommodate a variety of sensor applications. A Data-Driven Noise-Reduction method is introduced to selectively enhance the comparator noise performance. In this way, a higher ADC resolution can be achieved with a small increase of the power consumption. A self-oscillating comparator is used to generate the bit-cycling clock internally. In this way, the ADC only requires an external clock at the sample-rate frequency. A segmented capacitive DAC with 250 aF unit elements is applied to save power and to reduce DNL errors at the same time. The implemented prototype in 65 nm CMOS occupies an area of 0.076 mm 2. For the two supported resolutions (10/12 bit), the ADC achieves an ENOB of 9.4 and 10.1 bit while consuming 72 and 97 nW from a 0.6 V supply at 40 kS/s. This leads to power efficiencies of 2.7 and 2.2 fJ/conversion-step for 10 bit and 12 bit resolution, respectively. Furthermore, the leakage power, which is below 0.4 nW, ensures that the efficiency can be maintained down to very low sample rates.
On the Effects of Clock and Power Supply Tampering on Two Microcontroller Platforms

Forcing faulty outputs of devices implementing cryptographic primitives in order to reveal some secret information is a well-known attack strategy. Tampering with the clock signal or the supply voltage are two popular techniques for generating erroneous behaviour. In this work we perform an in-depth analysis of the vulnerability of two different microcontroller platforms on clock and supply voltage tampering. The influence on three different groups of instructions is discussed in detail: arithmetical/logical instructions, branch instructions and memory instructions. A novel approach, combining short-time under powering with clock glitches, is applied in order to increase the reproducibility of the fault and the probability for the fault to occur. Results show that the fetch stage and the execution stage of the instruction pipeline are mainly affected by clock glitches, leading to skipped or duplicated execution or faulty calculation results. One sample per platform is used for the experiments, but for each fault type an interval for the parameters leading to the fault with a probability of 100% is given. The values in the middle of this interval are less sensitive to sample distribution as well as environmental influences. This knowledge allows to efficiently attack software implementations of cryptographic primitives implemented on one of the evaluated platforms.
Safety of anti-TNFα agents in the treatment of psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis

Context: The efficacy and favorable safety profile of anti-tumor necrosis factor (TNF) agents in the treatment of psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis (PsA) are supported by several randomized controlled studies and meta-analyses. However, some concerns on the long-term safety of these drugs still exist, as these studies generally included small patient numbers and were performed in selected patient populations. Objective: This review presents and discusses current evidence on the safety of anti-TNFα agents in patients with psoriasis and PsA, with a focus on European registry studies and case reports of particular importance. Methods: Key studies on the safety of anti-TNFα agents in the treatment of adult patients with psoriasis or PsA were identified by a MEDLINE search (last updated 10 November 2011) based on several interrelated queries, with a focus on European registries. Other studies and case reports were included if deemed relevant. Studies concerning other conditions, such as rheumatoid arthritis (RA), were included as appropriate when data in psoriatic disease were unavailable or insufficient. Results: Available data on the safety of anti-TNFα agents such as etanercept in psoriasis and PsA appear reassuring, even if some concerns still exist. Most notably, data suggest a higher incidence of infection and lymphoma amongst patients treated with the anti-TNFα monoclonal antibodies infliximab and adalimumab compared with etanercept. Conclusion: The overall safety profile of monoclonal antibodies in patients with psoriasis, PsA and RA seems less favorable than that of etanercept, particularly in terms of risk of infection and hepatotoxicity.
Stroke in patients undergoing coronary angiography and percutaneous coronary intervention: incidence, predictors, outcome and therapeutic options

In the present day, coronary angiography and percutaneous coronary intervention are considered to be safe procedures with low complication rates in general. Nevertheless due to their widespread use and their application in a continually aging population known to carry a higher risk for complications, periprocedural stroke affects thousands of patients undergoing coronary angiography and percutaneous coronary intervention worldwide every year. Stroke is reported to occur in 0.05–0.1% of diagnostic cardiac catheterizations and in 0.18–0.44% of patients treated with percutaneous coronary intervention in clinical routine today. Despite all improvements in pharmacological and technical issues, the rate of stroke after cardiac catheterization has remained almost constant over the last 20 years of invasive cardiology of invasive and interventional cardiology, which is most probably due to the immutability of the majority of risk factors before cardiac procedures. An advanced age, arterial hypertension, diabetes mellitus, coronary angiography performed under emergency conditions, history of stroke, renal failure, the use of an intra-aortic balloon pump, congestive heart failure and interventions at bypass grafts have been identified as risk factors for periprocedural stroke in large registries. Due to exceedingly high rates of mortality and disability stroke after coronary angiography still has an enormous impact on the patient’s prognosis and on quality of life. If patients survive this devastating complication, most of them suffer from persistent neurological deficits such as motor or speech disorders. For its low incidence and consecutively missing data from randomized clinical trials, an evidence-based treatment could not yet be established, and treatment options are generally based on case series and small studies only. Nevertheless, intra-arterial thrombolysis and mechanical embolectomy seem to be promising and relatively safe approaches in the treatment of periprocedural ischemic stroke. Further research by randomized trials and large registries are needed to validate its efficacy and safety.
Active assessment of adverse events following yellow fever vaccination of persons aged 60 years and more

Introduction: Older age has been associated to serious adverse events (AE) following yellow fever (YF) vaccination in passive surveillance studies, but few prospective studies involving seniors have been published. Results: A total of 906 persons were evaluated; 78 were not vaccinated and 828 received the vaccine; 700 (84.7%) were interviewed after vaccination: 593 (84.7%) did not report any symptoms or signs following YF vaccine; 107 (15.3%) reported at least one AE temporally associated to YF vaccination: 97 (13.9%) had systemic AE and 17 (2.4%) reported AE at the injection site (7 had both systemic and local AE). Data regarding previous vaccination was available for 655 subjects. Statistically significant higher rates of systemic AE were observed among subjects who received the first YF vaccination (17.5%) in comparison to persons who had been previously vaccinated (9.5%). Methods: This observational prospective study aimed to describe AE following YF vaccination in persons aged ≥ 60 y. From March 2009 to April 2010, seniors who sought YF vaccination at a reference Immunization Center in São Paulo city, Brazil, were included. Demographic and clinical data, previous YF vaccination, travel destination and the final decision regarding YF vaccination or not were collected from standardized medical records. Active AE assessment was done through telephone or electronic mail interview performed approximately 14 d after immunization. Conclusion: Most persons aged ≥ 60 y may be safely vaccinated against YF. Before vaccination, they must be carefully screened for conditions associated to altered immunocompetence and for risk of exposure to YF.
Good agreement between echocardiography and impedance cardiography in the assessment of left ventricular performance in hypertensive patients

ABSTRACT Background: Impedance cardiography (ICG) is a noninvasive hemodynamic monitoring tool which can define hypertensive patients’ hemodynamic profiles and help to tailor antihypertensive therapy. This study assesses the concordance between ICG-derived indexes used to evaluate left ventricular performance and transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) in hypertensive patients. Methods: In this IMPEDDANS post-hoc analysis, the ICG-derived indexes are compared with TTE by Bland–Altman method. Statistical significance of the relationship between the values obtained was assessed by generalized linear mixed-effects models. Results: In supine position, Bland–Altman analysis showed good concordance for cardiac output (CO) (mean difference of 0.006 mL/min [−0.120; 0.133]), cardiac index (CI) (mean difference of 0.016 mL/min/m2 [−0.471; 0.504]), pre-ejection period (PEP) (mean difference of −0.216 ms [−4.510; 4.077]), left ventricular ejection time (LVET) (mean difference of −0.140 ms [−6.573; 6.293]), and systolic time ratio (STR) (mean difference of −0.00004 [−0.008; 0.008]). In orthostatic position, good concordance was found for CO (mean difference 0.028 mL/min [−2.036; 1.980]), CI (mean difference −0.012 mL/min/m2 [−1.063; 1.039]), and STR (mean difference −0.101 [0.296; 0.094]). No significant difference between methods was identified by the linear mixed-effects models. Conclusion: The ICG-derived indexes CO, CI, PEP, LVET, and STR in supine position have good agreement with TTE. Therefore, ICG can be used to accurately evaluate left ventricular performance.
Anastrozole in Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension. A Randomized, Double‐Blind, Placebo‐controlled Trial

Rationale: The aromatase inhibitor anastrozole blocks the conversion of androgens to estrogen and blunts pulmonary hypertension in animals, but its efficacy in treating patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is unknown. Objectives: We aimed to determine the safety and efficacy of anastrozole in PAH. Methods: We performed a randomized, double‐blind, placebo‐controlled trial of anastrozole in patients with PAH who received background therapy at two centers. Measurements and Main Results: A total of 18 patients with PAH were randomized to anastrozole 1 mg or matching placebo in a 2:1 ratio. The two co‐primary outcomes were percent change from baseline in 17&bgr;‐estradiol levels (E2) and tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion (TAPSE) at 3 months. Anastrozole significantly reduced E2 levels compared with placebo (percent change: −40%; interquartile range [IQR], −61 to −26% vs. −4%; IQR, −14 to +4%; P = 0.003), but there was no difference in TAPSE. Anastrozole significantly increased the 6‐minute‐walk distance (median change = +26 m) compared with placebo (median change = −12 m) (median percent change: anastrozole group, 8%; IQR, 2 to 17% vs. placebo −2%; IQR, −7 to +1%; P = 0.042). Anastrozole had no effect on circulating biomarkers, functional class, or health‐related quality of life. There was no difference in adverse events. Conclusions: Anastrozole significantly reduced E2 levels in patients with PAH but had no effect on TAPSE. Anastrozole was safe, well tolerated, and improved 6‐minute‐walk distance in this small “proof‐of‐principle” study. Larger and longer phase II clinical trials of anastrozole may be warranted in patients with PAH. Clinical trial registered with www.clinicaltrials. gov (NCT 1545336).
Comparison of the neuromuscular systems among actinotroch larvae: systematic and evolutionary implications

SUMMARY A comparative analysis of the larval and presumptive juvenile neuromuscular systems among actinotroch larvae was performed using confocal laser microscopy with probes for F‐actin and serotonin. Currently, there are two main categories of larval nervous systems based on the origin of the nerve fibers that innervate the larval tentacles. Characteristics of the serotonergic cells of the larval apical ganglion and juvenile nervous system have remained relatively conserved, but the structure of the secondary (hood) sense organ and the juvenile tentacles has diversified among species. Differences in larval musculature are mainly associated with differences in hood morphology. The presumptive, juvenile neuromuscular system is either integrated or separated from that of the larva based on the origin of the juvenile tentacles. Among species, the juvenile tentacles are made by remodeling the larval tentacles, developed from a basal tentacular thickening, or developed as a completely separate set in the larva. Differentiation of the neuromuscular structures of the juvenile tentacles is more diverse than their outward morphological characteristics would suggest. Importance of these larval characters is discussed in terms of current problems that exist within phoronid systematics. Evolutionary implications of these morphological characters are discussed among the phoronids, brachiopods, and related bilaterians. Overall, the integration or separation of larval and juvenile neuromuscular characters may yield insights into the evolution of lophotrochozoan body plans.
Photodynamic therapy activated signaling from epidermal growth factor receptor and STAT3

Patients with serosal (pleural or peritoneal) spread of malignancy have few definitive treatment options and consequently have a very poor prognosis. We have previously shown that photodynamic therapy (PDT) can be an effective treatment for these patients, but that the therapeutic index is relatively narrow. Here, we test the hypothesis that EGFR and STAT3 activation increase survival following PDT, and that inhibiting these pathways leads to increased PDT-mediated direct cellular cytotoxicity by examining BPD-PDT in OvCa and NSCLC cells. We found that BPD-mediated PDT stimulated EGFR tyrosine phosphorylation and nuclear translocation, and that EGFR inhibition by erlotinib resulted in reduction of PDT-mediated EGFR activation and nuclear translocation. Nuclear translocation and PDT-mediated activation of EGFR were also observed in response to BPD-mediated PDT in multiple cell lines, including OvCa, NSCLC and head and neck cancer cells, and was observed to occur in response to porfimer sodium-mediated PDT. In addition, we found that PDT stimulates nuclear translocation of STAT3 and STAT3/EGFR association and that inhibiting STAT3 signaling prior to PDT leads to increased PDT cytotoxicity. Finally, we found that inhibition of EGFR signaling leads to increased PDT cytotoxicity through a mechanism that involves increased apoptotic cell death. Taken together, these results demonstrate that PDT stimulates the nuclear accumulation of both EGFR and STAT3 and that targeting these survival pathways is a potentially promising strategy that could be adapted for clinical trials of PDT for patients with serosal spread of malignancy.
Analysis of Uniaxial Media Using Calderón-Preconditioned Single-Source Combined Field Integral Equation

A Calderón-preconditioned single-source combined field integral equation (SSCFIE) method has been developed to analyze electromagnetic scattering from uniaxial dielectric objects. The construction of generalized single-source electric and magnetic integral equations in the presence of uniaxial dielectric media is revisited. Combination of a Calderón-preconditioned single-source electric field integral equation and single-source magnetic field integral equation is implemented to make the proposed algorithm free from spurious resonance and dense-mesh breakdown. With the use of Buffa-Christiansen (BC) functions, the SSCFIE is well-conditioned discretized. Numerical results show good performance of the proposed algorithm.
Etude du catabolisme des acides aminés chez deux lignées de poulets génétiquement maigres ou gras

La production avicole intensive est aujourd'hui montree du doigt car elle est partiellement responsable des importants rejets azotes qui polluent notre environnement. Au cours de cette these, nous nous sommes efforces, grâce a un modele d'etude adapte (les poulets genetiquement maigres ou gras, connus pour presenter des differences d'excretion azotee) de mieux comprendre les mecanismes biochimiques a l'origine de ces rejets. Ainsi, nous avons montre que chez les poulets genetiquement gras (ceux dont les rejets azotes sont plus importants), les activites de plusieurs enzymes impliquees dans les metabolismes energetique et azote etaient augmentees. De plus nous montrons qu'il existe plusieurs isoformes de la gdh (glutamate deshydrogenase), une enzyme tres impliquees dans les transferts d'azote dans l'organisme et dont la repartition intracellulaire differe entre les deux lignees etudiees. Enfin, ces deux lignees experimentales nous ont permis de mieux comprendre l'origine des differences de besoins en acides amines observees entre animaux (notion indispensable pour pouvoir formuler un aliment non - polluant), en particulier le role tres probable du potentiel metabolique de chacun (capacite a cataboliser un excedent de nutriments).
Evaluating disease severity in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis

Accurate assessment of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) disease severity is integral to the care provided to patients with IPF. However, to date, there are no generally accepted or validated staging systems. There is an abundance of data on using information acquired from physiological, radiological and pathological parameters, in isolation or in combination, to assess disease severity in IPF. Recently, there has been interest in using serum biomarkers and computed tomography-derived quantitative lung fibrosis measures to stage disease severity in IPF. This review will focus on the suggested methods for staging IPF, at baseline and on serial assessment, their strengths and limitations, as well as future developments. Staging disease severity in IPF is challenging: a review of current available methods and future developments http://ow.ly/oBoJ30e8kVS
Emotional Support and Survival after Myocardial Infarction

Objective To compare the survival of elderly patients hospitalized for acute myocardial infarction who have emotional support with that of patients who lack such support, while controlling for severity of disease, comorbidity, and functional status. Design A prospective, community-based cohort study. Setting Two hospitals in New Haven, Connecticut. Patients Men (n = 100) and women (n = 94) 65 years of age or more hospitalized for acute myocardial infarction between 1982 and 1988. Measurements Social support, age, gender, race, education, marital status, living arrangements, presence of depression, smoking history, weight, and physical function were assessed prospectively using questionnaires. The presence of congestive heart failure, pulmonary edema, and cardiogenic shock; the position of infarction; in-hospital complications; and history of myocardial infarction were assessed using medical records. Comorbidity was defined using an index based on the presence of eight conditions. Results Of 194 patients, 76 (39%) died in the first 6 months after myocardial infarction. In multiple logistic regression analyses, lack of emotional support was significantly associated with 6-month mortality (odds ratio, 2.9; 95% CI, 1.2 to 6.9) after controlling for severity of myocardial infarction, comorbidity, risk factors such as smoking and hypertension, and sociodemographic factors. Conclusions When emotional support was assessed before myocardial infarction, it was independently related to risk for death in the subsequent 6 months.
Model of the ran-RCC1 interaction using biochemical and docking experiments.

RCC1, the regulator of chromosome condensation, is the guanine nucleotide exchange factor (GEF) for the nuclear Ras-like GTP-binding protein Ran. Its structure was solved by X-ray crystallography and revealed a seven-bladed beta-propeller, one side of which was proposed to be the interaction site with Ran. To gain more insight into this interaction, alanine mutagenesis studies were performed on conserved residues on the surface of the structure. Purified mutant proteins were analysed by steady-state kinetic analysis of their GEF activities towards Ran. A number of residues were identified whose mutation affected either the KMor kcatof the overall reaction, or had no effect. Mutants were further analysed by plasmon surface resonance in order to get more information on individual steps of the complex reaction pathway. Ran-GDP was coupled to the sensor chip and reacted with RCC1 mutants to categorise them into different groups, demonstrating the usefulness of plasmon surface resonance in the study of complex multi-step kinetic processes. A docking solution of Ran-RCC1 structures in combination with sequence analysis allows prediction of the site of interaction between RCC1 and Ran and proposes a model for the Ran-RCC1 structure which corresponds to and extends the biochemical data. Three invariant residues which most severely affect the kcatof the reaction, D128, D182 and H304, are located in the centre of the Ran-RCC1 interface and interfere with switch II and the phosphate binding area. The structural model suggests that different guanine nucleotide exchange factors use a similar interaction site on their respective GTP-binding proteins, but that the molecular mechanisms for the release of nucleotides are likely to be different.
Influence of nutrition and body condition on pituitary, ovarian, and thyroid function of nonlactating beef cows.

Nonpregnant Hereford cows (n = 70) were used to determine the effect of nutrient intake and body condition on reproductive and thyroid function. Body condition scores (BCS; 1 = emaciated; 9 = obese) of cows averaged 5.0 +/- . 2 on July 1, and cows were fed for 4 mo either to lose weight and BCS (thin; n = 22), to maintain weight and BCS (moderate; n = 24), or to gain weight and BCS (fat; n = 24). After November 1, cows received a complete ration to maintain weight and BCS. Cows were slaughtered in December (six thin, eight moderate, and eight fat cows) or the subsequent March (16 cows per group). Before slaughter, cows were given two injections of prostaglandin F2 alpha (PGF) 11 d apart. Six days after the second PGF injection, cows were simultaneously treated with 100 micrograms of gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH; i.m.) and 100 micrograms of thyrotropin releasing hormone (TRH; i.v.) and serum samples were obtained. The BCS of cows at slaughter (8 d after PGF) averaged 3.4, 5.3, and 7.1 (P less than .01) and carcass energy content averaged 243, 432, and 714 Mcal (P less than .01) for thin, moderate, and fat cows, respectively. Wet ovarian (P less than .001) and corpora lutea (P less than .01) weights were heavier for fat cows. Content of LH in the pituitary gland and concentrations of thyroxine (T4) in serum after GnRH/TRH were not influenced by nutrient intake or BCS. However, thin cows had greater concentrations (P less than .05) of LH in serum after GnRH/TRH than did moderate or fat cows. We conclude that nutrient intake and body energy reserves of beef cows influenced ovarian function and LH in serum after treatment with GnRH.