Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Check the Stability: Stability Analysis Methods for Microwave Circuits

The instability problems often faced by the designers of nonlinear microwave circuits are the cause of significant qualitative discrepancies between simulations and measurements, even when using powerful simulation tools based on harmonic-balance (HB) analysis and numerical optimization algorithms. Critical anomalies resulting from instability phenomena most often invalidate the prototype and demand intense investigation and resolution efforts, which may substantially increase production cycles and the final cost. Understanding instability requires awareness of two facts: 1) two or more steady-state solutions can coexist for the same values of the circuit elements and 2) stable solutions must be able to recover from the small perturbations that are always present in real life. To realize the complexity of the problem, one must take into account the fact that circuits containing nonlinear components, such as transistors and diodes, are governed by a set of nonlinear differential algebraic equations [1]-[4]. Time differentiation comes from the existence of reactive elements, involving this operation in their constitutive relationships, and nonlinearity comes from the presence of semiconductor devices, containing nonlinear functions in their intrinsic models. Nonlinear differential equation systems provide four main types of steady-state solutions: dc, periodic, quasi-periodic (having two or more fundamental frequencies with nonrational relationships), and chaotic (nonperiodic) [1], [5]-[7]. Unexpected solutions are often observed in nonlinear circuits since, in addition to the frequencies delivered by the input sources, there may be frequency components coming from the circuit self-oscillation. For instance, under a periodic excitation at ωin, the solution measured may not be periodic at ωin. Instead, it may be quasi-periodic at ωin and an oscillation frequency ωo, it may exhibit a subharmonic oscillation at ωin/2 or exhibit a continuous spectrum (chaos) [7], [8].
Effects of laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) on corneal biomechanical measurements with the Corvis ST tonometer

Purpose This study was initiated to evaluate biomechanical changes using the Corvis ST tonometer (CST) on the cornea after laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK). Setting University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Germany, and Care Vision Refractive Centers, Germany. Design Retrospective cohort study. Methods This retrospective study included 37 eyes of 37 refractive patients. All CST measurements were performed 1 day before surgery and at the 1-month follow-up examination. The LASIK procedure included mechanical flap preparation using a Moria SBK microkeratome and an Allegretto excimer laser platform. Results Statistically significant differences were observed for mean first applanation length, mean first and second deflection lengths, mean first and second deflection amplitudes, radius of curvature, and peak distance. Significant positive correlations were found between the change (Δ) of radius of curvature and manifest refraction spherical equivalent (MRSE), ablation depth, and Δintraocular pressure as well as between AD and ΔHC-time. Each diopter of myopic correction in MRSE resulted in an increase in Δradius of curvature of 0.2 mm. Conclusion Several CST parameters were statistically significantly altered by LASIK, thereby indicating that flap creation, ablation, or both, significantly change the ability of the cornea to absorb or dissipate energy.
Market-access agreements for anti-cancer drugs

Newly marketed pharmaceuticals command increasingly high prices, particularly in oncology where single treatment cycles can be very costly, even though data at market approval are usually inadequate to describe thoroughly their effectiveness and cost-effectiveness. Both manufacturers and payers have shown interest in solutions to achieve rapid access for patients – known as ‘market-access agreements’. Although the literature offers a variety of definitions, these agreements can be roughly grouped under two main types: financial-based and performance-based. Financial-based schemes focus on the budget impact of a new drug and usually consist of price/dose discounts. Performancebased schemes involve collecting clinical evidence once a new drug has been marketed in a healthcare system and lead to payment only for patients responding to therapy, an objective which is methodologically and practically challenging while not without political appeal. The underlying strategy is to help reduce the likelihood of payers adopting technologies that turn out not to be cost-effective, while at the same time helping manufacturers increase market access time and take profit. Market-access agreements can also be considered an opportunistic way for manufacturers to keep official prices high such as maintaining a common European price, while granting health authorities confidential rebates, thus preventing parallel trade and undermining effective external reference pricing. The English and Italian health services have been the first countries to introduce market-access agreements on specific drugs. These contracts are now called Managed Entry Agreements (MEA) in Italy and Patient Access Schemes (PAS) in England and Wales. We focus on the area of oncology, where many new drugs are costly and fall under these arrangements. Italy
Study on growth dynamics of entrepreneurial population: An analysis based on logistic model

The essay defines entrepreneurial population as the groups formed by ventures belongs to the same type inside the region, and discusses the growth dynamics of entrepreneurial population. Based on the deduction of logistic model, the essay found that: first, the growing status of entrepreneurial population fundamentally depends on the inherent rate of new-born ones in entrepreneurial population and its inherent death rate. Second, the eventual growth status of entrepreneurial population depends on the changes of regional parameters. Third, there is always a difference between the entrepreneurial population and maximum regional capacity, which is also related with regional parameters. According to the deduction of logistic model, a decreasing coefficient of the number of regional entrepreneurial population is drawn in the paper finally.
Cervical radiculomyelopathy due to calcified ligamenta flava

Two cases of cervical radiculomyelopathy were apparently caused by calcification of the ligamenta flava. Similar cases have not previously been described, although myelopathy due to calcified thoracolumbar ligamenta flava is occasionally reported. Radiological study is necessary for diagnosis. Surgical removal of the calcified masses was followed by improvement in the symptoms. In 1 patient, the disease was associated with pseudogout in the menisci of the knee joints, public symphysis, and acetabular lips. The cause and pathogenesis of this rare condition are unknown.
RNAs templating chromatin structure for dosage compensation in animals.

The role of RNA as a messenger in the expression of the genome has been long appreciated, but its functions in regulating chromatin and chromosome structure are no less interesting. Recent results have shown that small RNAs guide chromatin-modifying complexes to chromosomal regions in a sequence-specific manner to elicit transcriptional repression. However, sequence-specific targeting by means of base pairing seems to be only one mechanism by which RNA is employed for epigenetic regulation. The focus of this review is on large RNAs that act in the dosage-compensation pathways of flies and mammals. These RNAs associate with chromatin over the length of whole chromosomes and are crucial for spreading epigenetic changes in chromatin structure. They do not appear to act in a sequence-specific manner but might provide scaffolds for co-operative binding of chromatin-associated complexes that enable spreading of chromatin modifications.
Genotyping of six clopidogrel-metabolizing enzyme polymorphisms has a minor role in the assessment of platelet reactivity in patients with acute coronary syndrome

Objective: To evaluate the contribution of six polymorphisms to the platelet reactivity in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) treated with clopidogrel. Methods: Cross-sectional study of 278 consecutive patients with ACS. Detailed clinical information for each patient was collected and genotypes (CYP2C9*2, CYP2C9*3, CYP2C19*2, CYP2C19*17, CYP3A4*1B, and PON1-Q192R) were evaluated with TaqMan® and KASPar® assays. Platelet reactivity was measured with VerifyNow®. Results: Mean age of patients was 66±11 years and 182 (65.5%) patients presented ACS without ST-segment elevation. A total of 206 (74.1%) patients presented poor response to clopidogrel (PRC). CYP2C19*2 polymorphism (p=0.038) was associated with PRC in the univariate setting. In the multiple logistic regression analysis, the risk factors for PRC were the presence of CYP3A4*1B allele (odds ratio [OR] 4.03; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.01–16.34), age (OR 1.43; 95% CI 1.03–2.00), and body mass index (OR 4.05; 95% CI 1.21–13.43), whereas elevated hemoglobin was a protective factor. Discrimination of PRC through the model that included the six polymorphisms added modest information to the model based on clinical variables (C statistic difference 3.9%). Conclusion: CYP3A4*1B allele may be an independent determinant of PRC in patients with ACS, although the variability in response to clopidogrel explained by the six polymorphisms is poor when compared to clinical variables. (Anatol J Cardiol 2017; 17: 303-12)
Blood vessel maturation in a 3‐dimensional spheroidal coculture model: direct contact with smooth muscle cells regulates endothelial cell quiescence and abrogates VEGF responsiveness

Paracrine interactions between endothelial cells (EC) and mural cells act as critical regulators of vessel wall assembly, vessel maturation and define a plasticity window for vascular remodeling. The present study was aimed at studying blood vessel maturation processes in a novel 3‐dimensional spheroidal coculture system of EC and smooth muscle cells (SMC). Coculture spheroids differentiate spontaneously in a calciumdependent manner to organize into a core of SMC and a surface layer of EC, thus mimicking the physiological assembly of blood vessels with surface lining EC and underlying mural cells. Coculture of EC with SMC induces a mature, quiescent EC phenotype as evidenced by 1) a significant increase in the number of junctional complexes of the EC surface layer, 2) a down‐regulation of PDGF‐B expression by cocultured EC, and 3) an increased resistance of EC to undergo apoptosis. Furthermore, EC cocultured with SMC become refractory to stimulation with VEGF (lack of CD34 expression on VEGF stimulation;inability to form capillary‐like sprouts in a VEGF‐dependent manner in a 3‐dimensional in gel angiogenesis assay). In contrast, costimulation with VEGF and Ang‐2 induced sprouting angiogenesis originating from coculture spheroids consistent with a model of Ang‐2‐mediated vessel destabilization resulting in VEGF responsiveness. Ang‐2 on its own was able to stimulate endothelial cells in the absence of Ang‐1 producing SMC, inducing lateral sheet migration as well as in gel sprouting angiogenesis. Taken together, the data establish the spheroidal EC/SMC system as a powerful cell culture model to study paracrine interactions in the vessel wall and provide functional evidence for smooth muscle cell‐mediated quiescence effects on endothelial cells. —Korff, T. , Kimmina, S. , Martiny‐Baron, G. , Augustin, H. G. Blood vessel maturation in a 3‐dimensional spheroidal coculture model: direct contact with smooth muscle cells regulates endothelial cell quiescence and abrogates VEGF responsiveness. FASEB J. 15, 447‐457 (2001)
Infarctus cérébral et plasticité : focus sur le BDNF

La recuperation fonctionnelle des patients victimes d’un accident vasculaire cerebral (AVC) ischemique est largement sous-tendue par les proprietes plastiques du cerveau et plus precisement par sa capacite a remodeler les reseaux de neurones epargnes par l’infarctus. Les etudes realisees sur differents modeles animaux d’infarctus cerebral s’accordent a montrer que ces changements plastiques sont induits par le BDNF (Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor). Aussi, augmenter les taux cerebraux de BDNF est considere comme une strategie therapeutique prometteuse de reduction des deficiences post-AVC. Dans ce contexte, notre travail avait 2 objectifs : 1) chez le rat, identifier les cellules impliquees dans la surproduction de BDNF et evaluer la pertinence de la mesure des taux circulants de BDNF pour estimer les taux de BDNF presents dans le cerveau, 2) chez le patient victime d’un infarctus cerebral, etudier l’efficacite de la fluoxetine sur la recuperation motrice a 3 mois, la fluoxetine etant un inhibiteur specifique de la recapture de la serotonine commercialise comme antidepresseur et capable non seulement d’augmenter la production cerebrale de BDNF mais aussi de stimuler la plasticite post-lesionnelle.Les etudes precliniques ont ete realisees chez le rat soumis a l’embolisation unilaterale du cerveau par un nombre variable de microspheres (en carbone et calibrees a 50 µm) afin de reproduire le large panel de souffrance cerebrale rencontre en clinique. Le BDNF a ete mesure dans le cerveau et dans le sang (plasma et serum par technique ELISA) avant et apres (4, 24h et 8j) embolisation. Nos resultats montrent :- que la production de BDNF est plus intense et plus durable dans l’hemisphere embolise que dans l’hemisphere non embolise et que cette production est independante du degre d’embolisation, marqueur indirect de la souffrance cerebrale. - que les cellules non-neuronales deviennent une source non negligeable de BDNF en cas d’ischemie, notamment les cellules endotheliales et microgliales avant 24h et les astrocytes au temps 8j. - que les taux circulants et cerebraux de BDNF ne sont pas correles mais qu’il existe une correlation entre le BDNF plasmatique mesure au temps 4h et le degre d’embolisation.L’etude clinique correspond a un essai randomise controle en double aveugle comparant la fluoxetine (20mg/j, voie orale, pendant 3 mois et debutee entre 5 et 10j apres les premiers symptomes) au placebo chez des patients presentant un deficit moteur modere a severe sur l’echelle motrice de Fugl-Meyer (n=59 dans chaque groupe). Nos resultats montrent que l’amelioration de la fonction motrice est meilleure sous fluoxetine que placebo. En conclusion, notre travail montre l’interet des medicaments capables d’augmenter le BDNF et la plasticite post-lesionnelle pour ameliorer le pronostic clinique de l’AVC et identifie pour la premiere fois les cellules endotheliales cerebrales comme une cible potentielle de ces medicaments. Il remet egalement en cause l’idee largement repandue selon laquelle les taux circulants de BDNF varient dans le meme sens que les taux cerebraux.
Measurement-based characterization of residential lighting devices: CFL and LED

This paper proposes a methodology to characterize Compact Fluorescent Lamp (CFL) and Light Emitting Diodes (LED) lamp, based on measurements and simplified circuital models. The methodology relies on voltage and current measurements to estimate unknown parameters of the corresponding circuital model. The parameters estimation adopts linear least-squares and three optimization methods. The obtained results demonstrate the feasibility of the proposal based on real lighting devices.
Congenital Insensitivity to Pain With Anhydrosis: Report of a Family and Review of Literature With Reference to Immune Deficiency

• Congenital indifference to pain with anhydrosis (CIPA) is a well-defined entity among a group of sensory deficiency syndromes. Children with this genetic disease are insensitive to pain and temperature and do not sweat and suffer from psychomotor retardation. Self-inflicted trauma may be severe and lead to insoluble orthopedic problems. To date, 11 cases have been reported. We have reviewed the literature and are describing two girls with CIPA, born to consanguine Jewish parents of Moroccan origin. Immunoglobulin deficiency has been reported in CIPA but an immunologic investigation on one of our cases showed only an early and transient deficiency of IgA. The presence in the family of a brother with ataxia telangiectasia and complete absence of IgA would seem to be irrelevant and it seems probable that the parents are heterozygotic for two disparate autosomal recessive syndromes. (Am J Dis Child133:1153-1155, 1979)
Characterization of Power-to-Phase Conversion in High-Speed P-I-N Photodiodes

Fluctuations of the optical power incident on a photodiode can be converted into phase fluctuations of the resulting electronic signal due to nonlinear saturation in the semiconductor. This impacts overall timing stability (phase noise) of microwave signals generated from a photodetected optical pulse train. In this paper, we describe and utilize techniques to characterize this conversion of amplitude noise to phase noise for several high-speed (>; 10 GHz) InGaAs p-i-n photodiodes operated at 900 nm. We focus on the impact of this effect on the photonic generation of low phase noise 10-GHz microwave signals and show that a combination of low laser amplitude noise, appropriate photodiode design, and optimum average photocurrent is required to achieve phase noise at or below -100 dBc/Hz at 1 Hz offset for a 10-GHz carrier. In some photodiodes, we find specific photocurrents where the power-to-phase conversion factor is observed to go to zero.
Notice of RetractionComparative Analysis of Biomass Power Generation Technologies

The world pays more attention to biomass (straw) power generation due to its good power quality, friendly environment and less pollution. The paper analyzed the characteristic of the three categories biomass power generation, further more the comparative analysis of its economic and application scope were carried out. It shows that the economics of biomass co-combustion power generation technology was the best one, direct-fired power generation technology has a high efficiency and the unit investment and it is more reasonable when it is in scale operation; gasification power generation technology has the virtue of less investment, low generation cost and good flexibility; the investment cost of co-combustion power generation technology is less, this system has a higher efficiency.
Milieu mécanique déformable multirésolution pour la simulation interactive. (Multiresolution mechanical model for interactive animation of soft bodies)

Les modeles dynamiques sont incontournables en synthese d'animations car ils permettent la simulation realiste de phenomenes physiques et accordent une meilleure immersion dans un monde virtuel. Plusieurs approches performantes permettent l'animation d'objets deformables, mais les scenes sont souvent complexes a modeliser rendant leur utilisation difficile en pratique. Dans cette these nous proposons une solution simplifiant l'animation physique interactive d'objets deformables. Nous suggerons de plonger et d'interpoler l'objet dans une grille deformable sur laquelle s'appliquent des lois mecaniques. Une methode d'elements finis rapides et robustes a ete etendue afin de prendre en compte la repartition de la matiere et plusieurs proprietes de materiaux a l'interieur d'un element, et ainsi offrir un comportement ameliore a des resolutions grossieres. Afin de concentrer les calculs la ou ils sont le plus necessaires, une formulation multiresolution simple est proposee. Puis nous analysons deux methodes permettant d'ameliorer la propagation des deformations pour des materiaux "mal conditionnes" : une formulation hierarchique des element finis, lourde a mettre en place mais permettant facilement la multiresolution, et une formulation multigrid, elegante et performante, mais plus difficile a decliner en multiresolution. Enfin nous validons la precision de notre methode en la soumettant a diverses experiences. Il en resulte une methode rapide, robuste, precise et facile d'utilisation aussi bien pour un infographiste, qui peut animer n'importe quel modele sans connaissances prealables, que pour la modelisation individualisee d'un patient a partir d'images medicales segmentees.
Confidence estimation in Deep Neural networks via density modelling

State-of-the-art Deep Neural Networks can be easily fooled into providing incorrect high-confidence predictions for images with small amounts of adversarial noise. Does this expose a flaw with deep neural networks, or do we simply need a better way to estimate confidence? In this paper we consider the problem of accurately estimating predictive confidence. We formulate this problem as that of density modelling, and show how traditional methods such as softmax produce poor estimates. To address this issue, we propose a novel confidence measure based on density modelling approaches. We test these measures on images distorted by blur, JPEG compression, random noise and adversarial noise. Experiments show that our confidence measure consistently shows reduced confidence scores in the presence of such distortions - a property which softmax often lacks.
Cooperation and coordination of constraint solvers

Declarative programming languages base on the idea that programs should be as close as possible to the problem specification and domain. Programs of these languages usually consist of directly formulated mathematical objects, i.e. relations and functions. Accordingly, declarative languages are distinguished into logic, functional, functional-logic, and constraint programming languages. Even if constraint programming is a young development in declarative programming languages, meanwhile, there is a wide range of constraint programming languages, and many domains and associated constraint solving mechanisms have been investigated. Using constraint programming, problems are specified by means of constraints. A constraint is usually a first order formula which describes properties of objects or relations between them. Problems described by constraints are handled by constraint solvers, i.e. specific algorithms for particular domains which mostly allow to check satisfiability of constraints, i.e. to solve constraints, to compute entailed constraints, and even to find variable assignments such that the constraints specifying the problem are satisfied. Though the paradigm of constraint programming offers efficient mechanisms to handle constraints of various domains, one constraint solver can only handle constraints of a particular constraint system. Thus, it is often desirable and advantageous to combine several constraint systems and the associated constraint solving techniques because this combination makes it possible to solve problems that none of the single solvers can handle alone. In this work, we propose a general scheme for the cooperation of constraint solvers. The base of our system is a uniform interface for constraint solvers which allows a fine-grain formal specification of information exchange between constraint solvers. On top of this interface, we develop an open and flexible combination mechanism for constraint solvers. The combination is open in the sense that whenever a new constraint system with associated constraint solver (satisfying certain properties) arises, it can be easily incorporated into the overall system independently of its domain and the language in which the constraint solver is implemented. It is flexible because