A VLIW processor with reconfigurable instruction set for embedded applications

This paper describes a new architecture for embedded reconfigurable computing, based on a very-long instruction word (VLIW) processor enhanced with an additional run-time configurable datapath. The reconfigurable unit is tightly coupled with the processor, featuring an application-specific instruction-set extension. Mapping computation intensive algorithmic portions on the reconfigurable unit allows a more efficient elaboration, thus leading to an improvement in both timing performance and power consumption. A test chip has been implemented in a standard 0.18-/spl mu/m CMOS technology. The test of a signal processing algorithmic benchmark showed speedups ranging from 4.3/spl times/ to 13.5/spl times/ and energy consumption reduced up to 92%.     

Synthesis and Evaluation of Voltage-Gated Sodium Channel Blocking Pyrroline Derivatives Endowed with Both Antiarrhythmic and Antioxidant Activities

Under the hypothesis that cardioprotective agents might benefit from synergism between antiarrhythmic activity and antioxidant properties, a small series of mexiletine analogues were coupled with the 2,2,5,5-tetramethylpyrroline moiety, known for its antioxidant effect, in order to obtain dual-acting drugs potentially useful in the protection of the heart against post-ischemic reperfusion injury. The pyrroline derivatives reported herein were found to be more potent as antiarrhythmic agents than mexiletine and displayed antioxidant activity. The most interesting tetramethylpyrroline congener, a tert-butyl-substituted analogue, was at least 100 times more active as an antiarrhythmic than mexiletine.     

Sensitive Label-Free Immunoassay by Colorimetric Plasmonic Biosensors Using Silver Nanodome Arrays

The sensitive direct detection of biomolecules is demonstrated by a colorimetric plasmonic biosensor utilizing the surface colors of plasmonic metasurfaces named Ag nanodome arrays. The Ag nanodome arrays consist of polystyrene bead monolayers coated with Ag thin films whose surface colors are optimized by changing the size of the polystyrene beads. The bulk refractive index sensitivity of colorimetric detection evaluated using the hue angle is 590° RIU⁻¹ (RIU: refractive index unit). For selected geometry, the refractive index resolution (5.0 × 10⁻⁵ RIU) obtained by colorimetric detection surpasses that of spectroscopic detection evaluated via the dip wavelength in the reflection spectrum. The numerical simulations predict an enhanced sensing performance when the hue angle of the surface colors of the Ag nanodome arrays changes from 300° to 200°, corresponding to changes in the dip wavelength from 570 to 600 nm in the reflection spectra. Furthermore, the detection sensitivity of the biomolecules is characterized using a direct IgG immunoassay format. The detection limit of the IgG concentration is as low as 134 pM using simple colorimetric detection. The feasibility of sensitive label-free immunoassays using a colorimetric plasmonic biosensor is expected to accelerate the development of highly sensitive and reliable smartphone-based plasmonic biosensors.     

Interoperability requirements for automated manufacturing systems in construction

Multi-disciplinary software interoperability in the Architecture, Engineering, Construction and Operations industry is becoming a new and widely adopted business culture. Technical advances in interoperability architectures, frameworks, methods and standards during the last decade resulted in higher maturity of product and process models. Mature models, in effect, enable data exchange by an increasing number of software applications in the industry. This establishes trust in data exchange and results in the lower cost impact of inefficient interoperability. The negative cost impact increases with advancing life-cycle phase, from planning and design phase to construction phase and to operation and maintenance phase. Interoperability in the planning and design phase is most mature and well published, while interoperability in the construction phase and for automated manufacturing is less researched. This paper reviews state-of-the art automated manufacturing systems in construction and researches interoperability requirements for automated construction in context of the entire building lifecycle. Our research is based on experimental free-form clay building, designed with embedded simple HVAC components, and manufactured with additive layer technology. Conclusions provide valuable results for interoperability research and practice in construction projects with automated manufacturing systems in place.     

Synthesis of ZnO-based varistor precursor powders by means of the reaction spray process

High-purity, fine-grained oxide ceramic powders that are commonly used for ZnO-based varistors were synthesized by means of the reaction spray process. Processing steps included formation of the solutions of zinc nitrate and/or certain metal additives and spraying of the solution into a heated reaction column using a two-phase nozzle. After water evaporation from the droplets, the precursor salts were decomposed at elevated temperatures (up to 1473 K) in order to obtain homogeneous oxide powders with complex compositions corresponding to the final multicomponent varistor system. The decomposition behaviour of the precursors, as well as the characteristics of the resulting powders: crystallinity, phase composition, particle shape, morphology and particle-size distribution, were examined. It was shown that the characteristics of the reaction spray-derived powders can be controlled by adjusting the system and the solutions parameters.     

On using planning poker for estimating user stories

While most studies in psychology and forecasting stress the possible hazards of group processes when predicting effort and schedule, agile software development methods recommend the use of a group estimation technique called planning poker for estimating the size of user stories and developing release and iteration plans. It is assumed that the group discussion through planning poker helps in identifying activities that individual estimators could overlook, thus providing more accurate estimates and reducing the over-optimism that is typical for expert judgment-based methods. In spite of the widespread use of agile methods, there is little empirical evidence regarding the accuracy of planning poker estimates. In order to fill this gap a study was conducted requiring 13 student teams to develop a Web-based student records information system. All teams were given the same set of user stories which had to be implemented in three Sprints. Each team estimated the stories using planning poker and the estimates provided by each team member during the first round were averaged to obtain the statistical combination for further comparison. In the same way the stories were estimated by a group of experts. The study revealed that students’ estimates were over-optimistic and that planning poker additionally increased the over-optimism. On the other hand, the experts’ estimates obtained through planning poker were much closer to actual effort spent and tended to be more accurate than the statistical combination of their individual estimates. The results indicate that the optimism bias caused by group discussion diminishes or even disappears as the expertise of the people involved in the group estimation process increases.     

Statistical Properties of Transition Amplitudes in Generic Systems

I review some recent results on the statistical properties of matrix elements of typical observables (transition amplitudes) in an eigenbasis of generic quantum Hamiltonian systems. The classical limit of an underlying system can be either integrable, or fully chaotic, or mixed with regular and irregular regions coexisting in phase space. In any case, the variance of transition amplitudes (the local average transition probability) as a function of energy and transition frequency can be calculated in terms of classical power spectra. The probability distribution of transition amplitudes in high energy (semiclassical) regime is derived by means of random matrix theory, whereas in low and intermediate energy (nonsemiclassical) regime the probability distribution of transition amplitudes exhibits universal exponential tails which still call for theoretical explanation.     

Cardiac Toxicity Associated with Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors: A Systematic Review

Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) are an important advancement in the field of cancer treatment, significantly improving the survival of patients with a series of advanced malignancies, like melanoma, non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), renal cell carcinoma (RCC), and Hodgkin lymphoma. ICIs act upon T lymphocytes and antigen-presenting cells, targeting programmed cell death protein 1 (PD1), programmed cell death protein ligand 1 (PD-L1), and cytotoxic T-lymphocyte antigen 4 (CTLA-4), breaking the immune tolerance of the T cells against malignant cells and enhancing the body’s own immune response. A variety of cardiac-adverse effects are associated with ICI-based treatment, including pericarditis, arrhythmias, cardiomyopathy, and acute coronary syndrome, with myocarditis being the most studied due to its often-unexpected onset and severity. Overall, Myocarditis is rare but presents an immune-related adverse event (irAE) that has a high fatality rate. Considering the rising number of oncological patients treated with ICIs and the severity of their potential adverse effects, a good understanding and continuous investigation of cardiac irAEs is of the utmost importance. This systematic review aimed to revise recent publications (between 2016–2022) on ICI-induced cardiac toxicities and highlight the therapeutical approach and evolution in the selected cases.     

Mitochondrial DNA Together with miR-142-3p in Plasma Can Predict Unfavorable Outcomes in Patients after Acute Myocardial Infarction

Myocardial infarction is one of the leading causes of death worldwide, despite numerous efforts to find efficient prognostic biomarkers and treatment targets. In the present study, we aimed to assess the potential of six microRNAs known to be involved in cardiovascular diseases, cell-free DNA (cfDNA), and mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) circulating in plasma to be used as prognostic tools for the occurrence of unfavorable outcomes such as major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) after acute ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). Fifty STEMI patients were enrolled and monitored for 6 months for the occurrence of MACE. Plasma was collected at three time points: upon admission to hospital (T₀), at discharge from hospital (T₁), and 6 months post-STEMI (T₆). Plasma levels of miR-223-3p, miR-142-3p, miR-155-5p, miR-486-5p, miR-125a-5p, and miR-146a-5p, as well as of cfDNA and mtDNA, were measured by RT-qPCR. Results showed that the levels of all measured miRNAs, as well as of cfDNA and mtDNA, were the most increased at T₁, compared to the other two time points. In the plasma of STEMI patients with MACE compared to those without MACE, we determined increased levels of miRNAs, cfDNA, and mtDNA at T_1. Hence, we used the levels of all measured parameters at T₁ for further statistical analysis. Statistical analysis demonstrated that all six miRNAs and cfDNA plus mtDNA levels, respectively, were associated with MACE. The minimal statistical model that could predict MACE in STEMI patients was the combination of mtDNA and miR-142-3p levels, as evidenced by ROC analysis (AUC = 0.97, p < 0.001). In conclusion, the increased plasma levels of mtDNA, along with miR-142-3p, could be used to predict unfavorable outcomes in STEMI patients.