This article presents a computing-in-memory (CIM) structure aimed at improving the energy efficiency of edge devices running multi-bit multiply-and-accumulate (MAC) operations. The proposed scheme ...includes a 6T SRAM-based CIM (SRAM-CIM) macro capable of: 1) weight-bitwise MAC (WbwMAC) operations to expand the sensing margin and improve the readout accuracy for high-precision MAC operations; 2) a compact 6T local computing cell to perform multiplication with suppressed sensitivity to process variation; 3) an algorithm-adaptive low MAC-aware readout scheme to improve energy efficiency; 4) a bitline header selection scheme to enlarge signal margin; and 5) a small-offset margin-enhanced sense amplifier for robust read operations against process variation. A fabricated 28-nm 64-kb SRAM-CIM macro achieved access times of 4.1-8.4 ns with energy efficiency of 11.5-68.4 TOPS/W, while performing MAC operations with 4- or 8-b input and weight precision.
Background and study aim
Current capsule endoscopy procedures are ineffective for upper gastrointestinal (GI) tract examination because they do not allow for operator-controlled navigation of the ...capsule. External controllability of a capsule endoscope with an applied magnetic field is a possible solution to this problem. We developed a novel magnetic-assisted capsule endoscope (MACE) system to visualize the entire upper GI tract. The present study evaluated the safety and feasibility of the MACE system for the examination of the upper GI tract, including the esophagus, stomach, and duodenum.
Methods
The present open clinical study enrolled ten healthy volunteers. All participants swallowed a MACE, and an external magnetic field navigator was used for magnetic capsule manipulation in the upper GI tract. We assessed the maneuverability of the magnetic capsule and completeness of the MACE examination as well as the safety and tolerability of the procedure.
Results
The present study enrolled ten healthy volunteers with a mean age and body mass index of 47.7 years and 25.6 kg/m
2
, respectively. One volunteer withdrew because of difficulty in swallowing the capsule. In total, nine volunteers underwent the MACE examination. The average examination time was 27.1 min. The maneuverability of the capsule was assessed as good and fair in 55.6 and 44.4% of the participants, respectively. The overall completeness of the examination in the esophagus, stomach, and duodenum was 100, 85.2, and 86.1%, respectively. No severe adverse events occurred during this study. All participants exhibited satisfactory tolerance of the MACE examination.
Conclusion
The MACE system has satisfactory maneuverability and visualization completeness with excellent acceptance and tolerance.
Traditionally, surgical residency training is more focused on obtaining surgical skills through a well-established coaching system worldwide. However, constant advances in medical science require ...surgeons to learn not only surgical skills but also the ability of scientific research to improve clinical practice and future professional development. The study aims to emphasize that professional education in terms of scientific research is also significant for surgical residency training.All residents who had been recruited in a medical center for the surgery residency program between years 2006 and 2015 were evaluated in the study. Generally, every resident is assigned to a mentor since the first year of residency. Then, the mentor would help the resident qualify a 2-step evaluation in terms of scientific research during the residency training program.A total of 193 residents were evaluated in the study. All of them had completed the first step regarding oral presentation of their designated research, and the majority of residents obtained 80 to 90 points that were rated by referees. Overall, 102 residents (52.8%) had completed the second step with the publication of a research manuscript. The percentage of residents who had fulfilled the criteria of this 2-step assessment ranged from 35.3% to 81.8% by year.The continuing education for surgical residents should not be limited in coaching clinical practice. Scientific research is also essential for current surgical residency training, and a formal mentorship program may be beneficial for the future professional development of surgical residents. However, the success of the 2-step evaluation could possibly depend on the career choices of the residents instead of the mentorship program.
This paper presents a cross-point 512 kb 8 T pipeline static random-access memory (SRAM). The cross-point structure eliminates write half-select disturb to facilitate bit-interleaving architecture ...for enhanced soft error immunity. The design employs boosted word-line (WL) for improving both read performance and write-ability. A ripple bit-line (RiBL) structure provides 30%-44% read access performance improvement and 2 ×-3.5 × variation immunity at 0.7 V compared with the conventional hierarchical bit-line (HiBL) schemes. An adaptive data-aware write-assist (ADAWA) with VCS tracking is employed to further enhance the write-ability while ensuring adequate stability for half-selected cells on the selected bit-lines. An adaptive voltage detector (AVD) with binary boosting control is used to mitigating gate electric over-stress. The design is implemented in UMC 40 nm low-power (40LP) CMOS technology. The 512 kb test chip operates from 1.5 V to 0.65 V, with maximum operation frequency of 800 MHz@1.1 V and 200 MHz@0.65 V. The measured power consumption is 0.5 mW/MHz (active) and 4.4 mW (standby) at 1.1 V, and 0.107 mW/MHz (active) and 0.367 mW (standby) at 0.65 V.
Brown seaweeds rich in flavonoids and bioactive polysaccharides have shown potential effects of suppressing fat accumulation, oxidative stress, and inflammation in the liver. Refined seaweed ...compounds such as low‐molecular‐weight fucoidan and high‐stability fucoxanthin, have not been well studied regarding their biological function. Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is one of the most common liver diseases and is characterized by parameters of liver function and metabolic profiles. Therefore, the aim of this study was to determine the combined effect of fucoidan and fucoxanthin on NAFLD with respect to the biochemical parameters. Seventy patients with NAFLD confirmed by abdominal echography and FibroScan were screened. Patients with seafood allergy and those taking vitamin E, pioglitazone, or liraglutide were excluded. Forty‐two patients were randomly divided into a group receiving either fucoidan‐fucoxanthin mixture or placebo. Both groups were subjected to 12‐week follow‐up. The degree of fatty liver and liver fibrosis was detected using transient elastography (TE) with a controlled attenuation parameter (CAP) (FibroScan). The biochemistry of creatine, aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase (ALT), and fasting blood sugar (FBS) was monitored every 4 weeks during the follow‐up period. Moreover, the metabolic profile, including cholesterol, triglyceride, adiponectin, leptin, uric acid, and insulin, as well as complete blood count/differential count and C‐reactive protein were measured at baseline, 4th, and 12th week of follow‐up. There were no significant differences in the baseline of age, gender, BMI (body mass index), and severity of fibrosis in both groups, but more severe steatosis was observed in the treatment group. Combined supplementation of fucoidan and fucoxanthin led to a significant reduction of serum ALT compared to the control (P < 0.05). No prominent change was detected in the CAP and adiponectin, which may imply that this short intervention is not enough to improve NAFLD in patients receiving fucoidan‐fucoxanthin binary mixture. In this pilot study, the seaweed derivative mixture can significantly reduce ALT, indicating that the combination of fucoidan and fucoxanthin might be a novel hepatoprotective supplement for NAFLD patients.
Very few reports are available from the literature related to Enterococcus hirae infection in humans, which is more frequently seen in animals and birds. We report two patients with E hirae ...bacteremia caused by acute pyelonephritis and acute cholangitis. The clinical courses have been smooth on use of sensitive antibiotic therapy. In both cases, the primary sources and portals of entry are clearly identified.
Abstract This study is concerned with the development of an agent for single photon emission computer tomography (SPECT) for imaging inflammation and tumor progression. 123 IIodooctyl fenbufen amide ...(123 IIOFA) was prepared from the precursor N -octyl-4-oxo-4-(4′-(trimethylstannyl)biphenyl-4-yl)butanamide with a radiochemical yield of 15%, specific activity of 37 GBq/μmol, and radiochemical purity of 95%. Analysis of the binding of 123 IIOFA to COX-1 and COX-2 enzymes by using HPLC and a gel filtration column showed a selectivity ratio of 1:1.3. An assay for the competitive inhibition of substrate transfer showed that IOFA exhibited a comparable IC50 value compared to fenbufen. In the normal rat liver, a lower level and homogeneous pattern of 123 IIOFA radioactivity was observed by SPECT. In contrast, in the rat liver with thioacetamide-induced cholangiocarcinoma, a higher uptake and heterogeneous pattern of 123 IIOFA radioactivity was seen as hot spots in tumor lesions by SPECT imaging. Importantly, elevated COX-1 and COX-2 expressions from immunostaining were found in the bile ducts of tumor rats but not of normal rats. Therefore, 123 IIOFA was found to exhibit the potential for imaging tumors that over-express COX.
Lipocalin-type prostaglandin D synthase (L-PGDS) has been correlated with the progression of neurological disorders. The present study aimed at evaluating the imaging potency of a glutathione ...conjugate of fluorine-18-labeled fluorobutyl ethacrynic amide (18FFBuEA-GS) for brain tumors. Preparation of 18FFBuEA-GS has been modified from the -4-tosylate derivative via radiofluorination in 5% radiochemical yield. The mixture of nonradioactive FBuEA-GS derived from a parallel preparation has be resolved to two isomers in a ratio of 9:1 using analytic chiral reversed phase high performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC). The two fluorine-18-labeled isomers purified through nonchiral semipreparative RP-HPLC as a mixture were studied by assessing the binding affinity toward L-PGDS through a gel filtration HPLC, by analyzing radiotracer accumulation in C6 glioma cells, and by evaluating the imaging of radiotracer in a C6 glioma rat with positron emission tomography. The inhibition percentage of the production of PGD2 from PGH2 at the presence of 200 µM of FBuEA-GS and 4-Dibenzoa,dcyclohepten-5-ylidene-1-4-(2H-tetrazol-5-yl)butylpiperidine (AT-56) were 74.1 ± 4.8% and 97.6 ± 16.0%, respectively. 18FFBuEA-GS bound L-PGDS (16.3-21.7%) but not the isoform, microsomal prostaglandin E synthase 1. No binding to GST-alpha and GST-pi was observed. The binding strength between 18FFBuEA-GS and L-PGDS has been evaluated using analytic gel filtration HPLC at the presence of various concentrations of the cold competitor FBuEA-GS. The contrasted images indicated that the radiotracer accumulation in tumor lesions is probably related to the overexpression of L-PGDS.
Background
Colonoscopy is considered the most effective method for diagnosing colorectal diseases, but its application is sometimes limited due to invasiveness, patient intolerance, and the need for ...sedation.
Objective
The aim of this study was to improve the problem of loop formation and shorten the cecal intubation time of colonoscopy by using a magnetic control system (MCS).
Methods
Two experienced gastroenterologists, three trainees, and a novice repeated colonoscopy without or with MCS on three colonoscopy training model simulator cases. These cases were divided into introductory (case 2) and challenging levels (cases 4 and 5). The cecal intubation times were recorded.
Results
For all cases, the average cecal intubation times for the experienced gastroenterologists with MCS were significantly shorter than without MCS (case 2: 52.45 vs. 27.65 s,
p
< 0.001; case 4: 166.7 vs. 120.55 s,
p
< 0.01; case 5: 130.35 vs. 100.2 s,
p
< 0.05). Those of the trainees also revealed significantly shorter times with MCS (case 2: 67.27 vs. 51 s,
p
< 0.01; case 4: 253.27 vs. 170.97 s,
p
< 0.001; case 5: 144.1 vs. 85.57 s,
p
< 0.001).
Conclusion
Conducting colonoscopy with MCS is safe and smooth, and shortens the cecal intubation time by navigating the forepart of the colonoscope. In addition, all diagnostic and therapeutic benefits of conventional colonoscopy are retained.
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