Global and local properties of asynchronous circuits optimized for energy efficiency

In this paper we explore global and local properties of asynchronous circuits sized for the energy efficiency metric Et^2. We develop a theory that enables an abstract view on transistor sizing. These results allow us to accurately estimate circuit performance and compare circuit design choices at logic gate level without going through the costly sizing process. We estimate that the improvement in energy efficiency due to sizing is 2 to 3.5 times when compared to a design optimized for speed

Novel parvoviruses in reptiles and genome sequence of a lizard parvovirus shed light on Dependoparvovirus genus evolution.

Here, we report the detection and partial genome characterization of two novel reptilian parvoviruses derived from a short-tailed pygmy chameleon (Rampholeon brevicaudatus) and a corn snake (Pantherophis guttatus) along with the complete genome analysis of the first lizard parvovirus, obtained from four bearded dragons (Pogona vitticeps). Both homology searches and phylogenetic tree reconstructions demonstrated that all are members of the Dependoparvovirus genus. Even though most dependoparvoviruses replicate efficiently only in co-infections with large DNA viruses, no such agents could be detected in one of the bearded dragon samples, hence the possibility of autonomous replication was explored. The alternative ORF encoding the full assembly-activating protein (AAP), typical for the genus, could be obtained from reptilian parvoviruses for the first time, with a structure that appears to be more ancient than that of avian and mammalian parvoviruses. All three viruses were found to harbor short introns as previously observed for snake adeno-associated virus (SAAV), shorter than that of any non-reptilian dependoparvovirus. According to the phylogenetic calculations based on full non-structural protein (Rep) and AAP sequences, the monophyletic cluster of reptilian parvoviruses seems to be the most basal out of all lineages of genus Dependoparvovirus. The suspected ability for autonomous replication, results of phylogenetic tree reconstruction, intron lengths and the structure of the AAP, suggested that a single Squamata origin instead of the earlier assumed diapsid (common avian-reptilian) origin is more likely for the genus Dependoparvovirus of the Parvoviridae family

An ancient lineage of highly divergent parvoviruses infects both vertebrate and invertebrate hosts

Chapparvoviruses (ChPVs) comprise a divergent, recently identified group of parvoviruses (family Parvoviridae), associated with nephropathy in immunocompromised laboratory mice and with prevalence in deep sequencing results of livestock showing diarrhea. Here, we investigate the biological and evolutionary characteristics of ChPVs via comparative in silico analyses, incorporating sequences derived from endogenous parvoviral elements (EPVs) as well as exogenous parvoviruses. We show that ChPVs are an ancient lineage within the Parvoviridae, clustering separately from members of both currently established subfamilies. Consistent with this, they exhibit a number of characteristic features, including several putative auxiliary protein-encoding genes, and capsid proteins with no sequence-level homology to those of other parvoviruses. Homology modeling indicates the absence of a β-A strand, normally part of the luminal side of the parvoviral capsid protein core. Our findings demonstrate that the ChPV lineage infects an exceptionally broad range of host species, including both vertebrates and invertebrates. Furthermore, we observe that ChPVs found in fish are more closely related to those from invertebrates than they are to those of amniote vertebrates. This suggests that transmission between distantly related host species may have occurred in the past and that the Parvoviridae family can no longer be divided based on host affiliation

Endogenous amdoparvovirus-related elements reveal insights into the biology and evolution of vertebrate parvoviruses

Amdoparvoviruses (family Parvoviridae: genus Amdoparvovirus) infect carnivores, and are a major cause of morbidity and mortality in farmed animals. In this study, we systematically screened animal genomes to identify endogenous parvoviral elements (EPVs) disclosing a high degree of similarity to amdoparvoviruses, and investigated their genomic, phylogenetic and protein structural features. We report the first examples of full-length, amdoparvovirus-derived EPVs in the genome of the Transcaucasian mole vole (Ellobius lutescens). We also identify four EPVs in mammal and reptile genomes that are intermediate between amdoparvoviruses and their sister genus (Protoparvovirus) in terms of their phylogenetic placement and genomic features. In particular, we identify a genome-length EPV in the genome of a pit viper (Protobothrops mucrosquamatus) that is more similar to a protoparvovirus than an amdoparvovirus in terms of its phylogenetic placement and the structural features of its capsid protein (as revealed by homology modeling), yet exhibits characteristically amdoparvovirus-like genome features including: (1) a putative middle ORF gene; (2) a capsid gene that lacks a phospholipase A2 domain; (3) a genome structure consistent with an amdoparvovirus-like mechanism of capsid gene expression. Our findings indicate that amdoparvovirus host range extends to rodents, and that parvovirus lineages possessing a mixture of proto- and amdoparvovirus-like characteristics have circulated in the past. In addition, we show that EPV sequences in the mole vole and pit viper encode intact, expressible replicase genes that have potentially been co-opted or exapted in these host species

Random sampling of squamate reptiles in Spanish natural reserves reveals the presence of novel adenoviruses in lacertids (Family Lacertidae) and worm lizards (Amphisbaenia)

Here, we report the results of a large-scale PCR survey on the prevalence and diversity of adenoviruses (AdVs) in samples collected randomly from free-living reptiles. On the territories of the Guadarrama Mountains National Park in Central Spain and of the Chafarinas Islands in North Africa, cloacal swabs were taken from 318 specimens of eight native species representing five squamate reptilian families. The healthy-looking animals had been captured temporarily for physiological and ethological examinations, after which they were released. We found 22 AdV-positive samples in representatives of three species, all from Central Spain. Sequence analysis of the PCR products revealed the existence of three hitherto unknown AdVs in 11 Carpetane rock lizards (Iberolacerta cyreni), nine Iberian worm lizards (Blanus cinereus), and two Iberian green lizards (Lacerta schreiberi), respectively. Phylogeny inference showed every novel putative virus to be a member of the genus Atadenovirus. This is the very first description of the occurrence of AdVs in amphisbaenian and lacertid hosts. Unlike all squamate atadenoviruses examined previously, two of the novel putative AdVs had A+T rich DNA, a feature generally deemed to mirror previous host switch events. Our results shed new light on the diversity and evolution of atadenoviruses.The authors gratefully acknowledge the financial support provided by the Hungarian Scientific Research Fund (OTKA grant K100163) and by the projects MICIIN-CGL2011-24150/BOS and MINECO CGL2014-53523-P.Peer Reviewe

Transistor Sizing of Energy-Delay-Efficient Circuits

This paper studies the problem of transistor sizing of CMOS circuits optimized for energy-delay efficiency, i.e., for optimal Et^n where E is the energy consumption and t is the delay of the circuit, while n is a fixed positive optimization index that reflects the chosen trade-off between energy and delay. We propose a set of analytical formulas that closely approximate the optimal transistor sizes. We then study an efficient iteration procedure that can further improve the original analytical solution. Based on these results, we introduce a novel transistor sizing algorithm for energy-delay efficiency

Az újraélesztés folyamatának és oktatásának újraszervezése a Dél-budai Centrumkórház Szent Imre Egyetemi Oktatókórházban

A Dél-budai Centrumkórház Szent Imre Egyetemi Oktatókórházban közel 20 éve működik Sürgősségi Betegellátó Szolgálat, mely megfelel az angol Medical Emergency Team-nek. Nemzetközi tanulmányok alapján elmondható, hogy a kórházi újraélesztésnek akkor a legnagyobb a sikere, ha azt a kórházon belül egy összeszokott, gyakorlott csapat végzi. Kórházunkban az újraélesztési feladatot a Sürgősségi Betegellátó Osztály látja el, melynek dedikált feladata, hogy a munkatársak részére rendszeres kiterjesztett alapszintű újraélesztés (EBLS) oktatást szervezzen. Célunk, hogy bemutassuk az emeltszintű újraélesztés eljárásrendjének az aktuális szakmai és szervezési ismereteknek megfelelő megújítását, valamint az intézményi EBLS oktatás újraszervezését és újraindítását. Szakmai szempontból az European Resuscitation Council által lefektetett irányelveket, míg szervezési és oktatási oldalról az irányelvek alkalmazáshoz kapcsolódó útmutatásait és a hazai általános és intézményi jógyakorlatokat alkalmaztuk viszonyítási alapként. Az oktatás újjászervezését a következő alapkövetelmények határozták meg: a kórház valamennyi szervezeti egységének munkatársa (orvosok és szakdolgozók egyaránt) évente legalább egy alkalommal részesüljön újraélesztés oktatásban. Oktatási tervet és tananyagot alakítottunk ki, majd kiscsoportos, elméleti és gyakorlati elemeket, valamint komplex szituációt és értékelést tartalmazó oktatásokat szerveztünk, melynek értékelésére egy képzés végén kitöltendő, 9 kérdésből álló, anonim kérdőívet alkalmaztunk. Intézményi eljárásrendünket a szakmai irányelvek mentén frissítettük, ennek megfelelően a riasztási telefonszámot valamennyi nővérpulthoz kihelyeztük, az osztályos újraélesztési felszereléslistát összeállítottuk, ellenőriztük és szükség esetén pótoltuk. Oktatásunkat ezidáig 18 alkalommal tartottuk meg, 183 fő részére. Az oktatások szükségszerűnek bizonyultak, tartalmukat, az oktatókat és a szervezést tekintve is kifejezetten pozitív értékelések születtek. A jövőben a rendszeres oktatások folytatása mellett újabb képzések indítását, az újraélesztés dokumentációjának digitális megújítását valamint a nemzetközi regiszterhez való kapcsolódás kialakítását tervezzük. | The Szent Imre University Teaching Hospital of South Buda Central Hospital has been operating an Emergency Care Service, which is equivalent to the Medical Emergency Team, for almost 20 years. According to international studies, hospital resuscitation is most successful when it is carried out by a team of experienced and cohesive people. In our hospital, resuscitations are performed by the Emergency Department, which has the dedicated task of organising regular, extended basic life support (EBLS) training for the staff. Our aim is to present the renewal of the procedures of advanced resuscitation in line with the current pro- fessional and management knowledge, as well as the reorganisation and re-launch of the EBLS training. We used the guidelines of the European Resuscitation Council as a professional reference, while the educational and organisational aspects were based on the recommendations for application of these guidelines together with the national general and institutional good practices. The reorganisation of education was defined by the following basic requirements: all hospital staff, both doctors and nurses, in all departments should receive at least one resuscitation training session per year. A training plan and curriculum were developed, then small-group training sessions with theoretical and practical elements, complex situations, and an assessment were conducted. Participants evaluated the training by an anonymous, 9-item questionnaire at the end of the training. Our institutional procedures were updated according to the professional guidelines. Thus, the alarm telephone number can be seen on all nurses’ desks, and the list of resuscitation equipment for departments was compiled, checked, and completed. Our training has been conducted 18 times so far for 183 colleagues. The training sessions has been proven necessary, and participants evaluated it positively regarding to cont- ent, trainers, and organisation. In the future, in addition to the continuation of the regular training sessions, we are planning to launch new training courses, the digital renewal of the resuscitation documentation, and join the international resuscitation register

Shortening the length of stay and mechanical ventilation time by using positive suggestions via MP3 players for ventilated patients

Long stay in intensive care unit (ICU) and prolonged ventilation are deleterious for subsequent quality of life and surcharge financial capacity. We have already demonstrated the beneficial effects of using suggestive communication on recovery time during intensive care. The aim of our present study was to prove the same effects with standardized positive suggestive message delivered by an MP3 player. Patients ventilated in ICU were randomized into a control group receiving standard ICU treatment and two groups with a standardized pre-recorded material delivered via headphones: a suggestive message about safety, self-control, and recovery for the study group and a relaxing music for the music group. Groups were similar in terms of age, gender, and mortality, but the SAPS II scores were higher in the study group than that in the controls (57.8 ± 23.6 vs. 30.1 ± 15.5 and 33.7 ± 17.4). Our post-hoc analysis results showed that the length of ICU stay (134.2 ± 73.3 vs. 314.2 ± 178.4 h) and the time spent on ventilator (85.2 ± 34.9 vs. 232.0 ± 165.6 h) were significantly shorter in the study group compared to the unified control. The advantage of the structured positive suggestive message was proven against both music and control groups