Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Comparison of dispatching rules for semiconductor manufacturing using large facility models

We present a comparison of five dispatching rules that aim to reduce the mean and the variance of cycle times. The performance of the dispatch rules is evaluated using simulation results for two large semiconductor wafer fabrication facilities. The results show that which dispatch rule achieves the best results depends on the fab, on the load of the fab and on the product.
Experimental Study on Characteristics of Separation Zone in Confluence Zones in Rivers

Confluence zones in rivers are common occurrences in natural rivers, and their flow structures have a great impact on sediment transport and pollutant dispersion in confluence regions. Previous studies mainly focused on two-dimensional properties of the separation zone, and the studies of the variation of the separation zone from the water surface to the bottom are limited. Based on the confluence experiments carried out in a junction flume, the detailed characteristics of the separation zone were analyzed by using the commonly used streamline and the velocity isoline first proposed in this study, respectively. The velocity isoline method is conducted by the longitudinal velocity streamline considering its great impact on flow structure. Based on the analysis of the selected data from experiments, the geometry and the tendency of the separation zone present different forms with variations of distance to the flume bottom. Further, the discharge ratio also influences the separation zone from bed bottom to s.
Optical properties of aerosol emissions from biomass burning in the tropics, BASE-A

Ground-based and airborne measurements of biomass-burning smoke particle optical properties, obtained with a view to aerosol-absorption properties, are presented as a function of time and atmospheric height. The wavelength dependence of the optical thickness can be explained by a log-normal size distribution, with particles' effective radius varying between 0.1 and 0.2 microns. The strong correlation noted between aerosol particle profile and CO profile indicates that smoke particulates constitute a good tracer for emission trace gases from tropical biomass burning.
The des-gamma-carboxy prothrombin index is a new prognostic indicator for hepatocellular carcinoma.

BACKGROUND Des-gamma-carboxy prothrombin (DCP) has been reported to be an important prognostic factor in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Recently, a monoclonal antibody, 19B7, which recognizes the Gla domain of DCP, has been identified. The 19B7 antibody recognizes an epitope different from that recognized by MU-3, which is another antibody against DCP. In this study, the authors investigated the measurement of DCP using the antibodies MU-3 and 19B7, respectively, as a prognostic factor for patients with HCC who had solitary, small tumors and or Child Stage A HCC. METHODS One hundred four patients with HCC who had solitary, small tumors or Child Stage A tumors were enrolled in the study between 1991 and 2001. All patients were treated and were followed for a mean of 3.2 years. The authors analyzed the correlation between the DCP Index (DCP measured by MU-3 and DCP measured by 19B7) and patient prognosis. The patients were classified into 3 groups based on their DCP Index: 1) DCP negative (DCP < 40 milli arbitrary unit (mAU)/mL)); 2) low DCP Index (DCP > or = 40 mAU/mL; MU-3:19B7 ratio, < 3.0; and 3) high DCP Index (DCP > or = 40 mAU/mL; MU-3:19B7 ratio, > or = 3.0). RESULTS The survival rate for patients in the high DCP Index group was lower compared with the survival rate for patients in the DCP-negative group and was significantly lower compared with the survival rate for patients in the low DCP Index group. In a univariate Cox proportional hazards model, the positive factors were high DCP Index and low DCP Index. Among the positive predictive factors that were analyzed using a multivariate Cox proportional hazards model were age (hazard ratio, 3.27; P = 0.006), low DCP Index (hazard ratio, 2.87; P = 0.012), and high DCP Index (hazard ratio, 12.3; P < 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS The prognosis of patients who had a high DCP Index score was poorer compared with patients who had a low DCP Index score and patients who were classified as DCP negative. The authors concluded that the DCP Index is a prognostic indicator for patients with HCC.
Effects of transforming growth factor beta1 released from biodegradable polymer microparticles on marrow stromal osteoblasts cultured on poly(propylene fumarate) substrates.

Recombinant human transforming growth factor beta1 (TGF-beta1) was incorporated into microparticles of blends of poly(DL-lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) and poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) to create a delivery vehicle for the growth factor. The entrapment efficiency of TGF-beta1 in the microparticles containing 5% PEG was 40.3 +/- 1.2% for a TGF-beta1 loading density of 6.0 ng/1 mg of microparticles. For the same loading, 17.9 +/- 0.6 and 32.1 +/- 2.5% of the loaded TGF-beta1 was released after 1 and 8 days, respectively, followed by a plateau for the remaining 3 weeks. Rat marrow stromal cells showed a dose response to TGF-beta1 released from the microparticles similar to that of added TGF-beta1, indicating the activity of TGF-beta1 was retained during microparticle fabrication and after TGF-beta1 release. An optimal TGF-beta1 dosage of 1.0 ng/mL was determined through a 3-day dose response study for maximal alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity. The TGF-beta1 released from the microparticles loaded with 6.0 ng TGF-beta1/1 mg of microparticles for the optimal dosage of TGF-beta1 enhanced the proliferation and osteoblastic differentiation of marrow stromal cells cultured on poly(propylene fumarate) substrates. The cells showed significantly increased total cell number, ALP activity, and osteocalcin production with values reaching 138,700 +/- 3300 cells/cm(2), 22.8 +/- 1.5 x 10(-7) micromol/min/cell, and 15.9 +/- 1.5 x 10(-6) ng/cell, respectively, after 21 days as compared to cells cultured under control conditions without TGF-beta1. These results suggest that controlled release of TGF-beta1 from the PLGA/PEG blend microparticles may find applications in modulating cellular response during bone healing at a skeletal defect site.
Clinical course and outcome of children with status asthmaticus treated in a pediatric intensive care unit: a 15-year review.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE The purpose of this study was to analyze the clinical course and outcomes of children with status asthmaticus treated in a pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) in Taiwan. METHODS The medical charts of all patients aged from 2 to 18 years with status asthmaticus who were admitted to the PICU National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan, from 1990 to 2006 were reviewed retrospectively. RESULTS Twenty eight children were admitted on 33 occasions; 4 patients had more than 1 admission. The mean age was 6.23 years (range, 2-17 years). No control medication was regularly used prior to admission for 81.8% of the episodes. The mean PICU stay was 2.55 days (range, 1-13 days) and, for 78.8% of episodes, the patients were discharged from the ICU within 2 days. For 11 episodes (33.3%), the patients required mechanical ventilation for a mean duration of 3.6 days. The mortality rate was 3.3% (n = 1). Complications included bronchopneumonia (57.6%), hemodynamic compromise (9.1%), neurologic symptoms (6.1%), and air leak (3.3%). Patients requiring mechanical ventilation had significantly lower initial pulse oximeter oxygen saturation (<90%), lower blood gas pH (<7.25), higher partial pressure of carbon dioxide, and longer duration of PICU and hospital stay (p < 0.05) when compared with patients not requiring mechanical ventilation. For patients with a history of repeated PICU admissions for asthma, the intubation rate was 77.7%. CONCLUSIONS The prognosis for childhood status asthmaticus is favorable. The most common trigger factors were respiratory tract infection and poor asthma control.
Crustal deformation at the Sumatran Subduction Zone revealed by coral rings

Analyses of coral rings grown in the interval 1970–1997 reveal a geographically distinct pattern of interseismic uplift off Sumatra's western coast. At distances less than 110 km from the Sumatran trench, coral reefs are submerging as fast as 5 mm/y. At 130 and 180 km distance from the trench, they are emerging at similar rates. We suggest that a locked, or partially locked patch, located above 30 km depth on the upper surface of the subducting oceanic plate, generates this pattern.
Defensive Forecasting

We consider how to make probability forecasts of binary labels. Our main mathematical result is that for any continuous gambling strategy used for detecting disagreement between the forecasts and the actual labels, there exists a forecasting strategy whose forecasts are ideal as far as this gambling strategy is concerned. A forecasting strategy obtained in this way from a gambling strategy demonstrating a strong law of large numbers is simplified and studied empirically.
Low-Complexity Coding and Decoding

We present a novel approach to sensory coding and unsupervised learning. It is called \Low-complexity coding and decoding" (Lococode). Unlike previous methods it explicitly takes into account the information-theoretic complexity of the code generator: lococodes (1) convey information about the input data and (2) can be computed and decoded by low-complexity mappings. To implement Lococode we train autoassociators with Flat Minimum Search, a recent method for discovering neural nets that can be described with few bits of information. Experiments show: unlike codes obtained with standard autoencoders, lococodes are based on familiar feature detectors, never unstructured, usually sparse, sometimes factorial or local (depending on the data). Unlike, e.g., independent component analysis (ICA) Lococode does not need to know the number of independent data sources.
Stereotactic Irradiation of GH-Secreting Pituitary Adenomas

Radiotherapy (RT) is often employed in patients with acromegaly refractory to medical and/or surgical interventions in order to prevent tumour regrowth and normalize elevated GH and IGF-I levels. It achieves tumour control and hormone normalization up to 90% and 70% of patients at 10–15 years. Despite the excellent tumour control, conventional RT is associated with a potential risk of developing late toxicity, especially hypopituitarism, and its role in the management of patients with GH-secreting pituitary adenomas remains a matter of debate. Stereotactic techniques have been developed with the aim to deliver more localized irradiation and minimize the long-term consequences of treatment, while improving its efficacy. Stereotactic irradiation can be given in a single dose as stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) or in multiple doses as fractionated stereotactic radiotherapy (FSRT). We have reviewed the recent published literature on stereotactic techniques for GH-secreting pituitary tumors with the aim to define the efficacy and potential adverse effects of each of these techniques.
Heavy Metal Hazards of Sachet Water in Nigeria

The authors assessed sachet water samples sold in Eastern Nigeria. Using an atomic absorption spectrophotometer, they analyzed levels of lead, cadmium, copper, and nickel. They also analyzed other parameters, such as nitrates, sulfates, chlorides, salinity, total hardness, biological oxygen demand, total dissolved solids, and pH level. Lead levels ranged from 0.002 to 0.036 mg/L in the samples; 5 samples (12.2%) had lead levels above the maximum contaminant level (MCL; 0.015 mg/L). Lead was not detectable in 20 samples (48.8%). Cadmium levels ranged from 0.002 to 0.036 mg/L and exceeded the MCL of 0.005 mg/L in 8 samples (19.5%); it was not detectable in 23 samples (56.1%). Copper was not detected in 2 (0.05%) of the samples. Its range was between 0.018 and 1.401 mg/L. Two samples (0.05%) had copper levels above the MCL (1.30 mg/L). Nickel levels ranged from 0.003 to 0.050 mg/l. The biological oxygen demand of the samples ranged from 3.20 to 36.80 mg/L. Other parameters were normal. The authors found that some of the sachet waters contain heavy metals, and consumers may be exposed to hazards.
Mycosis Fungoides in Arab Children and Adolescents: A Report of 36 Patients from Kuwait

Abstract: Mycosis fungoides (MF) is rare in children and adolescents. This study was aimed to determine the clinicoepidemiologic features of juvenile onset (≤18 yrs) MF in Kuwait. Thirty‐six children and adolescents (≤18 yrs) with MF registered in a referral photobiology unit for cutaneous lymphomas between July 1991 and June 2009 were included in this study. Children and adolescents were observed to constitute 16.6% of the total number of patients with MF, with 97% of patients of Arab ethnicity. The age‐adjusted incidence rate of MF in children and adolescents among the total population was 0.29/100,000 persons/year. Among 36 Arab children and adolescents, boys outnumbered girls by 1.25:1. Mean and median age at onset of disease was 9 years, and age at diagnosis was 13 years. Patch stage disease was the most common clinical variant (75%) with 56% with pure hypopigmented MF‐variant. The majority of patients (75%) had stage IB (TNM and B staging) disease. The study highlights a high prevalence and incidence of juvenile MF in Kuwait with a predominantly hypopigmented presentation.
Oral tocotrienols are transported to human tissues and delay the progression of the model for end-stage liver disease score in patients.

The natural vitamin E family is composed of 8 members equally divided into 2 classes: tocopherols (TCP) and tocotrienols (TE). A growing body of evidence suggests TE possess potent biological activity not shared by TCP. The primary objective of this work was to determine the concentrations of TE (200 mg mixed TE, b.i.d.) and TCP [200 mg α-TCP, b.i. d. )] in vital tissues and organs of adults receiving oral supplementation. Eighty participants were studied. Skin and blood vitamin E concentrations were determined from healthy participants following 12 wk of oral supplementation of TE or TCP. Vital organ vitamin E levels were determined by HPLC in adipose, brain, cardiac muscle, and liver of surgical patients following oral TE or TCP supplementation (mean duration, 20 wk; range, 1-96 wk). Oral supplementation of TE significantly increased the TE tissue concentrations in blood, skin, adipose, brain, cardiac muscle, and liver over time. α-TE was delivered to human brain at a concentration reported to be neuroprotective in experimental models of stroke. In prospective liver transplantation patients, oral TE lowered the model for end-stage liver disease (MELD) score in 50% of patients supplemented, whereas only 20% of TCP-supplemented patients demonstrated a reduction in MELD score. This work provides, to our knowledge, the first evidence demonstrating that orally supplemented TE are transported to vital organs of adult humans. The findings of this study, in the context of the current literature, lay the foundation for Phase II clinical trials testing the efficacy of TE against stroke and end-stage liver disease in humans.
Unified performance analysis of mixed line of sight RF-FSO fixed gain dual-hop transmission systems

In this work, we carry out a unified performance analysis of a dual-hop amplify-and-forward fixed gain relay system over asymmetric links composed of both radio-frequency (RF) and unified free-space optics (FSO) under the effect of pointing errors. The RF link is modeled by the Nakagami-m fading channel and the FSO link by the Gamma-Gamma fading channel subject to both types of detection techniques (i.e. heterodyne detection and intensity modulation with direct detection (IM/DD)). In particular, we derive new unified closed-form expressions for the cumulative distribution function, the probability density function, the moment generating function, and the moments of the end-to-end signal-to-noise ratio of these systems in terms of the Meijer's G function. Based on these formulas, we offer exact closed-form expressions for the outage probability, the higher-order amount of fading, and the average bit-error rate of a variety of binary modulations in terms of the Meijer's G function. Further, an exact closed-form expression for the end-to-end ergodic capacity for the Nakagami-m-unified FSO relay links is derived in terms of the extended generalized bivariate Meijer's G function. All the given results are verified via computer-based Monte-Carlo simulations.
Proliferative activity in the different ovarian compartments in cycling rats estimated by the 5-bromodeoxyuridine technique.

The ovary is one of the most active proliferating tissues, and several methods for assessing cellular proliferation have been used to study follicular kinetics during the estrous cycle in the rat. In this study, we have estimated the proliferative activity of the different ovarian tissue compartments by using the 5-bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) technique. Adult cyclic rats were studied 1 h after pulse-labeling with BrdU. Follicles were divided by size as small (mean diameter < 275 micrograms) or large (mean diameter > or = 275 micrograms). Small follicles were recorded into five classes: 1) primordial follicles (formed by flattened pre-granulosa cells), 2) unilaminar primary follicles (which ranged from having at least one enlarged pre-granulosa cell up to having a complete layer of cuboidal granulosa cells), 3) multilaminar class a (having 1-2 layers of granulosa cells and measuring up to 75 micrograms in diameter), 4) multilaminar class b (76-150 micrograms), and 5) multilaminar class c (151-274 micrograms). Large follicles were recorded into classes 1-5 according to previous classifications [Osman P. J Reprod Fertil 1985; 73:261-270]. Primordial follicles and about 70% of unilaminar primary follicles were unlabeled, whereas all of the remaining classes of small and large follicles were labeled. The labeling index (percentage of BrdU-positive cells) increased in parallel with follicle size but showed a progressive decrease in large preovulatory follicles and a centripetal pattern of cell proliferation. Atretic follicles showed a significantly lower number of labeled cells than healthy follicles of the same size. The number of proliferating cells was not related to follicle size but was inversely correlated with the degree of atresia. Cyclic CL showed intense proliferative activity that was well correlated with functional activity. The number of labeled cells was maximal in metestrus, decreased in the succeeding days, and was very low in proestrus. Proliferating cells seemed to correspond to vascular cells lining blood vessels. These results indicate that the BrdU technique is a useful, accurate, and sensitive method for assessing cellular proliferation in the rat ovary.
Cuban stalagmite suggests relationship between Caribbean precipitation and the Atlantic Multidecadal Oscillation during the past 1.3 ka

Here we present the first high-resolution δ18O record of a stalagmite from western Cuba. The record reflects precipitation variability in the northwestern Caribbean during the last 1.3 ka and exhibits a correlation to the Atlantic Multidecadal Oscillation (AMO). This suggests a relationship between Caribbean rainfall intensity and North Atlantic sea-surface temperature (SST) anomalies. A potential mechanism for this relationship may be the strength of the Thermohaline Circulation (THC). For a weaker THC, lower SSTs in the North Atlantic possibly lead to a southward shift of the Intertropical Convergence Zone and drier conditions in Cuba. Thus, this Cuban stalagmite records drier conditions during cold phases in the North Atlantic such as the ‘Little Ice Age’. This study contributes to the understanding of teleconnections between North Atlantic SSTs and northern Caribbean climate variability during the past 1.3 ka.
JAK 2 V 617 F-homozygosity drives a phenotypic switch between myeloproliferative neoplasms in a murine model , but is insufficient to sustain clonal expansion *

Genomic regions of acquired uniparental disomy (UPD) are common in malignancy and frequently harbor mutated oncogenes. Homozygosity for such gain-of-function mutations is thought to modulate tumor phenotype, but direct evidence has been elusive. Polycythemia vera (PV) and essential thrombocythemia (ET), two subtypes of myeloproliferative neoplasms, are associated with an identical acquired JAK2V617F mutation but the mechanisms responsible for distinct clinical phenotypes remain unclear. We provide direct genetic evidence and demonstrate that homozygosity for human JAK2V617F in knock-in mice results in a striking phenotypic switch from an ET-like to PV-like phenotype. The resultant erythrocytosis is driven by increased numbers of early erythroid progenitors and enhanced erythroblast proliferation whereas reduced platelet numbers associated with impaired platelet survival. JAK2V617F-homozygous mice developed a severe hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) defect, suggesting that additional lesions are needed to sustain clonal expansion. Together our results indicate that UPD for 9p plays a causal role in the PV phenotype in patients as a consequence of JAK2V617F-homozygosity. The generation of a JAK2V617F allelic series of mice with a dose-dependent effect on hematopoiesis provides a powerful model for studying the consequences of mutant JAK2-homozygosity. For personal use only. on September 24, 2017. by guest www.bloodjournal. org From
Inertia: Spurious Loyalty or Action Loyalty?

Although much research on customer behaviors has demonstrated the positive role of inertia in the action loyalty phase, previous studies on inertia still emphasize the spurious dimension of customer loyalty. This study seeks to analyze how inertia varies with differing levels of alternative attractiveness, relationship length, and commitment in affecting customer loyalty. The results suggest that alternative attractiveness decreases the effect of inertia on customer loyalty. On the other hand, although commitment and relationship length strengthen the relationship between inertia and customer loyalty, only commitment provides resistance to attractiveness from alternative offerings and generates action loyalty.
ISEE‐1 and ‐2 observations of an isolated diamagnetic event: An earthward‐moving plasma bulge or a tail‐aligned flux rope?

This paper reports a transient strong diamagnetic event observed with the ISEE-1 and -2 spacecraft in the near-Earth magnetotail. Magnetic signatures associated with the event resemble those of flux rope events found in the distant magnetotail. The present event should be distinguished from those in several previous reports based on the following points: (1) The event is observed in the near-Earth tail (X ∼−17 RE), not in the distant tail. (2) The tail field changes from a stressed configuration to a more dipolar one in the course of the event, and the plasma data suggest that the heating and the resultant expansion of the plasma take place simultaneously. (3) The minimum of the magnetic field strength BT is ∼1 nT; such a strong depression is rarely observed in the near-Earth tail. (4) An earthward plasma jet (300 to 500 km/s) continues for about 3 min, including a period of very weak magnetic field; the duration of the jet is exceptionally long compared to previously reported high-speed flows in the plasma sheet. These magnetic field and plasma signatures are discussed in terms of two models: an earthward-moving plasma bulge and a tail-aligned flux rope.