Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Short- and Long-Term Major Cardiovascular Adverse Events in Carotid Artery Interventions: A Nationwide Population-Based Cohort Study in Taiwan

Introduction Carotid artery stenosis is one of the leading causes of ischemic stroke. Carotid artery stenting has become well-established as an effective treatment option for carotid artery stenosis. For this study, we aimed to determine the efficacy and safety of carotid stenting in a population-based large cohort of patients by analyzing the Taiwan National Healthcare Insurance (NHI) database. Methods 2,849 patients who received carotid artery stents in the NHI database from 2004 to 2010 were identified. We analyzed the risk factors of outcomes including major adverse cardiovascular events including death, acute myocardial infarction, and cerebral vascular accidents at 30 days, 1 year, and overall period and further evaluated cause of death after carotid artery stenting. Results The periprocedural stroke rate was 2.7% and the recurrent stroke rate for the overall follow-up period was 20.3%. Male, diabetes mellitus, and heart failure were significant risk factors for overall recurrent stroke (Hazard Ratio (HR) = 1.35, p = 0.006; HR = 1.23, p = 0.014; HR = 1.61, p < 0.001, respectively). The periprocedural acute myocardial infarction rate was 0.3%. Age and Diabetes mellitus were the significant factors to predict periprocedural myocardial infarction (HR = 3.06, p = 0.019; HR = 1.68, p < 0.001, respectively). Periprocedural and overall mortality rates were 1.9% and 17.3%, respectively. The most significant periprocedural mortality risk factor was acute renal failure. Age, diabetes mellitus, acute or chronic renal failure, heart failure, liver disease, and malignancy were factors correlated to the overall period mortality. Conclusion Periprocedural acute renal failure significantly increased the mortality rate and the number of major adverse cardiovascular events, and the predict power persisted more than one year after the procedure. Age and diabetes mellitus were significant risk factors to predict acute myocardial infarction after carotid artery stenting.
Animal Models of Cancer in the Head and Neck Region

Animal models that resemble the cancers of the head and neck region are of paramount importance in studying the carcinogenesis of these diseases. Although several methods for modeling cancer in the head and neck are available, none are fully satisfactory. Subcutaneous xenograft models of cancer in nude mice are often used in preclinical studies. However, these models are problematic in several aspects as they lack the specific interactions that exist between the tumor cells and their native environment. Establishment of tumors at the orthotopic sites restore these distinct patterns of interactions between the tumor and the host organs that are lost or altered when the tumors are established in ectopic sites. With regard to the transgenic model of cancer in the head and neck region, it should be kept in mind that the transgene used to drive the malignant transformation may not be representative of the carcinogenic process found in human tumors. Low penetrance of tumor formation also translates into high cost and time commitment in performing studies with transgenic models. In this review, we will discuss some of the commonly used methods for modeling cancer in the head and neck region including squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck as well as thyroid carcinoma.
Current spectrum of bacterial infections in patients with nosocomial fever and neutropenia.

BACKGROUND Neutropenic patients are vulnerable to a wide spectrum of infectious agents. The aim of this study was to determine the current frequency of bacterial infections in patients with nosocomial fever and neutropenia. METHODS In a retrospective study, the neutropenic patients' specimens with nosocomial fever were cultured on blood and MacConkey agar plates and evaluated at microbiology laboratory. Ninety-five significant isolates as species level were recognized by bacteriological techniques. RESULTS The most observed microorganism was Escherichia coli, followed by Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Acinetobacter baumannii, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Coagulase positive staphylococci and Coagulase negative staphylococci. One fungal infection was also observed. Overall, 67% of the organisms were gram negative, 29.8% gram positive, and 3.2% polymicrobial. CONCLUSION The changing pattern of infectious agents in neutropenic patients overtime postulates the necessity of other studies to give the most up-to-date insight of the organisms to physicians.
Perceptual Quality of Video with Periodic Frame Rate and Quantization Variation-Subjective Studies and Analytical Modeling

In networked video applications, the frame rate (FR) and quantization stepsize (QS) of a compressed video are often adapted in response to the changes of the available bandwidth. It is important to understand how do the variation of FR and QS and their variation pattern affect the video quality. In this paper, we investigate the impact of temporal variation of FR and QS on the perceptual video quality. Among all possible variation patterns, we focus on videos in which two FR's (or QS's) alternate over a fixed interval. We explore the human responses to such variation by conducting subjective evaluation of test videos with different variation magnitudes and frequencies. We further analyze statistical significance of the impact of variation magnitude, variation frequency, video content, and their interactions. By analyzing the subjective ratings, we propose two models for predicting the quality of video with alternating FR and QS, respectively, The proposed models have simple mathematical forms with a few content-dependent parameters. The models fit the measured data very well using parameters determined by least square fitting with the measured data. We further propose some guidelines for adaptation of FR and QS based on trends observed from subjective test results.
Z-MAP: A Zone-Based Flash Translation Layer with Workload Classification for Solid-State Drive

Existing space management and address mapping schemes for flash-based Solid-State-Drive (SSD) operate either at page or block granularity, with inevitable limitations in terms of memory requirement, performance, garbage collection, and scalability. To overcome these limitations, we proposed a novel space management and address mapping scheme for flash referred to as Z-MAP, which manages flash space at granularity of Zone. Each Zone consists of multiple numbers of flash blocks. Leveraging workload classification, Z-MAP explores Page-mapping Zone (Page Zone) to store random data and handle a large number of partial updates, and Block-mapping Zone (Block Zone) to store sequential data and lower the overall mapping table. Zones are dynamically allocated and a mapping scheme for a Zone is determined only when it is allocated. Z-MAP uses a small part of Flash memory or phase change memory as a streaming Buffer Zone to log data sequentially and migrate data into Page Zone or Block Zone based on workload classification. A two-level address mapping is designed to reduce the overall mapping table and address translation latency. Z-MAP classifies data before it is permanently stored into Flash memory so that different workloads can be isolated and garbage collection overhead can be minimized. Z-MAP has been extensively evaluated by trace-driven simulation and a prototype implementation on OpenSSD. Our benchmark results conclusively demonstrate that Z-MAP can achieve up to 76% performance improvement, 81% mapping table reduction, and 88% garbage collection overhead reduction compared to existing Flash Translation Layer (FTL) schemes.
The X-ray variability of the Seyfert 1 galaxy MCG-6-30-15 from long ASCA and RXTE observations

We present an analysis of the long Rossi X-ray Timing Explorer (RXTE) observation of the Seyfert 1 galaxy MCG–6-30-15, taken in 1997 July. We have previously used the data to place constraints for the first time on the iron abundance–reflection fraction relationship, and now expand the analysis to investigate in detail the spectral X-ray variability of the object. Our results show that the behaviour is complicated. We find clear evidence from colour ratios and direct spectral fitting that changes to the intrinsic photon index are taking place. In general, spectral hardening is evident during periods of diminished intensity, and in particular, a general trend for harder spectra is seen in the period following the hardest RXTE flare. Flux-correlated studies further show that the 3–10 keV photon index Γ3–10 steepens, while that in the 10–20 keV band, Γ10–20, flattens with flux. The largest changes come from the spectral index below 10 keV; however, changes in the intrinsic power-law slope (shown by changes in Γ3–10), and reflection (shown by changes in Γ10–20) both contribute in varying degrees to the overall spectral variability. We find that the iron-line flux FKα is consistent with being constant over large time intervals on the order of days (although tentative evidence exists which show that FKα changes on shorter time intervals of order ≲10 ks during time periods surrounding flare events), and has an equivalent width which anticorrelates with the continuum flux and reflection fraction. A possible interpretation for the iron-line flux constancy and the relative Compton reflection increase with flux from the flux-correlated data is an increasing ionization of the emitting disc surface, while spectral analysis of short time intervals surrounding flare events hints tentatively at observed spectral responses to the flare. We present a simple model for partial ionization where the bulk of the variability comes from within 6rg. Temporal analysis further provides evidence for possible time (≲1000 s) and phase (φ∼0.6 rad) lags. Finally, we report an apparent break in the power density spectrum (∼4–5×10−6 Hz) and a possible 33-hour period. Estimates for the mass of the black hole in MCG–6-30-15 are discussed in the context of spectral and temporal findings.
Structural multi-equation macroeconomic models : complete versus limited-information identification-robust estimation and fit ∗

We propose two system-based identification-robust methods for structural models including DSGEs that are valid whether identification is weak or strong, and whether identification is theory-intrinsic and/or data specific. The first one is a full-information method, which relies on restrictions strong enough to allow the existence of a rational-expectations solution, while the second one is a limited-information approach that relies on weaker assumptions even though it remains system-based. We apply the proposed methods to a standard New Keynesian model for the U.S. We impose and relax a unique rational expectation solution, maintaining similar lagrestrictions on regression disturbances in both cases. In the latter case, we also compare singleequation to multi-equation estimation and fit. We find that when a unique stable equilibrium is imposed to complete the model, it is rejected by the data. In contrast, limited-information multiequation inference produces informative results that cannot be reached via single-equation methods regarding the importance of forward-looking behavior in the NKPC, and precise conclusions on the feedback coefficients in the reaction function which are not at odds with the Taylor principle. JEL classification: C52, C53, E37
AUDITORY PLASTICITY AND COCHLEAR IMPLANTS IN CHILDREN- A REVIEW -

Aim: The review article is aimed at highlighting the importance of Auditory Plasticity for the positive outcomes in cochlear implantation, which is intrinsic to the critical age period. Method: Various electronic databases such as PubMed/ Medline, Science Direct, CINHAL etc. were used to extract the articles. The keywords used for the search engine were ‘auditory plasticity’, ‘deprivation’, and ‘cortical re organization’,‘ cochlear implants’. Discussion: The current review suggests that auditory plasticity is important in achieving proper wiring of acoustic sensation in the congenial hearing loss cases. Critical age period for the intake of new information and learning occurs before 3.5 years of age and post critical period the language learning is delayed. Conclusion: Auditory plasticity and its related functions are critical in influencing the outcome after the CI in children. The advent of electrophysiology into clinical research has paved a path breaking journey in understanding the complex processing of auditory signals in the primary and secondary cortical areas.
Perinatal Loss and Spirituality

Perinatal loss is an area of inquiry that has been steadily developing over the past 40 years. Much of the work done in this field of inquiry is qualitative in nature because it is rooted in the constructivist perspective. The metasynthesis presented in this article was conducted to derive an understanding of how spirituality and perinatal bereavement intersect. Using the steps outlined by Noblit and Hare, the article presents four themes that were developed using published studies on perinatal loss as data. These themes are: leaning into faith for strength, challenging faith, acceptance and finding meaning, and strengthening faith. A model representing how the four themes are interconnected is also presented.
22-nm fully-depleted tri-gate CMOS transistors

At the 22-nm technology node, fully-depleted tri-gate transistors were introduced for the first time on a high-volume manufacturing process. Fabricated on a bulk silicon substrate, these transistors feature a third-generation high-k + metal-gate technology and a fifth generation of channel strain techniques resulting in the highest drive currents yet reported for NMOS and PMOS. The use of tri-gate transistors provides steep subthreshold slopes (~70 mV/decade) and very low DIBL (~50 mV/V) values that are critical for low voltage operation. Self-aligned contacts are implemented along with the tri-gate transistors to eliminate restrictive contact-to-gate registration requirements from scaling the gate pitch. This enables an SRAM cell size of 0.092 μm2. High yield and reliability have been demonstrated on multiple microprocessors.
State of the Art Role of CD 4 T Cells in Sarcoidosis

Activated pulmonary CD4 T lymphocytes of the Th-1 type are essential for the inflammatory process in sarcoidosis, and IFNproduction is crucial for the characteristic granuloma formation. Both the T cells and their inflammatory mediators may constitute possible targets for immunotherapy. A particular T-cell subset, the T-cell receptor (TCR) AV2S3 bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) CD4 T cells, is found at dramatically increased levels in the BAL fluid of human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-DRB1*0301–positive and/or HLADRB3*0101–positive patients with sarcoidosis. The AV2S3 BAL CD4 T cells strongly associate with the sarcoid inflammation, and future studies on this particular T-cell subset to reveal their specificity may lead to the identification of sarcoidosis-specific antigen(s). T-cell subpopulations with regulatory functions (i.e., natural killer T cells and T regulatory cells) have recently been described as abnormal in sarcoidosis. Dysfunctional regulatory T cells may allow T effector cells to contribute to the formation of granulomas, and they may thus be relevant for the inflammatory process in this disease. These findings are exciting news and will be of help in designing new treatment strategies.
CHEMICAL SIGNATURES OF THE FIRST GALAXIES: CRITERIA FOR ONE-SHOT ENRICHMENT

We utilize metal-poor stars in the local, ultra-faint dwarf galaxies (UFDs; Ltot ⩽ 105 L☉) to empirically constrain the formation process of the first galaxies. Since UFDs have much simpler star formation histories than the halo of the Milky Way, their stellar populations should preserve the fossil record of the first supernova (SN) explosions in their long-lived, low-mass stars. Guided by recent hydrodynamical simulations of first galaxy formation, we develop a set of stellar abundance signatures that characterize the nucleosynthetic history of such an early system if it was observed in the present-day universe. Specifically, we argue that the first galaxies are the product of chemical “one-shot” events, where only one (long-lived) stellar generation forms after the first, Population III, SN explosions. Our abundance criteria thus constrain the strength of negative feedback effects inside the first galaxies. We compare the stellar content of UFDs with these one-shot criteria. Several systems (Ursa Major II, and also Coma Berenices, Bootes I, Leo IV, Segue 1) largely fulfill the requirements, indicating that their high-redshift predecessors did experience strong feedback effects that shut off star formation. We term the study of the entire stellar population of a dwarf galaxy for the purpose of inferring details about the nature and origin of the first galaxies “dwarf galaxy archaeology. ” This will provide clues to the connection of the first galaxies, the surviving, metal-poor dwarf galaxies, and the building blocks of the Milky Way.
The role of endometrial and subendometrial vascularity measured by three-dimensional power Doppler ultrasound in the prediction of pregnancy during frozen-thawed embryo transfer cycles.

BACKGROUND A good blood supply to the endometrium is usually considered as an essential requirement for implantation. OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to evaluate the role of endometrial and subendometrial vascularity in the prediction of pregnancy during frozen-thawed embryo transfer (FET) cycles. METHODS Women undergoing FET in natural or clomiphene-induced cycles after the first stimulated IVF treatment were recruited. A three-dimensional (3D) ultrasound examination with power Doppler was performed 1 day after the LH surge to determine endometrial thickness, endometrial pattern, pulsatility index (PI) and resistance index (RI) of uterine vessels, endometrial volume, vascularization index, flow index and vascularization flow index of endometrial and subendometrial regions. RESULTS Women in the pregnant group were significantly younger and used less gonadotrophins in their stimulated cycle. Endometrial thickness, endometrial volume, endometrial pattern, uterine PI, uterine RI, endometrial and subendometrial 3D power Doppler flow indices were similar between the nonpregnant and the pregnant groups. The age of women was the only predictive factor for pregnancy. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis revealed that the area under the curve was around 0.5 for all ultrasound parameters for endometrial receptivity. CONCLUSION Vascularity of endometrial and subendometrial layers measured by 3D power Doppler ultrasound is not a good predictor of pregnancy in FET cycles if measured at one time point only.
Diversity and Creativity: In Search of Synergy

45 Introduction . 46 Literature Review and Hypotheses . 48 Team Creativity . 48 The Potential and Pitfalls of Diversity . 49 The Moderating Role of Team Member Feedback . 53 Method . 56 Participants. 56 Procedure and Task . 57 Measures . 58 Analyses and Results . 60 Discussion . 65 Theoretical Implications and Contributions . 66 Practical Implications . 68 Limitations and Directions for Future Research . 69 Conclusion . 71 Chapter 4: The Good Bearing of Bad News: The Differential Impact of Feedback Valence on the Creativity of Informationally Diverse and Homogeneous Teams. 73 Abstract . 73 Introduction . 74 Literature Review and Hypotheses . 76 Team Creativity . 76 Team Creativity and Team Feedback . 78 The Effects of Feedback Valence on Teams and their Members . 80 The Moderating Role of Informational Diversity . 82 Differential Team Processes Underlying the Differential Effects of Feedback Valence . 84 Method . 89 Design and Participants . 89 Experimental Task. 89 Experimental Manipulations . 90 Measures . 92 Procedure . 95 Results . 96 Descriptive Statistics and Correlations . 96 Manipulation Checks . 96 Test of Hypotheses . 98 Exploratory Analyses . 105 Discussion . 107 Theoretical Implications . 107 Practical Implications . 109 Limitations and Directions for Future Research . 111 Conclusion . 113 Chapter 5: General Discussion . 115 Summary of the Main Findings . 115 Chapter 2: Perspective Taking as Key to Unlocking Diversity’s Potential . 115 Chapter 3: Within-Team Feedback as a Tool to Mobilize Tacit Task-Relevant experiences. 117 Chapter 4: Feedback Valence and Informational Diversity: The Good Bearing of Bad News . 118 Theoretical Contributions and Implications for Future Research . 119 Implications for Research on Diversity and Team Creativity . 119 Implications for Research on Team Processes. 122 Implications for the Study of Creativity across Levels of Analysis. 124 Implications for the Study of Creativity across Different Conceptualizations of Creativity . 126 Concluding Remarks . 128 References . 131 Appendix: Coding Scheme Information Elaboration . 152 Summary (English) . 153 Summary (Dutch) . 154 About the Author . 156 ERIM PH.D. SERIES RESEARCH IN MANAGEMENT . 157
Incorporating Gaussian Mixture Models into Mean Shift Algorithm for Non-Rigid Object Tracking *

In object tracking, the shape of the target object is often represented by some primitive geometric shapes such as a rectangle or ellipse. Such shapes may roughly represent simple rigid objects. When applied on non-rigid objects, some irrelevant background information may be included into the target model that could lead to tracking failure. Mean shift tracking algorithm with a technique called background-weighted histogram (BWH) is often used to decrease the background information. Unfortunately, this technique may wrongly reduce the weights on the target object features. This would result in the inability to distinguish the target object from the background. The BWH technique is also incapable of suitably estimating changes to the scale and orientation of the target object. In order to address such problems, we propose an approach to enhance the mean shift tracking algorithm by employing Gaussian Mixture Models (GMMs). Given a region of interest selected by the users, our approach first employs a level set segmentation method to separate the target object from its surrounding background. Based on the fundamental object and background, the GMMs are learned by utilizing the color histograms as features. In order to reduce the background information of subsequence frames, the GMMs are used to adjust the weight of the object features before they are incorporated into the mean shift algorithm. Our approach would also exploit the moment of the weights to determine the scale and orientation changes to the target object. We have demonstrated the effectiveness of our approach on both synthetic and challenging real-world video sequences.