Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Major Morbidity and Mortality Rates in Craniofacial Surgery: An Analysis of 8101 Major Procedures

Background: The first combined evaluation of morbidity and mortality rates in craniofacial surgery was published 30 years ago; many surgeons believe these procedures have since become safer. The authors performed a contemporary evaluation of craniofacial morbidity and mortality rates to help surgeons more accurately counsel families about current risks, and to gain insight into reducing future incidences. Methods: This study used two methodologies to capture all serious morbidities and mortalities associated with major craniofacial procedures between 1990 and 2008: a comprehensive two-center retrospective review (Dallas and Seattle), and an Internet-based survey sent to all North American craniofacial centers. Results: Combining the two-center data with the survey results yielded a database of 7328 intracranial and 773 subcranial procedures, for a total of 8101 major craniofacial procedures. The combined intracranial major morbidity rate was less than 0.1 percent, and the combined mortality rate was 0.1 percent. Of the eight perioperative deaths following intracranial procedures, four (50 percent) intracranial mortalities were directly attributed to blood loss. The combined subcranial procedure major morbidity rate was 0.1 percent and the mortality rate was 0.3 percent (airway related). Comparing the earliest published intracranial mortality rate to our current review revealed a statistically significant reduction in incidence (p < 0.001). Conclusions: The incidence rates for serious morbidities and mortalities among major craniofacial procedures have significantly fallen since first published. On the basis of these analyses, the authors believe that a greater focus on protocols for airway management, blood salvage and replacement, age-appropriate deep venous thrombosis prophylaxis, and timing of subcranial midfacial advancements might result in further reductions in craniofacial mortality rates.
Thrombocytopenia in malaria: its usefulness in a clinical setting. A study from Western Rajasthan, India

Objective To assess the occurrence of thrombocytopaenia in hospitalised patients of malaria and to correlate its severity with the type of malaria in Western Rajasthan. Methods A total of 100 patients with proven malaria were included in this study. Haematological parameters were determined by using an automated analyser. Fifty malaria-free patients were taken as controls. Results In the study group of 100 patients; 45 patients had P. vivax malaria, 38 had P. Falciparum malaria and mixed malaria was detected in 17 patients. Out of 100 patients, 89 patients had thrombocytopaenia while out of 50 controls only eight (16%) patients had thrombocytopaenia (P < 0.001). Ninety-one percent of patients with thrombocytopaenia also had anaemia. Thrombocytopaenia was more commonly associated with complicated malaria compared to uncomplicated malaria (P < 0.001). Conclusions Any patient in a malaria endemic zone presenting with acute febrile illness and having thrombocytopaenia and anaemia should be alerted to the possibility of malarial infection.
Investigating the Knowledge Creation Processes in a Learning Management System (LMS)

SECI model is commonly used in explaining the process of interaction and transaction of tacit and explicit knowledge between the experts and novices. The model involves Socialization, Externalization, Combination, and Internalization process derived from organizational practice. As its applicability in the educational context is inconclusive, an investigation was conducted to see if the model could explain the knowledge creation processes for the expository (high hierarchical structure) teaching method in a set of online courses. This paper reports the findings based on a survey conducted on a sample comprised of 371 students enrolled in LMSsupported courses at a university in Malaysia. The instrument has been developed based on the SECI model to measure the interaction and transaction processes for content-based and content-free skills. The data was collected in stages over a semester and analyzed using the latent variable method in Structural Equation Modeling (SEM). The latent variable method requires the extraction of the factors investigated through a measurement model followed by the construction of the structural model employing the extracted factors. For content-free skills, the measurement model reported a good fit for the data, with all factors having significant direct effects hence follows the complete SECI model. However, the structural model analysis for content-based skills reported an acceptable fit for the data with one insignificant hypothesized direct effect, thus produced an incomplete SECI model. The overall findings demonstrates that SECI model is applicable to educational settings and worked well in situations or contexts where students were already proficient.
The volume operator in spherically symmetric quantum geometry

The spherically symmetric volume operator is discussed and all its eigenstates and eigenvalues are computed. Even though the operator is more complicated than its homogeneous analogue, the spectra are related in the sense that the larger spherically symmetric volume spectrum adds fine structure to the homogeneous spectrum. The formulae of this paper complete the derivation of an explicit calculus for spherically symmetric models which is needed for future physical investigations.
Immunoglobulin E levels in relationship to HIV‐1 disease, route of infection, and vitamin E status

Our recent studies have demonstrated that in early HIV‐1 infection, elevation of plasma immunoglobulin E (IgE) levels precedes the decline of CD4 cell count and is influenced by vitamin E status. In order to further investigate the role of IgE elevation in HIV‐1 infection, we determined IgE levels in HIV‐1‐seropositive and ‐seronegative intravenous drug users (IDUs) (n = 38), in relationship to cellular and humoral immune function, liver enzymes, and vitamin E status. To examine the possible impact of the route of HIV‐1 infection on IgE levels, comparisons between the cohorts of the HIV‐1‐seropositive and ‐seronegative IDUs and homosexual men (n = 45) were also conducted. All HIV‐1‐seropositive participants had significantly higher (P = 0.003) IgE levels than the HIV‐1‐seronegative subjects. The HIV‐1‐seropositive IDUs, moreover, demonstrated significantly higher (P = 0.01) IgE levels than HIV‐1‐seropositive homosexual men, despite similar CD4 cell counts. Stepwise regression analysis was used to evaluate the possible variables contributing to the IgE variation. HIV‐1 status (P = 0.0009), intravenous drug use (P = 0.014), CD8 cell counts (P = 0.0001), plasma level of vitamin E (P = 0.006), and alcohol intake (P = 0.047) were significant, accounting for 71% of the IgE elevation. These findings suggest that IgE may serve as a sensitive marker to reflect the evolution of HIV‐1 disease in individuals from different risk groups.
Optimal Multiproduct Nonlinear Pricing with Correlated Consumer Types

In this paper we examine the design of nonlinear prices by a multiproduct monopolist who faces customers with multidimensional but correlated types. We show that the monopoly can exploit the correlations between consumers' types to design pricing mechanisms that fully extract the surplus from each consumer. Our main insight is that regardless of the dimensionality of the consumers types and the number of goods produced by the monopoly, the surplus that each consumer gets after buying is a scalar. Hence, it is possible to design a two step mechanism where in the first step the monopoly induces the consumers to make efficient purchasing decisions (given their private information), and in the second step he extracts the surplus from each consumer via a (random) fixed fee.
Unsupervised Discovery of Relations and Discriminative Extraction Patterns

Unsupervised Relation Extraction (URE) is the task of extracting relations of a priori unknown semantic types using clustering methods on a vector space model of entity pairs and patterns. In this paper, we show that an informed feature generation technique based on dependency trees significantly improves clustering quality, as measured by the F-score, and therefore the ability of the URE method to discover relations in text. Furthermore, we extend URE to produce a set of weighted patterns for each identified relation that can be used by an information extraction system to find further instances of this relation. Each pattern is assigned to one or multiple relations with different confidence strengths, indicating how reliably a pattern evokes a relation, using the theory of Discriminative Category Matching. We evaluate our findings in two tasks against strong baselines and show significant improvements both in relation discovery and information extraction.
Phylogenomics of Sterol Synthesis: Insights into the Origin, Evolution, and Diversity of a Key Eukaryotic Feature

The availability of complete genomes from a wide sampling of eukaryotic diversity has allowed the application of phylogenomics approaches to study the origin and evolution of unique eukaryotic cellular structures, but these are still poorly applied to study unique eukaryotic metabolic pathways. Sterols are a good example because they are an essential feature of eukaryotic membranes. The sterol pathway has been well dissected in vertebrates, fungi, and land plants. However, although different types of sterols have been identified in other eukaryotic lineages, their pathways have not been fully characterized. We have carried out an extensive analysis of the taxonomic distribution and phylogeny of the enzymes of the sterol pathway in a large sampling of eukaryotic lineages. This allowed us to tentatively indicate features of the sterol pathway in organisms where this has not been characterized and to point out a number of steps for which yet-to-discover enzymes may be at work. We also inferred that the last eukaryotic common ancestor already harbored a large panel of enzymes for sterol synthesis and that subsequent evolution over the eukaryotic tree occurred by tinkering, mainly by gene losses. We highlight a high capacity of sterol synthesis in the myxobacterium Plesiocystis pacifica, and we support the hypothesis that the few bacteria that harbor homologs of the sterol pathway have likely acquired these via horizontal gene transfer from eukaryotes. Finally, we propose a potential candidate for the elusive enzyme performing C-3 ketoreduction (ERG27 equivalent) in land plants and probably in other eukaryotic phyla.
Characterization of the autoantibody responses to recombinant E3 binding protein (protein X) of pyruvate dehydrogenase in primary biliary cirrhosis

Autoantibodies to the pyruvate dehydrogenase complex (PDC) are present in the serum of more than 95% of patients with primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC), the major epitope being the inner lipoyl domain of the E2 component. Immunoblotting suggests a similar prevalence of antibodies to a tightly associated lipoic acid–containing protein, E3 binding protein (;E3BP). Attempts to resolve E3BP from E2 have been unsuccessful, restricting study of the nature and significance of antibody responses to the individual proteins. In particular, it is unclear (;1) whether there is true cross‐reactivity between E3BP and E2 and, if so, which is the originating response and (;2) whether autoantibodies preferentially bind a lipoylated epitope on E3BP as is the case with PDC‐E2. In this study, complementary DNAs encoding rE2, full‐length rE3BP, its single lipoyl domain (;rLip), and core domain (;rE3BPCore) were cloned, and the proteins were expressed in Escherichia coli. Sera from 47 PBC patients were studied by immunoblotting and enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay (;ELISA) against rE2, rE3BP, rE3BPCore, and both unlipoylated (;U) and lipoylated (;L) rLip. All sera were reactive by ELISA to some degree with all recombinant proteins except rE3BPCore, to which only 6 of 47 showed any reactivity. Significant correlations (;P < .0001) were observed when comparing absorbance values for rE3BP with both rLip (;U) (;r = 0.793) and (;L) (;r = 0.963). The mean absorbance for rLip (;U, 0.26 ± 0.05) was, however, significantly lower than the absorbance for rLip (;L) (;0.78 ± 0.12; P < .0001). After probing by immunoblotting and elution of antibodies from rE2 and rE3BP, subsequent reprobing against the components in whole PDC revealed true cross‐reactivity. In summary, the response to E3BP is primarily directed against the lipoylated domain of the protein. It still remains unclear, however, whether the initial breakdown of tolerance is to E2 or E3BP.
Impact of Ultrasonic Frequency on Aqueous Sonoluminescence and Sonochemistry

A comprehensive investigation of ultrasonic frequency and its role in sonochemical activity and sonoluminescence (SL) has been performed. SL spectra and intensity were examined at four frequencies (205, 358, 618, and 1071 kHz) and in the presence of varying argon and oxygen saturation ratios. A series of high-energy reactions induced by the extreme temperatures and pressures obtained within a microbubble during acoustic cavitation contribute to the broad continuum characteristic of SL spectra. Chemical reactivity was also measured at all four frequencies. 1,4-Dioxane decomposition and hydrogen peroxide formation were chosen as representative sonochemical processes. A 358 kHz value was the optimal frequency for maximum SL intensity and chemical reaction rates. The impact of a hydroxyl radical scavenger, bicarbonate ion, on SL intensity and H2O2 formation was also examined. Results from this investigation indicate that nonlinear bubble implosions play a more significant role at lower frequencies whereas hig.
Optimum wavelet transform-based ECG compression and dissimilarity measure based noise performance analysis

In this study, an optimum wavelet transform-based ECG compression technique is proposed and its noise performance analysis is investigated. The major addressed issue is guaranteeing an error limit as small as possible measured by the percent root mean square difference (PRD) for the reconstructed ECG signal at every segment while keeping the compression ratio (CR) as large as possible with reasonable implementation complexity. For this purpose, an optimum wavelet transform-based compression algorithm is developed. Noise effects on the normal and the arrhythmia signal is analyzed based on the compression ratio (CR) and the reconstruction distortion. The similarity measurement is used as a criterion to analyze how much the original signal is similar or closer to the reconstructed one. Two numerical metrics PRD and CR are used as the major performance evaluation parameters to analyze the results of the implemented method quantitatively. Using the developed technique, different types of orthonormal wavelets are compared.
CD34+ Testicular Stromal Cells Support Long‐Term Expansion of Embryonic and Adult Stem and Progenitor Cells

Stem cells reside in specialized microenvironments created by supporting stromal cells that orchestrate self‐renewal and lineage‐specific differentiation. However, the precise identity of the cellular and molecular pathways that support self‐renewal of stem cells is not known. For example, long‐term culture of prototypical stem cells, such as adult spermatogonial stem and progenitor cells (SPCs), in vitro has been impeded by the lack of an optimal stromal cell line that initiates and sustains proliferation of these cells. Indeed, current methods, including the use of mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs), have not been efficient and have generally led to inconsistent results. Here, we report the establishment of a novel CD34‐positive cell line, referred to as JK1, derived from mouse testicular stromal cells that not only facilitated long‐term SPC culture but also allowed faithful generation of SPCs and multipotent stem cells. SPCs generated on JK1 maintained key features of germ line stem cells, including expression of PLZF, DAZL, and GCNA. Furthermore, these feeders also promoted the long‐term cultivation of other types of primitive cells including multipotent adult spermatogonial‐derived stem cells, pluripotent murine embryonic stem cells, and embryonic germ cells derived from primordial germ cells. Stem cells could be passaged serially and still maintained expression of characteristic markers such as OCT4 and NANOG in vitro, as well as the ability to generate all three germ layers in vivo. These results indicate that the JK1 cell line is capable of promoting long‐term culture of primitive cells. As such, this cell line allows for identification of stromal‐derived factors that support long‐term proliferation of various types of stem cells and constitutes a convenient alternative to other types of feeder layers.
Human papillomavirus prevalence in lung carcinomas in Bulgaria

A possible association between high‐risk human papillomaviruses (HPV) and lung cancer has been investigated for decades with discrepant results. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of HPV16 and 18 in Bulgarian patients with lung cancer. Two hundred and nine biopsy specimens from patients with histologically proven lung cancer and without cancer were analyzed. Each sample was subjected to three parallel PCRs using broad spectrum GP5+/6+ primers and type‐specific (TS) primers for HPV types 16 and 18. Of the 132 lung carcinoma samples, 33 (25%) were positive for HPV16 and/or HPV18 by TS PCR whereas only five (3.8%) samples were HPV positive by consensus PCR. All non‐malignant controls were HPV negative. HPV18 was the more prevalent, being found in 11.4% of samples, followed by HPV16 in 9.1% samples; 4.5% of lesions were positive for both HPV16 and HPV18. HPV16/18 were most prevalent in small cell carcinoma (29.2%) and least prevalent in squamous cell carcinoma (23.3%). HPV was only detected in squamous cell carcinoma and adenosquamous carcinoma by consensus PCR. This study revealed a high HPV16/18 prevalence in lung carcinoma samples from Bulgarian patients when TS PCR was used to detect them. The difference between HPV positivity as detected by consensus and by TS PCR was significant, indicating the importance of methodological issues in explaining the discrepancies between previous studies. HPV18 was more common than HPV16. No association between HPV16/18 status and histopathological diagnosis was identified.
Late Spectral Evolution of SN 1987A. II. Line Emission

Using the temperature and ionization calculated in our previous paper, we model the spectral evolution of SN 1987A. We find that the temperature evolution is directly reflected in the time evolution of the lines. In particular, the IR catastrophe is seen in the metal lines as a transition from thermal to nonthermal excitation, seen most clearly in the [O I] λλ6300, 6364 lines. The good agreement with observations clearly confirms the predicted optical to IR transition. Because the line emissivity is independent of temperature in the nonthermal phase, this phase has a strong potential for estimating the total mass of the most abundant elements. The hydrogen lines arise as a result of recombinations following ionizations in the Balmer continuum during the first ~500 days and later as a result of nonthermal ionizations. The distribution of the different zones, and therefore the gamma-ray deposition, is determined from the line profiles of the most important lines, where possible. We find that hydrogen extends into the core to ≲700 km s-1. The hydrogen envelope has a density profile close to ρ ∝ V-2 from 2000-5000 km s-1. The total mass of hydrogen-rich gas is ~7.7 M☉, of which ~2.2 M☉ is mixed within 2000 km s-1. The helium mass derived from the line fluxes is sensitive to assumptions about the degree of redistribution in the line. The mass of the helium-dominated zone is consistent with ~1.9 M☉, with a further ~3.9 M☉ of helium residing in the hydrogen component. Most of the oxygen-rich gas is confined to 400-2000 km s-1, with a total mass of ~1.9 M☉. Because of uncertainties in the modeling of the nonthermal excitation of the [O I] lines, the uncertainty in the estimated oxygen mass is considerable. Masses of nitrogen, neon, magnesium, iron, and nickel are also estimated. The dominant contribution to the line luminosity often originates in a different zone from that in which most of the newly synthesized material resides. This applies to, e.g., carbon, calcium, and iron. The [C I] lines, arising mainly in the helium zone, indicate a substantially lower abundance of carbon mixed with helium than given by stellar evolution models, and a more extended zone with CNO-processed gas is also indicated. The [Fe II] lines have in most phases a strong contribution from primordial iron, and at t ≳ 600-800 days this component dominates the [Fe II] lines. The wings of the [Fe II] lines may therefore come from primordial iron rather than synthesized iron mixed to high velocity. Lines from ions with low ionization potentials indicate that the UV field below at least 1600 Å is severely quenched by dust absorption and resonance scattering.
A CIAR study in a male dominated ICT Company in Malta which looks at work-life issues through the masculine lens : a case of : if it ain't broke, don't fix it?

The focus of this action research study is the analysis of invisible assumptions that sustain gendered work processes based on the ideal worker values. The case study, which is set within a Maltese ICT company, also explores the potential for action research (CIAR) to challenge the gendered processes in ways that enable better work-life integration through the Dual Agenda logic. Data for this research, which adopts a constructionist and interpretivist approach, were obtained through various cycles of qualitative interviews and focus group meetings with participants, the majority of whom were males. These were analysed through NVivo on the principles of Thematic Analysis. This research showed how the hegemonic masculine values of the leaders which led to the conceptualisation of the ideal worker, allowed them the opportunity to perform their masculinity in a culturally approved manner, and because this brought them power and benefits, such values prevailed. It also confirmed that the default expectations by which ideal worker values were measured, stemmed from culturally normative behaviour typically linked to unencumbered men. This rendered anomalous, suspicious and undesirable attempts to integrate work and life for family-related reasons. This happened in an organisational context where the means to assess productivity were low, where organisational learning was weak, and within a national context where the work-life challenge is typically linked to mothers. This illustrates how interlinking factors within the multi-layers of context underpin the current notions of ideal worker thus rendering CIAR insufficient to tackle the multi-forces at play which perpetuate the Single Agenda logic. This research highlights the importance of studying situated hegemonic masculinity in the micro context of organisations without neglecting the interlinking factors at play within the broader context that sustain it. This multi-dimensional approach is useful in allowing a better understanding of the complexities surrounding the concept of gendered organisations within a dominant hegemonic masculine culture. Overall, this research strives to make a contribution to the debate about gendered organisations and work-life issues through a better understanding of hegemonic masculinity. Furthermore, it adds knowledge about the potential and barriers to Dual Agenda change through the use of the CIAR approach.