Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Waveform Optimization for Internal Atrial Defibrillation: Effects of Waveform Rounding, Phase Duration, and Voltage Swing

KIDWAI, B.J., et al.: Waveform Optimization for Internal Atrial Defibrillation: Effects of Waveform Rounding, Phase Duration, and Voltage Swing. The aim of this study was to compare the efficacy of internal atrial defibrillation by conventional truncated exponential biphasic waveforms with and without waveform rounding (1–2 phases) and to determine optimal duration for this novel double rounded waveform. Atrial fibrillation, induced by rapid electrical stimulation, was converted by internal shocks through defibrillation catheters (lateral right atrium and coronary sinus) in anesthetised sheep. Rounding the leading edges of the conventional biphasic waveform (Ventritex HVS‐02; settings 100/–50 V, 150/–70 V, and 200/–100 V; n = 8) reduced delivered peak and trough voltages, currents, and energy (by ≥ 21%, P < 0.001; for double (both phases) rounded) without decreasing cardioversion success. At 100/–50 V the efficacy of single (first phase) rounded (53 ± 13%; mean ± SEM) and double rounded (59 ± 11%) shocks was similar to the conventional waveform (56 ± 14%). Double rounded waveform (phase durations 1–20 ms) efficacy was optimum at 6–10 ms phase duration (100% success at 10–ms phase duration; 1.52 ± 0.04 J delivered energy; n = 6). Successful cardioversion by conventional, single rounded, and double rounded biphasic waveforms (duration 6 ms each phase), conventional monophasic, rounded monophasic (duration 12 ms), and a damped sine waveform correlated strongly with peak‐to‐trough voltage swing within the waveform (r = 0.882; P < 0.01; n = 8). For internal atrial defibrillation, rounding both phases of the conventional biphasic waveforms, the double rounded waveform, permits similar efficacy to the conventional truncated exponential biphasic waveform at reduced peak voltage, current, and delivered energy. Optimum phase duration is 6–10 ms (tested range 1–20 ms).
Technical Report on Autonomous Mobile Robot navigation

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Considerations in the Use of the Laser Flash Method for Thermal Measurements of Thermal Interface Materials

With increasing thermal fluxes, the performance of thermal interface materials (TIMs) that are used to reduce the thermal resistance between contacting surfaces in electronic devices, such as at the die-to-heat sink or heat spreader-to-heat sink interfaces, is becoming critical. However, measuring the thermal resistances of TIMs in a manner representative of actual applications is difficult. The laser flash method is a technique that may be used to determine the thermal resistance of TIMs and their degradation under environmental exposure. This paper examines three issues associated with using the laser flash method that could limit its effectiveness in calculating thermal resistance: sample holder heating, clamping, and error in the Lee algorithm outputs due to coupon-TIM thermal diffusivity differences. As a case study, the thermal performance of polymer TIMs in pad form, as well as an adhesive and a gel, were examined. Finite element simulations indicated that, without proper consideration, sample holder heating can lead to significant error in the calculated TIM thermal conductivity values.
Domestic Trade Frictions and Agriculture

I develop a model of agriculture on heterogeneous land to study the relation between trade, productivity, and welfare in Peru, where farmers face high internal and external trade costs. I quantify the model with new data on crop prices, yields, and land allocations. I then measure the effects of changes to trade opportunities. A policy of paving roads raises aggregate productivity (4.9%) and the median farmer’s welfare (2.7%), but increased competition from remote suppliers harms 20% of farmers. An increase in international grain prices spreads unevenly across regions, benefiting farmers but hurting urban consumers close to ports.
Association Studies of Candidate Genes in Bipolar Disorders

The aim of the investigation was to test genes for predisposition to bipolar affective disorder. Therefore, we studied candidate genes in a sample of unrelated patients (n = 102) and healthy controls (n = 79) of Austrian origin, searching for a possible association between polymorphic DNA markers of 5 candidate genes (serotonin transporter, 5-HTT; serotonin 2a receptor, 5-HT2a; dopamine D2 receptor, DRD2; dopamine D3 receptor, DRD3; dopamine transporter, DAT1) and bipolar disorder. There was an association between allelic and genotypic frequencies of 5-HTT and affection status (p = 0.014 and p = 0.017, respectively). However, after correction for multiple comparisons (Bonferroni), these results did not remain significant. Nevertheless, the findings might suggest that alterations in the structure of 5-HTT are involved in the pathogenesis of bipolar disorder, which could have major implications in treatment. No association between 5-HT2a, DRD2, DRD3, DAT1 and bipolar disorder was found.
Perceptual Organization and White's Illusion

The apparent lightness of a surface can be strongly modulated by the spatial context in which it is embedded. Early theories of such context dependence emphasized the role of low-level mechanisms that sense border contrast, whereas a number of recent authors have emphasized the role of perceptual organization in determining perceived lightness. One of the simplest and most theoretically challenging lightness illusions was described by White. This illusion has been explained with a variety of different models, ranging from low-level filter outputs to computations underlying the extraction of mid-level representations of surfaces. Here, I present a new method for determining the organizational forces that shape this illusion. I show that the spatial context of White's pattern not only transforms the apparent lightness of homogeneous target patches, but can also induce dramatic inversions of figure–ground relationships of textured target regions. These phenomena provide new evidence for the role of scission in causing the lightness illusion experienced in White's effect.
Neutralidad monetaria en la tasa de cambio real colombiana

“Durante la decada de los 90 el tema principal de debate en Colombia ha sido la dinamica de la tasa de cambio real. Si se acepta el punto de vista de que en el corto plazo la politica monetaria afecta la tasa de cambio real, el tema importante seria entonces: ? Que tan largo es el corto plazo? En terminos del problema concreto, la pregunta seria: ? En cuanto tiempo se desvanece un choque nominal? La respuesta a esta pregunta es la motivacion principal de este articulo. Para buscar una respuesta a la pregunta que nos motiva, proponemos un enfoque econometrico capaz de llenar necesidades tecnicas ignoradas en varios articulos que tratan el mismo tema. Especificamente, estimamos un VAR estructural utilizando la descomposicion de Blanchard y Quah (1989) sobre la tasa de cambio real y nominal. El aporte principal de este articulo consiste en la determinacion de algunos resultados empiricos rigurosos respecto al comportamiento de la tasa de cambio colombiana en el corto y largo plazo. Nuestra meta principal es estimar la magnitud y la duracion de los efectos de los choques nominales en la tasa de cambio real. De tales resultados se pueden derivar recomendaciones de politica. La estructura de este articulo es la siguiente: La seccion 1 es esta introduccion. En la seccion 2 se hace un breve analisis de la literatura economica sobre la tasa de cambio real y su relacion con los choques nominales. La seccion 3 presenta las variables consideradas y sus principales caracteristicas econometricas. En la cuarta seccion se muestra el modelo econometrico utilizado en la estimacion. La seccion V incluye los principales resultados y la seccion VI contiene las conclusiones. ”
Area-convexity, l∞ regularization, and undirected multicommodity flow

We show the strong-convexity assumption of regularization-based methods for solving bilinear saddle point problems may be relaxed to a weaker notion of area-convexity with respect to an alternating bilinear form. This allows bypassing the infamous '' barrier for strongly convex regularizers that has stalled progress on a number of algorithmic problems. Applying area-convex regularization, we present a nearly-linear time approximation algorithm for solving matrix inequality systems A X ≤ B over right-stochastic matrices X. By combining that algorithm with existing work on preconditioning maximum-flow, we obtain a nearly-linear time approximation algorithm for maximum concurrent flow in undirected graphs: given an undirected, capacitated graph with m edges and k demand vectors, the algorithm takes Õ(mkε'1) time and outputs k flows routing the specified demands with total congestion at most (1+ε) times optimal.
Detection of the Cervical Gland Area in Threatened Preterm Labor Using Transvaginal Sonography in the Assessment of Cervical Maturation and the Outcome of Pregnancy

Objectives: To detect the cervical gland area in threatened preterm labor, and to determine its detection rate and relationship with cervical maturation and outcome of pregnancy in preterm labor. Methods: This was a mixed longitudinal and cross-sectional study involving 615 transvaginal scans performed to detect the cervical gland area and measure cervical length in 101 singleton pregnancies with threatened preterm labor. The patients were treated with intravenous administration of ritodrine chloride for regular uterine contractions at 16–35 weeks of gestation. 260 normal singleton pregnancies served as controls. Simultaneously conventional digital examination was used to assess the cervical maturation index. The detection rates of the cervical gland area, measurements of cervical length by sonography, and assessment of the cervical maturation index by digital examination in threatened preterm labor were compared with those of normal singleton pregnancies. In the threatened labor group, the outcome of pregnancy was assessed according to the sonographic absence or presence of the cervical gland area. Results: In the normal pregnancy group, the detection rate of the cervical gland area remained practically constant until the 31st week of pregnancy (97%), but substantially decreased thereafter (70.2% in gestational weeks 32–35). In the threatened preterm labor group, the detection rate of the cervical gland area was constantly lower (44.5%) and the cervical maturation index was higher (4.65 score) than in the normal pregnancy group (83.1% and 1.80 score, respectively). The outcome of pregnancy in the threatened preterm labor group was poorer in the subgroup with the absence of a cervical gland area than in the subgroup with the presence of a cervical gland area (duration of pregnancy 257.0 vs. 271.0 days, birth weight 2,597.2 vs. 2,990.0 g, and admission to delivery interval 38.8 vs. 60.8 days). Highly significant correlations were noted among the detection rates of a cervical gland area and cervical length, cervical maturation index, and outcome of pregnancy. Conclusions: This study demonstrates for the first time that the sonographic absence of the cervical gland area reflects cervical maturation and could be considered as a predictor of threatened preterm labor and a sign of poor outcome of pregnancy in this condition.
Competing mechanisms in markets for lemons

We study directed search equilibria in a decentralized market with adverse selection, where uninformed buyers post general trading mechanisms and informed sellers select one of them. We show that this has differing and significant implications with respect to the traditional approach, based on bilateral contracting between the parties. In equilibrium, all buyers post the same mechanism and low‐quality sellers receive priority in any meeting with a buyer. Also, buyers make strictly higher profits with low‐ than with high‐type sellers. When adverse selection is severe, the equilibrium features rationing and is constrained inefficient. Compared to the equilibrium with bilateral contracting, the equilibrium with general mechanisms yields a higher surplus for most, but not all, parameter specifications.
Developmentally and regionally regulated participation of epidermal cells in the formation of collagen lamella of anuran tadpole skin

We investigated the cellular mechanism of formation of subepidermal thick bundles of collagen (collagen lamella) during larval development of the bullfrog, Rana catesbeiana, using cDNA of α1(I) collagen as a probe. The originally bilayered larval epidermis contains basal skein cells and apical cells, and the collagen lamella is directly attached to the basement membrane. The basal skein cells above the collagen lamella and fibroblasts beneath it intensively expressed the α1(I) gene. As the skin developed, suprabasal skein cells ceased expression of the gene. Concomitantly, the fibroblasts started to outwardly migrate, penetrated into the lamella and formed connective tissue between the epidermis and the lamella. These fibroblasts intensively expressed the gene. As the connective tissue developed, the basal skein cells ceased to express the gene and were replaced by larval basal cells that did not express the gene. These dynamic changes took place first in a lateral region of the body skin and proceeded to all other regions except the tail. Isolated cultured skein cells expressed the gene and extracellularly deposited its protein as the type I collagen fibrils. Thus, it is concluded that anuran larval epidermal cells can autonomously and intrinsically synthesize type I collagen.
The Prevalence and Spectrum of Thalassemia in Shenzhen, Guangdong Province, People's Republic of China

Thalassemia (thal) is the most common autosomal disorder in southern China. The aim of the present study was to investigate the prevalence and spectrum of thalassemia mutations in the population of Shenzhen, Guangdong Province. In total, 3,711 samples from two hospitals in Shenzhen were subjected to hematological and molecular analysis. Of these, 241 (6.49%) were carriers of thalassemias, of which 161 (4.34%) had α-thal, 74 (1.99%) had β-thal, and six (0.16%) had both α- and β-thal. Three deletional and one nondeletional α-thal mutation, and nine β-thal mutations were identified. Compared with other areas in Guangdong Province, the prevalence of thalassemia in Shenzhen was lower, while there was no evident difference for the spectrum of mutations. These results will provide a reference for prenatal testing and genetic counseling in the area.
Unenhanced helical CT for suspected acute appendicitis.

OBJECTIVE The purpose of this study was to determine the diagnostic accuracy of unenhanced helical CT scans in patients with a suspected acute appendicitis. SUBJECTS AND METHODS Over a 20-month period, 109 adult patients with suspected acute appendicitis were referred by the emergency department for an unenhanced helical CT scan. Each scan was obtained in a single breath-hold from the T12 vertebral body to the public symphysis using a 5-mm collimation and a pitch of 1.6. No patients were given oral or IV contrast media. The primary CT criteria for diagnosing acute appendicitis was the identification of an appendix with a transverse diameter larger than 6 mm with associated periappendiceal inflammatory changes. The presence of an appendicolith was considered a secondary finding as was isolated periappendiceal inflammation; however, appendicitis was not diagnosed in such patients unless an enlarged appendix was definitely identified. Final diagnoses were established by surgical or clinical follow-up and were compared with the original CT reports. RESULTS We found 66 true-negatives, 37 true-positives, four false-negatives, and two false-positives that yielded a sensitivity of 90%, a specificity of 97%, a positive predictive value of 95%, a negative predictive value of 95%, and an accuracy of 94%. An alternative diagnosis was established by an unenhanced helical CT scan in 24 patients (22%), which included cecal diverticulitis (seven patients), urinary tract disease (five patients), adnexal pathology (four patients), sigmoid diverticulitis (two patients), small bowel disease (three patients), right lower quadrant tumor (two patients), and an infected dialysis catheter (one patient). CONCLUSION Unenhanced thin-section helical CT is an accurate, effective technique for diagnosing acute appendicitis.
Educational system with the android robot SAYA and field trial

Communication robots are hard to interact with humans autonomously in everyday environment due to lack of intelligence even though robots can perform certainly only in limited environments and limited situations. However, since intelligence of robots is handled by an operator, tele-operated robots are useful to investigate functions required for robots and effects of robots in real-environment. This paper proposes an educational system with a tele-operated android robot that has human-like appearance. The developed android robot, named SAYA, is able to express human-like facial expressions and performs some communicative functions with its head and eye movements, and it is utilized as a roll of a teacher in the proposed educational system. In addition, SAYA's utterances and behaviors are controlled remotely by an operator so that it is able to not only conduct the class but also interact with students. A field trial was carried out at an elementary school, and SAYA conducted the class concerning the principle of leverage as a topic of science classes while interacting with students. Also, how it affected students' interest and motivation was investigated. As results, the trial verified that some students became interested in science class more than before the trial, and its positive effects in educational field, especially elementary schools, were verified.
Critical Care and Trauma Considerations in the Geriatric Patient

The rapid growth of the elderly population has had a significant impact on health care delivery. Critical care services have been especially affected, as admissions of older adults to intensive care units (ICU) continue to become increasingly common. Importantly, this trend is a worldwide phenomenon. Blot et al reported that admissions of patients older than the age of 75 to an ICU in a Dutch institution increased by 33% when comparing the periods between 1992 and 1996 and 2002 and 2006. Similarly, looking at data from 57 ICUs in Australia and New Zealand, Bagshaw et al found that in patients older than the age of 80 there was a 6% increase per year in ICU admissions between 2000 and 2005 and this segment of the population represented 14% of all ICU admissions. In the United States, approximately 42% to 52% of ICU admissions are geriatric patients and 60% of all intensive care days are attributed to this group. In addition, 11% of the Medicare recipients spend an average of 8 days in the ICU during the final 6 months of their lives, and about 40% of the Medicare recipients who die are admitted to the ICU during their terminal illness. These ICU stays represent approximately 25% of total Medicare expenditures. Furthermore, analysis of ICU bed utilization demonstrates that those patients older than the age of 65 occupy 25% to 50% of all beds. This larger utilization of critical care services by older adults combined with the limited
Magnanimity: Aquinas’ Examination of the Aristocratic Virtue

According to Aristotle, a man’s economic and political status characterizes him in one of two ways: common or wealthy. Both classes possess the capacity to acquire all of the moral virtues (except one) by way of habituation, and the possession of these virtues makes a man good. However, magnanimity is a moral virtue that arises accidentally and is not part of the inherent moral paradigm within the species man, a paradigm that gives each man equal right to virtue. The common man is relegated to cultivating the set of moral virtues that include liberality; only the wealthy man can ascend into the domain that includes magnanimity. Aquinas believes he can reconcile this seemingly problematic dichotomy that elevates the virtue and honor of the rich man above that of the poor man. Although Aquinas attempts to alleviate this problem by showing how magnanimity is consigned to one of the four cardinal virtues, thus not placing it in as prominent of a position as Aristotle, who designates it “the crown of the virtues,” he still seems too over-accommodating toward the Aristotelian definition. This article will attempt to show how Aristotle’s definition of magnanimity creates two domains of virtue ethics and how Aquinas’ attempt at modification ultimately fails. Keith Aaron Boozer, "Magnanimity: Aquinas' Examination of the Aristocratic Virtue," Journal of Markets & Morality 12, no. 1 (Spring 2009): 153-163
Sliding mode filtering for polynomial systems

This paper addresses the mean-square and mean-module filtering problems for a nonlinear polynomial stochastic system with Gaussian white noises. The obtained solutions contain a sliding mode term, signum of the innovations process. It is shown that the designed sliding mode mean-square filter generates the mean-square estimate, which has the same minimum estimation error variance as the estimate given by the conventional mean-square polynomial filter [24], although the gain matrices of both filters are different. The designed sliding mode mean-module filter generates the mean-module estimate, which yields a better value of the mean-module criterion in comparison to the conventional mean-square polynomial filter. The theoretical result is complemented with an illustrative example verifying performance of the designed filters. It is demonstrated that the estimates produced by the designed sliding mode mean-square filter and the conventional mean-square polynomial filter yield the same estimation error variance, and there is an advantage in favor of the designed sliding mode mean-module filter.
Using Written Vignettes in Focus Groups Among Older Adults to Discuss Oral Health as a Sensitive Topic

When the mouth yields pain and distress, it can impact psychosocially the lives of older adults and might constitute a sensitive topic for open disclosure. In this article, we describe our use of a written vignette in focus groups for discussion of oral health and disablement. Six focus groups were conducted with 42 older men and women with an average age of 75 years who were purposefully selected through advertisements posted in community centers and retirement homes. In discussions lasting for an average of 90 min, groups of up to 9 participants commented positively and negatively on the vignette's story and voluntarily discussed their personal experiences, family histories, and testimonies about the mouth and coping and adapting strategies to disabilities. The discussion about oral health can be sensitive, but the vignette shifted the focus away from the participants and allowed them to share personal experiences with oral health and disablement.