Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Comparative Study of Perioperative Outcomes Between Modified Blumgart Duct to Mucosa and Dunking Pancreaticojejunostomy

Background: Pancreaticojejunostomy (PJ) is the ''Achilles heel” of pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD) which affects perioperative as well as oncological outcomes. However, there is a lack of information about the superiority of the type of anastomosis in terms of overall morbidity and postoperative pancreatic fistula (POPF) after PD. Here, we compare the outcomes of modified Blumgart PJ with the dunking technique of PJ. Methodology: A case-control study of a prospectively maintained database of 25 consecutive patients undergoing modified Blumgart PJ (study group) and 25 patients who underwent continuous dunking PJ (control group) between January 2018 to April 2021 was done. Between groups, comparisons were made for the duration of surgery, intraoperative blood loss, original fistula risk score, overall complications as graded by Clavien Dindo (CD), POPF, post pancreatectomy haemorrhage (PPH), delayed gastric emptying (DGE), and 30-day mortality at 95% confidence level. Results: Among 50 patients, 30 (60%) were male. The most common indication for PD was ampullary carcinoma (44% in the study group vs. 60% in the control group). The duration of surgery was approximately 41 minutes longer in the study group compared to the control (p = 0.02), while the intraoperative blood loss was similar between the two groups (496.00 ± 226.35 ml vs 508.00 ± 180.67 ml, p = 0.84). While there was no significant difference in mean fistula risk score between the two groups, the POPF (8% vs 32%, p = 0.03), PPH (0% vs 20%, p =0.02), and overall major complications (CD≥ III) according to CD Grading (12% vs 40%, p = 0.02) were significantly lower in the study group. Similarly, the duration of hospital stay in the study group was 4.64 days shorter than the control group (p = 0.001). However, there was no significant difference in the 30-day mortality between the two groups. Conclusions: Modified Blumgart pancreaticojejunostomy has better perioperative outcomes in terms of procedure-specific complications like POPF, PPH, overall major postoperative complications, and duration of hospital stay.
Integrated thermo-poro-mechanical characterization for CO2 Sequestration at deep aquifer conditions

Modelling and forecasting of injected CO2 plume behaviour is an essential step in the baseline, monitoring, and verification [BMV] process in the CO2 sequestration lifecycle. The goal of reduction of uncertainty through forecasting models, can be better realized by accounting for the thermo-poro-mechanical nature of the deep subsurface reservoir systems. The current study focusses on developing and refining a laboratory workflow which will help in generating representative static and dynamic datasets at ambient and deep aquifer conditions. The workflow involves characterizing the poroelastic Biot coefficient and mechanical properties at ambient, high temperatures and at reservoir representative stress conditions. This information will be combined with the dataset from a CO2 flood experiment which replicates the displacement of brine by super critical CO2 at ambient and high temperatures and at reservoir representative stresses. Resistivity and acoustic signals will be monitored throughout the flood experiment. Existing analytical models for fluid substitution such as the Biot-Gassmann-Brie populated with representative data will be evaluated for finding the best description of the experimental observations. The integrated results of the workflow are meant to help develop better informed static and dynamic models improving the confidence in the BMV process of CCUS.
GMM versus GQL inferences in semiparametric linear dynamic mixed models

Linear dynamic mixed models are commonly used for continuous panel data analysis in economic statistics. There exists generalized method of moments (GMM) and generalized quasi-likelihood (GQL) inferences for binary and count panel data models, the GQL estimation approach being more efﬁcient than the GMM approach. The GMM and GQL estimating equations for the linear dynamic mixed model can not, however, be obtained from the respective estimating equations under the nonlinear models for binary and count data. In this paper, we develop the GMM and GQL estimation approaches for the linear dynamic mixed models and demonstrate that the GQL approach is more efﬁcient than the GMM approach, also under such linear models. This makes the GQL approach uniformly more efﬁcient than the GMM approach in estimating the parameters of both linear and nonlinear dynamic mixed models.
Experimental study of the mixing transition in a gaseous axisymmetric jet

Instantaneous, quantitative, planar images of molecularly mixed-jet fluid fraction were obtained for the purpose of studying the mixing transition in a gaseous axisymmetric jet from ReD=16 200–29 200. By using a simultaneous nitric oxide and acetone planar laser-induced fluorescence technique, the mixing transition was detected from sudden changes in the molecularly mixed-jet fluid volume fraction, the growth rate of the shear layer, the preferred mixed-jet fluid fraction, and the character of axial/radial probability density functions. The mixing transition for all Reynolds numbers in this regime was found to begin after the first vortex pairing near Rx/λ=6 and was completed by the second vortex pairing near Rx/λ=12, where R=(1−r)/(1+r), r is the low- to high-speed freestream velocity ratio, and λ is the natural instability wavelength. The statistical quantities at all Reynolds numbers were found to collapse when scaled with Rx/λ, with the exception of the mixing layer width. The latter collapsed for all.
On Centralizing Automorphisms and Jordan Left Derivations on sigma-Prime Gamma Rings

Let M be a 2-torsion free -prime -ring and U be a non-zero -square closed Lie ideal of M. If T : M ! M is an automorphism on U such that T 6 1 and T = T on U, then we prove that U Z(M). We also study the additive maps d : M! M such that d(uu ) = 2ud (u), where u2 U and 2 , and show that d(uv ) = ud (v) +vd (u), for all u;v2 U and 2 . 2000 AMS Classification: 16W10, 16W25, 16W20, 16U80.
Assessment and applications of point interpolation methods for computational mechanics

Two meshfree point interpolation methods (PIMs), which are based on the polynomial and the radial basis functions, have been proposed recently in addition to the earlier work with the moving least‐squares (MLS) approximation for the field function approximation. However, it is found that PIMs cannot automatically ensure the compatibility of the solution when they are used together with the energy principles. In this paper, issues related to the compatibility of PIMs are studied. A technique of background cell‐based nodal selections and a penalty method are proposed to enforce the compatibility of the solution of PIMs. The patch test is studied in great detail. The convergences and performances are investigated for both conforming and non‐conforming PIMs. It is found that those methods of the PIM family are very easy to implement, and are very efficient in obtaining numerical solutions for problems of computational mechanics. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The effect of bariatric surgery on metabolic syndrome: A retrospective cohort study in Colombia

Metabolic syndrome (MetS) represents a group of metabolic abnormalities. It is currently a pandemic, and its prevalence is on the rise. MetS has a direct relationship with obesity, for this reason, bariatric and metabolic surgery has been proposed as a method to simultaneously control obesity and MetS. However, in Colombia the results of this intervention are unknown. This study aims to compare metabolic syndrome before and after bariatric surgery in a Colombian population.
Gender, Remittances and the Impact of COVID-19: A Preliminary Analysis

Remittances are an important source of development finance, particularly in recent years, due also to increased migration flows at the global level. The recent COVID-19 pandemic resulted in a sudden drop in remittances, and an alarming aspect of the pandemic was that it particularly affected female migrants. Despite the importance of gender for remittance sending and usage, research about international migration and remittances insufficiently considers its role. Against this backdrop, this paper aims to partially fill this gap in the relevant literature by trying to address the following important questions: (1) In what ways is gender important in understanding the sending and the usage of remittances? ; and (2) what is the relationship between gender, COVID-19, and pandemic-induced remittance reductions? In doing so, the paper provides an overview of the (limited) literature on the vast influence of the COVID-19 pandemic on female migrants. It also assesses whether gender has influenced the extent to which remittance inflows decreased as a consequence of the COVID-19 pandemic by conducting a preliminary empirical analysis based on some recent data (albeit limited) on the above nexus. The paper contributes to the relevant literature in multiple ways. First, the detailed discussion of the influence of gender on remittances and the impact of COVID-19 on female migrants has revealed important aspects of the overall relationship that can stimulate further research on these topics and also raises important policy questions for policymakers. Second, preliminary findings of a possible negative correlation between COVID-19-induced changes in remittances and female emigration rates provide some further insights into the above nexus. Finally, the paper raises important concerns about female migrants’ well-being during the pandemic and calls for further empirical research.
Numerical simulation of the acoustic field of a phased-array medical ultrasound scanner

In order to evaluate the possible side effects of diagnostic medical ultrasound, and in particular the effects of nonlinear propagation of sound, it is necessary to characterize the scanners used. To this end, the acoustic field emitted by a phased-array Hitachi EUB-26 ultrasound scanner operating in a strongly focused mode was measured a small distance from the scanner head, and the velocity field at the surface of the head deduced. A finite difference model was then used to propagate the pressure field beyond the focus, taking into account nonlinear effects, attenuation and diffraction, and the result compared with observations in water, giving reasonable agreement out to the scanplane focus. The extrapolated field was then examined in detail, revealing those regions in which most power is lost to the medium, some of which are off-axis, and so might not be detected by normal calibration procedures.
Magnetic fluid dynamics in a rotating magnetic field

The dynamics of a magnetic fluid in a rotating magnetic field in the presence of thermal noise were studied by performing numerical simulations based on the Fokker-Planck equation. We first clarified the dynamic properties by numerical simulation such as the frequency dependence of the fluid magnetization, the field-dependent relaxation time, and the M-H curve in a rotating magnetic field. Using the simulation results, we modified an existing analytical model and obtained an empirical expression to quantitatively describe the particle dynamics. The simulation results were compared with experimental results in a rotating magnetic field. The frequency dependence of the magnetization of the magnetic fluid was measured over the linear and nonlinear regions. In order to make a quantitative comparison, the hydrodynamic and effective core size distributions were independently estimated from measurements of the ac susceptibility and the M-H curve. The phase lag and amplitude in a rotating magnetic field obtained from our simulation agreed well with the experimental results.
Impact of Adulteration on Physico-chemical Characteristics of Marketed Raw Milk

This study was conducted to determine the impact of adulteration on physico-chemical and coliforms content of marketed raw milk. For this purpose, 300 milk samples were collected from urban and peri-urban localities of Jhang, Pakistan. The results showed that 13.3%, 9.7%, 9%, 8.3% and 5.7% of the tested milk samples were positive for cane sugar, formalin, boric acid, H2O2 and urea, respectively besides the highest adulteration of water (95%). Other adulterants included soap (4.7%), sodium chloride (3.7%) and quaternary ammonium compounds (3.3%). The incidence of cane sugar and starch adulteration was highest in winter while formalin and H2O2 in summer season. The compositional quality of milk was also deteriorated by relatively lowered concentrations of lactose, fats, total solids, solids-not-fat (SNF) and proteins. Likewise, the pH and freezing point of contaminated milk samples were comparatively higher than the corresponding standard values. Furthermore, the adulterated milk samples were highly contaminated with E. coli (42.5%) and Enterobacter aerogenes (27.5%) as compared to non-adulterated milk. It was concluded that milk adulterationin the study area predominates round the year badly deteriorating the physico-chemical characteristic of milk besides contaminating it with injurious adulterants and water-borne pathogens posing potential health risks to the consumers.
Mixed Flow Turbines: Inlet and Exit Flow Under Steady and Pulsating Conditions

The performance and detailed flow characteristics of a high pressure ratio mixed flow turbine has been investigated under steady and pulsating flow conditions. The rotor has been designed to have a nominal constant incidence (based on free vortex flow in the volute) and it is for use in an automotive high speed diesel turbocharger. The results indicated a departure from the quasi-steady analysis commonly used in turbocharger turbine design. The pulsations from the engine have been followed through the inlet pipe and around the volute; the pulse has been shown to propagate close to the speed of sound and not according to the bulk flow velocity as stated by some researchers. The flow entering and exiting the blades has been quantified by a laser Doppler velocimetry system. The measurements were performed at a plane 3.0 mm ahead of the rotor leading edge and 9.5 mm behind the rotor trailing edge. The turbine test conditions corresponded to the peak efficiency point at 29,400 and 41,300 rpm. The results were resolved in a blade-to-blade sense to examine in greater detail the nature of the flow at turbocharger representative conditions. A correlation between the combined effects of incidence and exit flow angle with the isentropic efficiency has been shown. The unsteady flow characteristics have been investigated at two flow pulse frequencies, corresponding to internal combustion engine speeds of 1600 and 2400 rpm. Four measurement planes have been investigated: one in the pipe feeding the volute, two in the volute (40 deg and 130 deg downstream of the tongue) and one at the exit of the turbine. The pulse propagation at these planes has been investigated; the effect of the different planes on the evaluation of the unsteady isentropic efficiency is shown to be significant. Overall, the unsteady performance efficiency results indicated a significant departure from the corresponding steady performance, in accordance with the inlet and exit flow measurements.
Properties of a glass-forming system as derived from its potential energy landscape

Many properties of glass-forming systems can be explained in terms of their multidimensional potential energy landscape. Here the total potential energy landscape of a small glass-forming system with periodic boundary conditions is determined numerically. An appropriate one-dimensional projection is introduced. It allows one to visualize how crystalline and amorphous regions are separated from each other and to find a direct explanation of prominent dynamic features observed in molecular dynamics simulations. The energy landscape and the occurrence of tunneling systems is elucidated for different densities. {copyright} {ital 1997} {ital The American Physical Society}
Advances in experimental technique for quantitative two-dimensional dopant profiling by scanning capacitance microscopy

Several advances have been made toward the achievement of quantitative two-dimensional dopant and carrier profiling. To improve the dielectric and charge properties of the oxide–silicon interface, a method of low temperature heat treatment has been developed which produces an insulating layer with consistent quality and reproducibility. After a standard polishing procedure is applied to cross-sectional samples, the samples are heated to 300 °C for 30 min under ultraviolet illumination. This additional surface treatment dramatically improves dielectric layer uniformity, scanning capacitance microscopy (SCM) signal to noise ratio, and C–V curve flat band offset. Examples of the improvement in the surface quality and comparisons of converted SCM data with secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS) data are shown. A SCM tip study has also been performed that indicates significant tip depletion problems can occur. It is shown that doped silicon tips are often depleted by the applied SCM bias voltage causing errors.
Three-dimensional k · p real-space quantum transport simulations of p-type nanowire transistors: Influence of ionized impurities

We present a three-dimensional quantum transport simulator for p-type nanowire transistors. This self-consistent model expresses a six-band k · p Hamiltonian within the non-equilibrium Green’s function formalism. Transport properties are analyzed with and without the presence of ionized impurities in the channel. We observe that inter-subband coupling generates a rich structure of peaks in the transmission coefficients even in the intrinsic situation. A single donor leads to a current decrease whereas its acceptor counterpart induces complicated resonant and anti-resonant features. Unlike n-type devices, our conclusions pinpoint that the p-type nanowire transistors exhibit intricate transmission variations that can potentially generate larger variability and whose modeling requires a multi-band based simulator.
Thermo-L-Asparaginases: From the Role in the Viability of Thermophiles and Hyperthermophiles at High Temperatures to a Molecular Understanding of Their Thermoactivity and Thermostability

L-asparaginase (L-ASNase) is a vital enzyme with a broad range of applications in medicine, food industry, and diagnostics. Among various organisms expressing L-ASNases, thermophiles and hyperthermophiles produce enzymes with superior performances—stable and heat resistant thermo-ASNases. This review is an attempt to take a broader view on the thermo-ASNases. Here we discuss the position of thermo-ASNases in the large family of L-ASNases, their role in the heat-tolerance cellular system of thermophiles and hyperthermophiles, and molecular aspects of their thermoactivity and thermostability. Different types of thermo-ASNases exhibit specific L-asparaginase activity and additional secondary activities. All products of these enzymatic reactions are associated with diverse metabolic pathways and are important for mitigating heat stress. Thermo-ASNases are quite distinct from typical mesophilic L-ASNases based on structural properties, kinetic and activity profiles. Here we attempt to summarize the current understanding of the molecular mechanisms of thermo-ASNases’ thermoactivity and thermostability, from amino acid composition to structural–functional relationships. Research of these enzymes has fundamental and biotechnological significance. Thermo-ASNases and their improved variants, cloned and expressed in mesophilic hosts, can form a large pool of enzymes with valuable characteristics for biotechnological application.
Textual Augmentation Techniques Applied to Low Resource Machine Translation: Case of Swahili

In this work we investigate the impact of applying textual data augmentation tasks to low resource machine translation. There has been recent interest in investigating approaches for training systems for languages with limited resources and one popular approach is the use of data augmentation techniques. Data augmentation aims to increase the quantity of data that is available to train the system. In machine translation, majority of the language pairs around the world are considered low resource because they have little parallel data available and the quality of neural machine translation (NMT) systems depend a lot on the availability of sizable parallel corpora. We study and apply three simple data augmentation techniques popularly used in text classification tasks; synonym replacement, random insertion and contextual data augmentation and compare their performance with baseline neural machine translation for English-Swahili (En-Sw) datasets. We also present results in BLEU, ChrF and Meteor scores. Overall, the contextual data augmentation technique shows some improvements both in the EN -> SW and SW -> EN directions. We see that there is potential to use these methods in neural machine translation when more extensive experiments are done with diverse datasets.
Carbon vacancy-related defect in 4H and 6H SiC

An electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectrum was observed at temperatures above 25 K in p-type 4H and 6H SiC irradiated with electrons. The center has C-3V symmetry with an electron spin S= 1/2. Using high frequency (similar to 95 GHz) EPR it was possible to obtain the derailed hyperfine structure due to the interaction with the four nearest silicon neighbors, and to identify the defect as the carbon vacancy in the positive-charge state (VC+). The g values and hyper fine tensor of the center in both polytypes are almost the same and no dependence on the inequivalent lattice sites has been detected.
Towards Reconfigurable CNN Accelerator for FPGA Implementation

Convolutional Neural Networks (CNNs) have revolutionized many applications in recent years, especially in image classification, video processing, and pattern recognition. This success of CNNs has been a motivating factor for solving even more complex problems involving multiple data modalities. Traditionally, a single CNN accelerator has been optimized for just one task or has been used to perform correlated tasks. We leverage the CNNs capability to learn patterns and use one accelerator to perform multiple uncorrelated tasks from different modalities and achieve an average accuracy above 90%, which would otherwise require three accelerators. Two types of CNN architectures (i.e., fused and branched) are evaluated for three distinct tasks based on accuracy, quantization, pruning, hardware resource utilization, power, and latency. Capitalizing on this, we have further proposed a runtime reconfigurable CNN accelerator supporting fault-tolerant (FT), high-performance (HP), and de-stress (DS) modes.