Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Modeling of Thermally Aware Carbon Nanotube and Graphene Based Post CMOS VLSI Interconnect

Computational framework shown Fig. 7. is useful to estimate electrical properties of any emerging interconnect materials. Few key results, 1. Graphene/Copper (G/Cu) is better in terms of electrical and thermal conductivity. 2. G/Cu has more DOS near Fermi energy to be more conductive. 3. G/Cu provides more thermal dissipation pathway than Cu or Graphene only interconnect. 4. Compatible with CMOS and good candidate for 5nm node.
Nomogram to Predict Overall and Cancer-Specific Survival in Patients with Synovial Sarcoma in the Extremities: A Population-Based Study

Background Synovial sarcoma is a rare disease, and synovial sarcoma that first appears in the extremities accounts for more than 80% of cases. We established two nomograms to predict the overall survival (OS) and cancer-specific survival (CSS) rates of patients with synovial sarcoma. Methods A total of 227 patients diagnosed with synovial sarcoma in the extremities between 2010 and 2015 were extracted from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database. Univariate and multivariate Cox analyses were performed to explore independent prognostic factors and to create two separate nomograms for OS and CSS. The C-index, the area under the curve (AUC), calibration curve, decision curve analysis (DCA), and Kaplan–Meier (KM) curve were used to evaluate the column line graphs and analyze prognostic factors. Results Age, Stage M, and surgery were identified as independent prognostic factors for OS and CSS. The ROC curve showed good discriminative power for the nomogram. Calibration curves and DCA curves showed that the nomogram had a satisfactory ability to predict OS and CSS. The KM curve showed that chemotherapy alone did not affect patient survival. Conclusion Age, Stage M, and surgery are variables that affect OS and CSS in patients with synovial sarcoma in the extremities. Two nomograms were established based on the above variables to provide patients with more accurate individual survival predictions and to help physicians make appropriate clinical decisions.
Fifteen-year mortality and prognostic factors in patients with dilated cardiomyopathy: persistent standardized application of drug therapy and strengthened management may bring about encouraging change in an aging society

BACKGROUND There is scarce data on the long-term mortality and associated prognostic factors in patients with dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM). The study aimed to investigate the all-cause mortality up to 15 years (mean 7.9 ± 5.7 years) in such patients, and the independent prognostic factors influencing their long-term mortality. METHODS One hundred and sixty-six consecutive patients with DCM were prospectively enrolled from 2002 to 2003. The mean age of patients was 59.5 ± 10.4 years, and approximately 57% were male. They were followed up by telephone or outpatient visit at least every three months until 2019 or all-cause death occurred. Predictors of mortality were identified using multivariate logistic regression analysis. RESULTS During the 15 years of follow-up, five patients were lost to follow-up, and the complete data records of 161 patients were included in the analysis. Patients were treated with angiotensin-converting-enzyme inhibitors (ACEI) or angiotensin-receptor blocker (ARB), β-blockers, mineralocorticoid receptor antagonist (MRA), diuretics and digitalis from 2002 to 2004, and maintained at the maximum tolerated doses between 2004 and 2019. Our safety targets to maintain heart rate and blood pressure at 60-80 beats/min and 90-120/60-80 mmHg, respectively. All-cause mortality in the first five years was 55.9%. The independent risk factors for the 5-year mortality were age ≥ 70 years old (OR = 5.45, P = 0.006), systolic blood pressure (SBP) > 120 mmHg (OR = 3.63, P = 0.004), 6-minute walk distance (6MWD) < 450 m (OR = 3.84, P = 0.001). 15-year all-cause mortality was 65.8%. The independent risk factors for 15-year mortality were age ≥ 70 years old (OR = 16.07, P = 0.009), LVEF ≤ 35% (OR = 5.69, P = 0.003), and SBP > 120 mmHg (OR = 9.56, P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS This study was the first to demonstrate the 15-year survival rate of 34% in DCM patients. The DCM patients’ first five-year all-cause mortality decreased significantly after continuous standardized treatment and intensive management. The mortality then plateaued in the following 10 years. Age ≥ 70 years, LVEF ≤ 35%, and SBP > 120 mmHg were independent predictors of 15-year all-cause mortality.
Comparative study of active anti‐islanding schemes compatible with MICs in the prospect of high penetration levels and weak grid conditions

: This work presents the first comprehensive study of active anti-islanding techniques suitable for module integrated converters (MICs), which considers the high penetration level of photovoltaics (or other distributed energy resources) at low-voltage distribution networks. As such, the state of the art in anti-islanding methods are presented and the most appealing solutions compatible with MICs are selected and experimentally evaluated, reaching to some valuable conclusions from the perspective of MICs. In order to compare these methods under the same operating conditions and specifications, a benchmark is set based on zero non-detection zone, reduced false-detection zone, and power-quality requirements compliance. Based on comparative results, the most suitable methods for wide MICs penetration in low-voltage distribution networks are suggested.
Internet Privacy Concerns: A Replication and Parsimonious Extension

Privacy concerns is a widely used construct in Information Systems research. Several different conceptualizations and taxonomies have been proposed but the Internet Privacy Concerns construct by Hong & Thong (2013) offers a more comprehensive approach to integrate previous research. The Internet Privacy Concerns construct is operationalized by an 18-item scale with six sub-dimensions. The present study aims to replicate and validate the best fitting model previously identified as a third-order construct with two second-order constructs, and six first-order dimensions. In addition, this research proposes a more parsimonious three-item criterion measure of internet privacy concerns which can offer researchers a more participant-friendly approach to measuring this relevant construct in IS research. Preliminary results are presented which confirm the original model and support the new criterion measures for internet privacy concerns, called hereafter Parsimonious Internet Privacy Concerns (PIPC) scale.
Beam-Column Moment Connections for Composite Frames: Part 2

This is the second of two companion papers addressing the behavior and design of moment connections between structural steel beams and reinforced concrete or composite columns. Due to the traditional separation of steel and concrete design, there is currently a need for guidelines to design such connections. In this paper, a design model and recommendations are presented for detailing and calculating the nominal strength for composite beam-column joints. The design model is based on two limiting modes of failure: panel shear and bearing of the steel flanges against the concrete. Panel shear strength reflects enhancement achieved through mobilization of the reinforced concrete panel using vertical stiffener (bearing) plates and steel erection columns attached to the steel beam. Bearing strength can be increased by vertical joint reinforcement attached to the steel beam. In the recommendations, detailing considerations for the structural steel and reinforcing bars are included. Finally, calculated results based on the proposed design model are compared with recent tests of composite connections.
A High-Order Transport Scheme for Collisional-Radiative and Nonequilibrium Plasma

Abstract : A series of shock tube experiments performed in the 1970s at the Institute for Aerospace Studies, University of Toronto, led in the discovery of instabilities in relaxing shock structures in noble gases under hypervelocity conditions. The instabilities were oscillatory in nature and found to affect the entire shock structure including the translational front, induction zone, and electron avalanche. Theoretical models were first developed in order to reproduce the length and time scales of the observed quasi-equilibrium state, and later extended to include unsteady plasma-dynamic simulations that verified the influence of pressure oscillations in one dimension. Despite these attempts, a complete explanation for the oscillations nor a quantitative analysis of the multi-dimensional shock structure has been provided to date. This dissertation builds upon previous modeling efforts, extending the numerical simulations to a high level of accuracy and detail so that coupling of complex wave phenomena and nonequilibrium effects can be well resolved. This has necessitated the development of a numerical capability aimed at relaxing shock layers and other unsteady, high-enthalpy nonequilibrium plasmas and is the focus of much of this work. The plasma is described as a two-temperature, single fluid with the electronic states convected as separate species. Solution of the convective transport is handled via upwind shock-capturing techniques, extended to third-order on general curvilinear meshes.
Dynamic evolution control based power sharing method for hybrid energy storage system

In this study, a new dynamic evolution control (DEC) based power sharing method is proposed for hybrid energy storage system (HESS) with photovoltaic in the isolated DC grid application. The proposed control approach solves the current controller conflict problem in HESS and provides faster DC link voltage restoration. A DEC method is implemented to control the battery current, supercapacitor current and DC link voltage. A DEC method uses a predictive term and feed-forward term to regulate the current and voltage in the system. In the proposed control method, the battery supports the average power demand in the system. The supercapacitor supports the transient power demand, uncompensated power from the battery and error voltage term. Thus, it results in faster DC link voltage restoration and less stress in the battery system. The detailed design of the system parameters and controller parameters is presented in this study. Simulation and experimental studies validate the effectiveness of the proposed control method.
Expansion microscopy allows high resolution single cell analysis of epigenetic readers

Abstract Interactions between epigenetic readers and histone modifications play a pivotal role in gene expression regulation and aberrations can enact etiopathogenic roles in both developmental and acquired disorders like cancer. Typically, epigenetic interactions are studied by mass spectrometry or chromatin immunoprecipitation sequencing. However, in these methods, spatial information is completely lost. Here, we devise an expansion microscopy based method, termed Expansion Microscopy for Epigenetics or ExEpi, to preserve spatial information and improve resolution. We calculated relative co-localization ratios for two epigenetic readers, lens epithelium derived growth factor (LEDGF) and bromodomain containing protein 4 (BRD4), with marks for heterochromatin (H3K9me3 and H3K27me3) and euchromatin (H3K36me2, H3K36me3 and H3K9/14ac). ExEpi confirmed their preferred epigenetic interactions, showing co-localization for LEDGF with H3K36me3/me2 and for BRD4 with H3K9/14ac. Moreover addition of JQ1, a known BET-inhibitor, abolished BRD4 interaction with H3K9/14ac with an IC50 of 137 nM, indicating ExEpi could serve as a platform for epigenetic drug discovery. Since ExEpi retains spatial information, the nuclear localization of marks and readers was determined, which is one of the main advantages of ExEpi. The heterochromatin mark, H3K9me3, is located in the nuclear rim whereas LEDGF co-localization with H3K36me3 and BRD4 co-localization with H3K9/14ac occur further inside the nucleus.
The philosophy of Hans‐Georg Gadamer: An exemplar of the complicated relationship between philosophy and nursing practice

Abstract Philosophy has a complicated relationship with nursing practice. Selected concepts from Hans‐Georg Gadamer's Truth and Method specifically prejudice, conversation, and language are articulated. An exemplar involving nursing practice at an outpatient clinic for women seeking pre‐ and postbreast cancer care is offered to explicate these concepts. We considered the fit of Gadamer's philosophy, particularly the concept of conversation, within a public health nursing practice context in home and community settings of the client/family and offered tentative conclusions. To extend the discussion of the relationship between philosophy and nursing practice, we posed questions developed to provide deeper insight into this complicated relationship.
BACE-1 inhibition facilitates the transition from homeostatic microglia to DAM-1

BACE-1 is required for generating β-amyloid (Aβ) peptides in Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Here, we report that microglial BACE-1 regulates the transition of homeostatic to stage 1 disease-associated microglia (DAM-1) signature. BACE-1 deficiency elevated levels of transcription factors including Jun, Jund, Btg2, Erg1, Junb, Fos, and Fosb in the transition signature, which transition from more homeostatic to highly phagocytic DAM-1. Consistently, similar transition-state microglia in human AD brains correlated with lowered levels of BACE-1 expression. Targeted deletion of Bace-1 in adult 5xFAD mice microglia elevated these phagocytic microglia, correlated with significant reduction in amyloid plaques without synaptic toxicity. Silencing or pharmacologically inhibiting BACE-1 in cultured microglia-derived cells shows higher phagocytic function in microglia. Mechanistic exploration suggests that abolished cleavage of IL-1R2 and Toll-like receptors via BACE-1 inhibition contributes to the enhanced signaling via the PI3K and p38 MAPK kinase pathway. Together, targeted inhibition of BACE-1 in microglia may offer AD treatment.
Delays in pulmonary decline in eteplirsen‐treated patients with Duchenne muscular dystrophy

Pulmonary decline is a major issue in patients with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD). Eteplirsen is a United States–approved treatment for patients with DMD and exon 51 skip‐amenable mutations. Previous analyses have shown that eteplirsen is associated with a statistically significant attenuation of pulmonary decline. In this study we evaluate the effect of eteplirsen treatment from newly available data sources on pulmonary function over time in patients with DMD.
Clinical Significance and Molecular Annotation of Cellular Morphometric Subtypes in Lower Grade Gliomas discovered by Machine Learning.

BACKGROUND Lower grade gliomas (LGG) are heterogenous diseases by clinical, histological, and molecular criteria. We aimed to personalize the diagnosis and therapy of LGG patients by developing and validating robust cellular morphometric subtypes (CMS) and to uncover the molecular signatures underlying these subtypes. METHODS Cellular morphometric biomarkers (CMBs) were identified with artificial intelligence technique from TCGA-LGG cohort. Consensus clustering was used to define CMS. Survival analysis was performed to assess the clinical impact of CMBs and CMS. A nomogram was constructed to predict 3- and 5- year overall survival (OS) of LGG patients. Tumor mutational burden (TMB), and immune cell infiltration between subtypes were analyzed using the Mann-Whitney test. The double-blinded validation for important immunotherapy-related biomarkers were executed using immunohistochemistry (IHC). RESULTS We developed a machine learning pipeline to extract CMBs from whole slide images of tissue histology; identifying and externally validating robust CMS of LGGs in multi-center cohorts. The subtypes had independent predicted OS across all three independent cohorts. In the TCGA-LGG cohort, patients within the poor-prognosis subtype responded poorly to primary and follow-up therapies. LGGs within the poor-prognosis subtype were characterized by high mutational burden, high frequencies of copy number alterations, and high levels of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes and immune checkpoint genes. Higher levels of PD-1/PD-L1/CTLA-4 were confirmed by immunohistochemical staining. In addition, the subtypes learned from LGG demonstrates translational impact on glioblastoma (GBM). CONCLUSIONS We developed and validated a framework (CMS-ML) for CMS discovery in LGG associated with specific molecular alterations, immune micro-environment, prognosis, and treatment response.
Surface modification of poly(methyl‐methacrylate) with farnesol to prevent Candida biofilm formation

Candida albicans promotes biofilm formation on dentures, which compromises the use of poly(methyl‐methacrylate) (PMMA) as a dental material. Farnesol (FAR), a natural compound that prevents C. albicans filamentation and biofilm formation, was incorporated into the PMMA matrix, to obtain antifungal PMMA_FAR materials. The tested concentrations (0·0125% and 0·4%) of FAR, 24 h after incubation on YPD agar, inhibited filamentation of C. albicans. PMMA was modified with different FAR concentrations (3–12%), and physicochemical properties, antifungal activity and cytotoxicity of these modified materials (PMMA_FAR) were tested. The presence of FAR in PMMA_FAR composites was verified by Fourier‐transform infrared spectroscopy (FT‐IR). Incorporation of FAR into the polymeric matrix significantly decreased hydrophilicity at all tested concentrations and significantly reduced biofilm and planktonic cells metabolic activity in the early stage of biofilm formation at ≥6% FAR in PMMA. PMMA_FAR composites with <9% FAR were non‐toxic. Modification of PMMA with FAR is a good strategy for reducing C. albicans biofilm formation on dentures.
A measure of test case completeness (software, engineering)

When testing a computer program, it is not usually clear when to stop testing and, at the same time, have some level of assurance that the program is correct. This decision, as well as the selection of test cases, is often done in an ad hoc manner. This dissertation addresses a technique that can be used to gain assurance that the quality of test cases are improving. First, a metric is developed to measure the effectiveness of a set of test cases developed using a particular testing approach, such as statement coverage, branch coverage, multiple condition coverage, path testing, cause-effect graphing and mutation analysis. A single measurement approach for test cases is developed, regardless of the test approach used to generate the test cases. This metric is used to evaluate both structural and functional methods for generating test cases. Next, a composite metric is constructed based on metrics developed for the approaches that were evaluated. This composite metric is shown, for the examples studied, to increase as the number of errors discovered increases. That is, by adding more test cases in a manner that increases the composite metric, one is likely to find more program errors than by adding test cases in a random manner. In addition, by applying regression analysis, some of the components of the composite metric are shown to be a predictor of the reliability of the programs in the sample studied. It is also shown that the cause-effect graphing and equivalent normal form approaches to test case generation produce the same test cases. The equivalent normal form method is more algorithmic and easier to implement.
The phagocytic cyst cells in Drosophila testis eliminate germ cell progenitors via phagoptosis

Phagoptosis is a frequently occurring nonautonomous cell death pathway in which phagocytes eliminate viable cells. While it is thought that phosphatidylserine (PS) “eat-me” signals on target cells initiate the process, the precise sequence of events is largely unknown. Here, we show that in Drosophila testes, progenitor germ cells are spontaneously removed by neighboring cyst cells through phagoptosis. Using live imaging with multiple markers, we demonstrate that cyst cell–derived early/late endosomes and lysosomes fused around live progenitors to acidify them, before DNA fragmentation and substantial PS exposure on the germ cell surface. Furthermore, the phagocytic receptor Draper is expressed on cyst cell membranes and is necessary for phagoptosis. Significantly, germ cell death is blocked by knockdown of either the endosomal component Rab5 or the lysosomal associated protein Lamp1, within the cyst cells. These data ascribe an active role for phagocytic cyst cells in removal of live germ cell progenitors.
A concise review of the orofacial mesenchymal stromal cells as a novel therapy for neurological diseases and injuries

Orofacial mesenchymal stromal cells (OFMSCs) are mesenchymal stromal cells isolated from the oral and facial regions, which possess typical mesenchymal stromal cell features such as self‐renewing, multilineage differentiation, and immunoregulatory properties. Recently, increasing studies have been carried out on the neurotrophic and neuroregenerative properties of OFMSCs as well as their potential to treat neurological diseases. In this review, we summarize the current evidence and discuss the prospects regarding the therapeutic potential of OFMSCs as a new approach to treat different neurological diseases and injuries.
Curcumin slow‐release membrane promotes erectile function and penile rehabilitation in a rat model of cavernous nerve injury

Male erectile dysfunction (ED) caused by cavernous nerve injury is a common complication of pelvic surgery, radiotherapy, transurethral surgery or other operations. However, clinical treatment for iatrogenic or traumatic male ED is difficult and not satisfactory. Many studies have shown that curcumin can promote the repair and regeneration of peripheral nerves; however, whether curcumin can rescue cavernous nerve injury is unknown, and the poor bioavailability of curcumin limits its application in vivo. Hence, the study was conducted. A curved slow‐release membrane was produced, and the properties were examined. In addition, the effects of the curcumin slow‐release membrane on cavernous nerve‐injured SD rats were studied. We found that polylactic acid‐glycolic acid‐polyethylene glycol (PLGA‐PEG) can be used as a good carrier material for curcumin, and curcumin‐loaded PLGA‐PEG membranes can effectively rescue the cavernous nerve in SD rats, restore the continuity of the cavernous nerve, and increase the expression of nNOS mRNA and proteins in penile tissue, which can improve the penile erectile function of injured SD rats, reduce the degree of penile tissue fibrosis, and effectively promote penis rehabilitation. The curcumin slow‐release membrane is proposed to be a new therapeutic approach for penile rehabilitation of cavernous nerve injury.