Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Development and Evaluation of a Pliable Biological Valved Conduit. Part II: Functional and Hemodynamic Evaluation

Many congenital cardiac malformations may require a valved conduit for the reconstruction of the right ventricular outflow tract. In spite of many endeavors made in the last 25 years, the clinical results of right ventricular outflow tract reconstruction with currently available valved conduits are still not satisfactory. Specific problems encountered clinically include suboptimal hemodynamic performance, conduit kinking or compression, and fibrous peeling from the luminal surface. To address these deficiencies, we undertook the development of a biological valved conduit: a bovine external jugular vein graft with a retained native valve cross-linked with a diglycidyl ether (DE). This study, using a canine model, was to evaluate the functional and hemodynamic performance of this newly developed valved conduit. Three 14 mm conduits, implanted as bypass grafts, right ventricle to pulmonary artery, were evaluated. The evaluation was conducted with a noninvasive color Doppler flow mapping system at pre-implantation, immediately post implantation, one- and three-months post implantation, and prior to retrieval (five-months post implantation). The two-dimensional tomographic inspection of the leaflet motion at various periods post implantation showed that the valvular leaflets in the DE treated conduit was quite pliable. No cardiac failure or valvular dysfunction was observed in any of the studied cases. The color Doppler flow mapping study demonstrated that the valve in the DE treated conduit was competent, with no conduit kinking or compression observed in any of the three cases. The spectral Doppler velocity study evidenced that the transvalvular pressure gradients of the DE treated conduit were minimal as compared to those of the currently available conduits. In conclusion, from the functional and hemodynamic performance points of view, this newly developed valved conduit is superior to those currently available.
Information security in practices: Exploring privacy and trust in computer and inernet surveillance

Computer and internet surveillance is widely used in organizations to monitor employees’ activities on computers and the internet. Even though computer and internet surveillance helps to protect and secure property in an enterprise, employees are concerned that their privacy rights have been invaded under constant surveillance. Studies have been performed to investigate the effect of organizational settings, with different types of cultures having different effects on the implementation of surveillance practices and policies. In addition, employees’ trust of surveillance systems and policies has been investigated. This study demonstrated that practicing computer and internet surveillance in different organizational cultures reveals different perceptions of information privacy and trust. This explains why the results of the practice of electronic surveillance vary depending on the type of enterprise. This study provides a better understanding of employees’ perceptions of privacy and trust in practicing computer and internet surveillance. Keywords—information security; information privacy; trust; computer surveillance; internet surveillance
Microfabricated nanochannel implantable drug delivery devices: trends, limitations and possibilities

This is a review of the application of microfabrication technologies, borrowed from the semiconductor industry, to drug delivery implants incorporating structures in the nanometer dimension. In the futuristic ideal, these systems would involve the implantation of precisely microfabricated drug delivery systems with nanopores, nanochannels and/or nanoreservoirs fabricated from silicon, coupled with electronic sensing and actuator systems, for the precise, timed and/or targeted delivery of drugs. After more than a decade in conceptualisation and experimentation, four systems that have commercial potential are discussed: i) implantable microchips with on-demand microdosage for one or more therapeutic agents under internal control or external control using a wireless link; ii) nanopore pumps, implantable titanium pumps, consisting of a drug reservoir with a nanopore-release membrane, capable of delivering potent small or macromolecules at constant serum levels for sustained periods of time; iii) nanocages, microfabricated nanopore immunoisolation chambers for cellular implants, capable of natural feedback-controlled delivery of proteins and peptides; and iv) nanobuckets, micromachined silicon porous particles with drug-loading capacity and targeting ligands for localised delivery. Each of the systems, along with future trends in microfabrication manufacturing, limitations and possibilities, are discussed.
Interaction between Platelet Glycoprotein Ibα and Filamin-1 Is Essential for Glycoprotein Ib/IX Receptor Anchorage at High Shear*

The interaction of the glycoprotein (GP) Ib-V-IX receptor complex with the membrane skeleton of platelets is dependent on a specific interaction between the cytoplasmic tail of GPIbα and filamin-1. This interaction has been proposed to regulate key aspects of platelet function, including the ligand binding of GPIb-V-IX and the ability of the cells to sustain adhesion to von Willebrand factor (vWf) under high shear. In this study we have examined sequences in the GPIbα intracellular domain necessary for interaction of the receptor with filamin-1. We have identified two adjacent sequences involving amino acids 557–568 and 569–579 of the GPIbα cytoplasmic domain that are critical for normal association between the receptor complex and filamin-1. Under flow conditions, Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells expressing these two mutant receptors exhibited an increase in translocation velocity that was associated with increased cell detachment from the vWf matrix at high shear. The shear-dependent acceleration in velocity of mutant Δ557–568 and Δ569–579 CHO cells was associated with a critical defect in receptor anchorage, evident from significant extraction of GPIb-IX from the CHO cell membrane at high shear. These studies define a critical role for amino acids within the 557–579 sequence of GPIbα for interaction with filamin-1.
The Structural Elaboration of Board Independence: Executive Power, Institutional Logics, and the Adoption of CEO-Only Board Structures in U.S. Corporate Governance

This study builds on structural elaboration theory by developing a model to explain the adoption of board structures that appear to conform to the prevailing institutional logic, but that in fact contradict it. We test our theory with the case of CEO-only board structures, a formal increase in board independence that prior research has shown to lead to greater CEO entrenchment rather than increased shareholder value. Using an event history analysis of the Fortune 250 over a 27-year period, we examine three mechanisms that drive its adoption: executive interests, executive power and elaboration opportunities. We show that the CEO-only structure is more likely to occur in firms where the CEO is more powerful and where a higher proportion of insiders predate the CEO. We also find that powerful CEOs are more likely to realize the structural change following institutional opportunities like the passage of Sarbanes Oxley and organizational contingencies like positive changes in firm performance. By exploring the mechanisms leading to the proliferation of the CEO-only structure, our study contributes to socio-political perspectives on corporate governance as well as to theories of institutional logics and structural elaboration.
Oligodendrocyte Specification in Zebrafish Requires Notch-Regulated Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor Function

Cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitors (Cdkis) influence both cell-cycle progression and differentiation of neural cells. However, the precise roles of Cdkis in coordinating formation of neurons and glia and the mechanisms that regulate expression of genes that encode Cdkis in the vertebrate CNS remain unknown. Here, we report that, in zebrafish, expression of the Cdki gene cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor 1c (cdkn1c), a p57 homolog, is negatively regulated by Delta-Notch signaling and that Cdkn1c function is required for neural plate cells to stop dividing and differentiate as neurons on schedule, even in the absence of Notch signaling activity. Furthermore, Cdkn1c function is required for specification of oligodendrocytes from ventral spinal cord precursors. We propose that levels of cdkn1c expression are an important factor in regulating neural development: high levels of Cdkn1c promote cell-cycle exit and neuronal development, whereas, during late embryogenesis, neural cells that have low but functional levels of Cdkn1c, regulated by Notch activity, are specified for oligodendrocyte fate.
Convergence of stakeholders’ environmental threat perceptions following mass coral bleaching of the Great Barrier Reef

Managing human use of ecosystems in an era of rapid environmental change requires an understanding of diverse stakeholders’ behaviors and perceptions to enable effective prioritization of actions to mitigate multiple threats. Specifically, research examining how threat perceptions are shared or diverge among stakeholder groups and how these can evolve through time is increasingly important. We investigated environmental threat perceptions related to Australia's Great Barrier Reef and explored their associations before and after consecutive years of mass coral bleaching. We used data from surveys of commercial fishers, tourism operators, and coastal residents (n = 5254) conducted in 2013 and 2017. Threats perceived as most serious differed substantially among groups before bleaching but were strongly aligned after bleaching. Climate change became the most frequently reported threat by all stakeholder groups following the coral bleaching events, and perceptions of fishing and poor water quality as threats also ranked high. Within each of the 3 stakeholder groups, fishers, tourism operators, and coastal residents, the prioritization of these 3 threats tended to diverge in 2013, but convergence occurred after bleaching. These results indicate an emergence of areas of agreement both within and across stakeholder groups. Changes in perceptions were likely influenced by high‐profile environmental‐disturbance events and media representations of threats. Our results provide insights into the plasticity of environmental‐threat perceptions and highlight how their convergence in response to major events may create new opportunities for strategic public engagement and increasing support for management.
External Wrench Estimation, Collision Detection, and Reflex Reaction for Flying Robots

Flying in unknown environments may lead to unforeseen collisions, which may cause serious damage to the robot and/or its environment. In this context, fast and robust collision detection combined with safe reaction is, therefore, essential and may be achieved using external wrench information. Also, deliberate physical interaction requires a control loop designed for such a purpose and may require knowledge of the contact wrench. In principle, the external wrench may be measured or estimated. Whereas measurement poses large demands on sensor equipment, additional weight, and overall system robustness, in this paper we present a novel model-based method for external wrench estimation in flying robots. The algorithm is based on the onboard inertial measurement unit and the robot's dynamics model only. We design admittance and impedance controllers that use this estimate for sensitive and robust physical interaction. Furthermore, the performance of several collision detection and reaction schemes is investigated in order to ensure collision safety. The identified collision location and associated normal vector located on the robot's convex hull may then be used for sensorless tactile sensing. Finally, a low-level collision reflex layer is provided for flying robots when obstacle avoidance fails, also under wind influence. Our experimental and simulation results show evidence that the methodologies are easily implemented and effective in practice.
Computer Systems for Analysis of Nahuatl

This article describes two computer systems that allow us to analyze words written in the Nahuatl language. The main goal is the diffusion and preservation of indigenous language with great historical, linguistic, literary and nationalistic relevance by developing language resources for Nahuatl. One system automatically gets prefixes or suffixes of words from a text written in Nahuatl. This system was developed because Nahuatl writing contains agglutination, i.e. prefixes and/or suffixes are added to the root of a word to give it specific meaning. The other system is a Nahuatl to Spanish translator and vice versa, which also shows semantic information related to the terms in Nahuatl. This information includes the root, or roots of words as well as its grammatical category, which can be: a noun, adjective, pronoun, preposition, conjunction, article, adverb, verb or interjection. The system currently contains 1,514 terms.
Din Kültürü ve Ahlak Bilgisi Öğretmenlerinin Bilgisayar Teknolojilerini Kullanım Düzeylerine İlişkin Görüşleri

OZET: Bu arastirmanin amaci, Din Kulturu ve Ahlak Bilgisi ogretmenlerinin ogrenme ve ogretme sureclerinde bilgisayar teknolojilerinden yararlanma duzeylerini belirlemektir. Bu calisma nitel ve nicel verilerin birlikte kullanildigi tarama modelinde bir arastirmadir. Veriler Turkiye’nin cesitli illerinde gorev yapan 93 tane Din Kulturu ve Ahlak Bilgisi ogretmenlerinden online anket yoluyla toplanmistir. Arastirma evrenini Turkiye’de gorev yapan DKAB ogretmenleri olusturmaktadir. Arastirmanin orneklemini random (rastgele) olarak internet uzerinden ulasilan 93 tane ilkogretim ve orta ogretim kurumlarinda gorev yapan ogretmen olusturmaktadir. Veriler kapali ve acik uclu sorularin yer aldigi anket yoluyla toplanmistir. Verilerin analizinde nicel veri analiz tekniklerinden frekans ve yuzde hesaplari yapilmis nitel analiz tekniklerinden ise betimsel analiz teknigi kullanilmistir. Arastirma sonuclari tablolar halinde gosterilerek sonuclar degerlendirilmis ve cesitli onerilerde bulunulmustur.
Pharmacological treatment of severe dyslipidaemia in patients with schizophrenia

Mortality rates in patients with schizophrenia are double compared with the general population, with cardiovascular disease causing 50% of the excess. Lowering low-density lipoprotein cholesterol is recognized as a primary target for the prevention of cardiovascular mortality. The effects of lipid-lowering treatment were evaluated in patients with schizophrenia. Forty-six patients with schizophrenia and with severe dyslipidaemia were identified. All were treated with antipsychotics. Patients were screened for cardiovascular risk factors and examined at baseline when statin therapy was initiated. The effects of lipid-lowering medication on lipid profile, glucose homeostasis and components of metabolic syndrome were evaluated at 3 months follow-up. After 3 months of statin therapy, a significant decrease in triglycerides, total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, non-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and, in associated ratios, low-density lipoprotein/high-density lipoprotein, cholesterol/high-density lipoprotein was observed. No significant changes occurred in high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, body mass index, waist circumference or glucose homeostasis. The only component of metabolic syndrome affected by statin therapy has been the serum triglyceride level. Statins proved effective in the management of dyslipidaemia in patients with schizophrenia treated with antipsychotics. More complex treatment may be required for associated metabolic disturbances.
Localization of Glial Cell Line‐derived Neurotrophic Factor (GDNF) mRNA in Embryonic Rat by In Situ Hybridization

The localization of glial cell line‐derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) mRNA was studied by in situhybridization in rat from embryonic (E) day E10 to E15. At E10, GDNF mRNA is found in the urogenital field and the cranial part of the gut. At E11, the most abundant expression of GDNF mRNA is seen in the epithelial cells of the second, third and fourth pharyngeal pouches, the third and fourth pharyngeal arches and pharynx. Also mesenchymal cells of the gut and mesonephric tubules contain GDNF mRNA. At E13, expression is observed in the mesenchymal cell layers of the oesophagus, intestine and stomach, the mesenchymal cells around the condensing cartilages and metanephric kidney mesenchyme. Also, the epithelia of Rathke's pouch and pharynx are intensely labelled. High expression of GDNF mRNA continues at El5 in kidney, gastrointestinal tract and cartilage. At that stage, GDNF mRNA is seen also in whisker pad and skeletal muscles. The distribution of GDNF mRNA in embryonic rat suggests important roles for GDNF in the early differentiation of the kidney tubules, the innervation of the gastrointestinal tract and the differentiation process of the cartilage and muscle. Our results indicate novel functions for GDNF outside the nervous system.
Triaqua(7-oxabicyclo[2.2.1]heptane-2,3-dicarboxylato-κ3 O 2,O 3,O 7)cobalt(II) monohydrate

The title complex, [Co(C8H8O5)(H2O)3]·H2O, was synthesized by reaction of cobalt acetate with 7-oxabicyclo[2.2. 1]heptane-2,3-dicarboxylic anhydride (norcantharidin) in aqueous solution. In the molecule, the CoII atom is six-coordinated in a distorted octahedral environment, binding to the bridging O atom of the bicycloheptane unit, to two O atoms from monodentate carboxylate groups and to three water O atoms. The crystal structure is stabilized by several O—H⋯O hydrogen-bonding interactions involving both the coordinated and uncoordinated water molecules as donors and the carboxylate O atoms of neighbouring molecules as acceptors.
Analysis of floating offshore wind turbine hydrodynamics using coupled CFD and multibody methods

The focus of this study is the application of a higher order hydrodynamic modeling technique for the analysis of Floating Offshore Wind Turbine dynamics. This approach is based on a coupling between Multibody and Computational Fluid Dynamics methods. Results of the translational and rotational platform displacement are presented for a basic free-decay simulation in surge direction in still water. A comparison to linear hydrodynamics is presented. Additional, pressure mapping is demonstrated.
Exploring the Frontier of Electronic Health Record Surveillance: The Case of Postoperative Complications

Background:The aim of this study was to build electronic algorithms using a combination of structured data and natural language processing (NLP) of text notes for potential safety surveillance of 9 postoperative complications. Methods:Postoperative complications from 6 medical centers in the Southeastern United States were obtained from the Veterans Affairs Surgical Quality Improvement Program (VASQIP) registry. Development and test datasets were constructed using stratification by facility and date of procedure for patients with and without complications. Algorithms were developed from VASQIP outcome definitions using NLP-coded concepts, regular expressions, and structured data. The VASQIP nurse reviewer served as the reference standard for evaluating sensitivity and specificity. The algorithms were designed in the development and evaluated in the test dataset. Results:Sensitivity and specificity in the test set were 85% and 92% for acute renal failure, 80% and 93% for sepsis, 56% and 94% for deep vein thrombosis, 80% and 97% for pulmonary embolism, 88% and 89% for acute myocardial infarction, 88% and 92% for cardiac arrest, 80% and 90% for pneumonia, 95% and 80% for urinary tract infection, and 77% and 63% for wound infection, respectively. A third of the complications occurred outside of the hospital setting. Conclusions:Computer algorithms on data extracted from the electronic health record produced respectable sensitivity and specificity across a large sample of patients seen in 6 different medical centers. This study demonstrates the utility of combining NLP with structured data for mining the information contained within the electronic health record.
Occupational health: recognising and preventing work related disease and injury, 4th edition

Occupational health: recognising and preventing work related disease and injury, 4th edition Edited by: barry levy, david h wegman. (Pp 842; £37.00). 2000. Philadelphia: Lippincott Williams and Wilkins. ISBN: 0-7817-1954-2. This is the 4th edition of Occupational health: recognising and preventing work related disease and injury , edited, as before, by Levy and Wegman. Four editions—1983, 1988, 1995, and now 2000—says something in itself: there must be people out there buying it in sufficient numbers for the publishers to countenance the expense of a further edition. There must also be sufficient changes and updates between editions for some people to buy it again for the updates. The questions for the reader of this review must be: Is this a genuine update with additional relevant material to suit the new millennium and is the book …
Short Intensified Treatment in Children with Drug-susceptible Tuberculous Meningitis

Background:The World Health Organization recommends 12-month treatment (2RHZE/10RH) for children with tuberculous meningitis (TBM). Studies evaluating length of antituberculous treatment for TBM report similar completion and relapse rates comparing 6-month treatment with 12-month treatment.Methods:A