Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Thrombus aspiration in primary percutaneous coronary intervention in high‐risk patients with ST‐elevation myocardial infarction: A real‐world registry

Objectives: To evaluate the effect of thrombus aspiration in a real‐world all‐comer patient population with STEMI undergoing primary PCI. Background: Catheter thrombus aspiration in primary PCI was beneficial in randomized clinical trials. Methods: We enrolled 313 STEMI patients presenting with TIMI Flow Grade 0 or 1 in the infarct related artery at baseline angiogram undergoing primary PCI. Patients were divided in two groups based on whether thrombus aspiration was attempted. This decision was left at operator's discretion. Procedural and long‐term clinical outcomes were compared between the two groups. Results: Baseline characteristics were similar between groups: 194 (62%) received thrombus aspiration and 119 underwent conventional PCI. Thrombus aspiration was associated with significantly lower post‐PCI TIMI Frame Count values (19 ± 15 vs. 25 ± 17; P = 0.002) and higher TIMI Flow Grade 3 (92% vs. 73%; P < 0.001). Postprocedural myocardial perfusion assessed by myocardial blush grade (MBG) was significantly increased in the thrombus aspiration group (MBG 3: 44% vs. 21%; P < 0.001). No significant difference was found between the two groups in clinical outcome at 30 days. At one year, patients treated with thrombus aspiration showed significantly higher overall survival (HR 0.41, 95% CI 0.20–0.81; log‐rank P = 0.010) and MACE‐free survival (HR 0.49, 95% CI 0.28–0.85; log‐rank P = 0.011). Conclusions: In real‐world all‐comer STEMI patients with occluded infarct‐related artery, thrombus aspiration prior to PCI improves coronary flow, myocardial perfusion, and long‐term clinical outcome as compared with PCI in the absence of thrombus aspiration. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Spatial-Ethnic Inequalities: The Role of Location in the Estimation of Ethnic Wage Differentials

Analyses of ethnic and racial wage differentials neglect the fact that minorities cluster in urban and in more deprived areas. This paper estimates ethnic wage differentials by comparing minorities to the majority in the same local labour market and therefore facing similar socio-economic conditions. Location is important: in the UK ethnic wage differentials and their variation across areas are partly explained by job characteristics and especially occupation. Since minorities in some areas are worse off compared to minorities in other areas, there may be scope for policy to incentivise mobility of specific groups.
Coronary artery anomalies: detection on coronary artery calcium scoring scan.

OBJECTIVE The objective of this study was to evaluate the accuracy of coronary artery calcium scanning in identifying coronary anomalies and potentially high-risk interarterial courses. MATERIALS AND METHODS Ninety-five consecutive patients who were diagnosed with a coronary anomaly on CT coronary angiography were enrolled, and 95 age- and sex-matched individuals in whom any coronary anomalies were excluded on CT coronary angiography were used as control subjects (total, 190 patients; 106 men and 84 women; mean age, 58 +/- 12 years). The coronary artery calcium scan for each patient was retrospectively evaluated by three radiologists for the presence of coronary anomalies and the presence of an interarterial course in cases of suspected anomaly. Interobserver agreement was assessed. Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), and negative predictive value (NPV) of a coronary artery calcium scan for coronary anomalies and their interarterial courses were calculated, with CT coronary angiography as the reference standard. RESULTS Almost perfect interobserver agreement was achieved in evaluating coronary anomalies and interarterial courses (kappa = 0.81 and 0.92, respectively). We achieved a high grade of diagnostic performance of coronary artery calcium scanning in detecting coronary anomalies (sensitivity, 79-80%; specificity, 95-98%; PPV, 94-97%; and NPV, 82-83%) and interarterial courses (sensitivity, 88-91%; specificity, 95-97%; PPV, 84-91%; and NPV, 97%). CONCLUSION Coronary anomalies and interarterial courses were detected with great accuracy on coronary artery calcium scans.
Mortality in meconium aspiration syndrome in hospitalized babies.

OBJECTIVE To determine the outcome of the babies in terms of mortality with the diagnosis of Meconium Aspiration Syndrome (MAS). STUDY DESIGN An observational study. PLACE AND DURATION OF STUDY The Neonatal Unit of Services Institute of Medical Sciences and Services Hospital, Lahore, Pakistan, from February 2008 to January 2009. METHODOLOGY All the babies admitted to the neonatal unit during the period of study with the diagnosis of MAS were included. At admission, demographic, maternal, antenatal and natal data were recorded on a specific form. The progress of the baby, including need for ventilation, medications, complications and outcome were also followed and documented. RESULTS One hundred and nine babies admitted with MAS, 32% died. Most of the babies (n=73) were admitted from our obstetrical unit and the rest through the emergency department. Majority (60 of 109) were admitted within the 1st hour of life. Most (14 of 15) of the newborns requiring intubation within 1st hour of life, died. Forty four babies were ventilated and 35 of these babies succumbed. Of ventilated babies, 11 developed pneumothoraces. Seventy two percent (13 out of 18) of expired babies stayed for less than 24 hours. CONCLUSION Mortality rate for MAS was higher in the study group as compared to international figures. It was especially high in babies requiring mechanical ventilation in 1st hour of life or with co-existing severe hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy.
Characterizing the Shape of the Lumbar Spine Using an Active Shape Model: Reliability and Precision of the Method

Study Design. Analysis of positional magnetic resonance images of normal volunteers. Objective. To compare the reliability and precision of an active shape model to that of conventional lordosis measurements. Summary of Background Data. Characterization of lumbar lordosis commonly relies on measurement of angles; these have been found to have errors of around 10°. Methods. T2 weighted sagittal images of the lumbar spines of 24 male volunteers in the standing posture were acquired using a positional magnetic resonance scanner. An active shape model of the vertebral bodies from S1 to L1 was created. Lumbar lordosis was also determined by measuring the angles of the superior endplates. All measurements were performed twice by one observer and once by a second observer. Results. The shape model identified 2 modes of variation to describe the shape of the lumbar spine (mode 1 described curvature and mode 2 described evenness of curvature). Significant correlations were found between mode 1 and total lordosis (R = 0.97, P < 0.001) and between mode 2 and mean absolute deviation of segmental lordosis (R = 0.80, P < 0.001). Intra- and interobserver reliability was higher for the shape model (intraclass correlation coefficients, 0.98–1.00) than for the lordosis angle measurements (intraclass correlation coefficients, 0.68–0.99). The relative error of the shape model (mode 1 = 4%; mode 2 = 9%) was lower than the conventional measurements (total lordosis = 10%). Conclusion. The shape of the lumbar spine in the sagittal plane can be comprehensively characterized using a shape model. The results are more reliable and precise than measurements of lordosis calculated from endplate angles.
Scanning and transmission electron microscopy study of the microstructural changes occurring in aluminium matrix composites reinforced with SiC particles during casting and welding: interface reactions

Processing of aluminium matrix composites (AMCs), especially those constituted by a reactive system such as Al–SiC, presents great difficulties which limit their potential applications. The interface reactivity between SiC and molten Al generates an aluminium carbide which degrades the composite properties. Scanning and transmission electron microscopes equipped with energy‐dispersive X‐ray spectroscopes are essential tools for determining the structure and chemistry of the Al–SiC interfaces in AMCs and changes occurring during casting and arc welding. In the present work, an aluminium–copper alloy (AA2014) reinforced with three different percentages of SiC particles was subjected to controlled remelting tests, at temperatures in the range 750–900 °C for 10 and 30 min. Arc welding tests using a tungsten intert gas with power inputs in the range 850–2000 W were also carried out. The results of these studies showed that during remelting there is preferential SiC particle consumption with formation of Al4C3 by interface reaction between the solid SiC particle and the molten aluminium matrix. The formation of Al4C3 by the same mechanism has also been detected in molten pools of arc welded composites. However, in this case there was formation of an almost continuous layer of Al4C3, which protects the particle against further consumption, and formation of aciculate aluminium carbide on the top weld. Both are formed by fusion and dissolution of the SiC in molten aluminium followed by reaction and precipitation of the Al4C3 during cooling.
Mutagenic analysis of the coronavirus intergenic consensus sequence

Previously, a system in which an intergenic region from mouse hepatitis virus (MHV) inserted into an MHV defective interfering (DI) RNA led to transcription of a subgenomic DI RNA in helper virus-infected cells was established. In the present study, a DI cDNA containing one UCUAAAC consensus sequence in the middle of the 0.3-kb-long intergenic region located between genes 6 and 7 was constructed. From this DI cDNA clone, 21 mutant DI RNAs were constructed so that each of the seven consensus sequence nucleotides was changed individually to the three alternative bases. These mutants were used to define how changes in the integrity of MHV transcription consensus sequence UCUAAAC affected mRNA transcription. Except for two mutants with the sequences UGUAAAC and UCGAAAC, all of the mutants supported efficient subgenomic DI RNA transcription. This indicated that MHV transcription regulation was sufficiently flexible to recognize altered consensus sequences. Next, these and other mutants were used to examine the leader-body fusion site on the subgenomic DI RNAs. Sequence analysis demonstrated that all subgenomic DI RNAs analyzed contained two pentanucleotide sequences; the first sequence seemed to be contributed by the leader, and the leader-body fusion most likely took place at either the first or the second nucleotide of the second sequence. This observation was not consistent with the proposed coronavirus transcription model (S. C. Baker and M. M. C. Lai, EMBO J. 9:4173-4179, 1990) which states that nucleotide mismatch can be corrected by RNA polymerase proofreading activity.
Students' Perceptions of a Middle School STEM Innovation and Design Course

Dr. Meltem Alemdar is Associate Director and Senior Research Scientist at Georgia Tech’s Center for Education Integrating Science, Mathematics, and Computing (CEISMC). Her research focuses on improving K-12 STEM education through research on curriculum development, teacher professional development, and student learning in integrated STEM environments. Her interests also include evaluation of K-12 STEM initiatives that target low income and minority students. Dr. Alemdar has experience evaluating programs that fall under the umbrella of educational evaluation, including K-12 educational curricula, K-12 STEM programs after-school programs, and comprehensive school reform initiatives. She received her Ph.D. in Research, Measurement and Statistics from the Department of Education Policy at Georgia State University (GSU).
A Profile of Entrepreneurship Research Centers: Orientations, Interests, Activities, and Resources

One indication of progress in the field of entrepreneurship is its growing number of research centers. Their potential to hasten and guide the field's development warrants scholars’ attention to their role in entrepreneurship research. We report the results of a survey of entrepreneurship research centers conducted in 1988. Twenty-nine centers provided usable responses to our questionnaire. We report and analyze their ages, affiliations, and principal research constituencies; several dimensions of their research orientations; their research budgets and the types of support they provide; and how their findings are disseminated. Our analyses detect a pattern of associations among larger budgets, applications-based research orientations, and the presence of state or local governments as a principal constituent of a center. Finally we analyze research centers’ topical interests, comparing them to those of researchers.
Udder health and female fertility traits are favourably correlated and support each other in multi-trait evaluations.

Genetic parameters were estimated for protein yield (PY), clinical mastitis (CM), somatic cell score, number of inseminations (NI) and days from calving to first insemination (CFI) in first-parity Swedish Red cows by series of tri-variate linear animal models. The heritability of PY was moderate (0.34 ± 0.004), and the heritabilities of the functional traits were all low (0.014 ± 0.001-0.14 ± 0.004). The genetic correlation between CM and CFI (0.38 ± 0.05) was stronger than the correlation between CM and NI (0.05 ± 0.06), perhaps because CM and CFI usually are observed in early lactation when the cow is likely to be in negative energy balance, whereas NI generally is recorded when the cow is not in negative energy balance any more. The genetic correlation between NI and CFI was very close to zero (-0.002 ± 0.05), indicating that these two fertility traits have different genetic backgrounds. All genetic correlations between PY and the functional traits were moderate and unfavourable, ranging from 0.22 ± 0.02 to 0.47 ± 0.03. In addition, the effect of including genetic and phenotypic correlations between the trait groups milk production, udder health and female fertility on the accuracy of the selection index was quantified for a heifer, a cow and a proven bull. The difference between the accuracy obtained by multi-trait and single-trait evaluations was largest for the cow (0.012) and small for the heifer and the bull (0.006 and 0.004) because the phenotype of the cow for one trait could assist in predicting the Mendelian sampling term for a correlated trait.
Growth Effects of Economic Globalization: A Cross-Country Analysis

This paper analyses the effect of economic globalization indicators on economic growth through the channels of Total Factor Productivity (TFP) by using panel data approach and conducting policy simulations. The analysis is done on cross-country framework comprising developed, developing and least-developed countries in the post-liberalization period. The study also derives country-specific implications for India. The results show that most globalization indicators lead to higher total factor productivity with the exception of imports. Of the globalization indicators, FDI is beneficial for high--income economies and export is important for the low-income economies. The policy simulations prove that India has fared better than some advanced economies despite belonging to the lower-middle-income category which is synonymous with Indiaâ€™s growth story.
Influence of Thermal Extraction of Extracellular Polymeric Substances on Cell Integrity in Activated Sludge and Membrane Bioreactor Samples

The influence of the soluble microbial products (SMP) and extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) heating extraction method on cell viability was evaluated for each phase of the protocol using epifluorescence microscopy. In addition, the effect of different centrifugation conditions (2700 g at 24 °C; 12 000 g at 4 °C) was also tested. Sludge samples were collected from a conventional wastewater treatment and a membrane bioreactor (MBR) pilot plant fed in parallel. Results show that different centrifugation parameters do not induce cell membrane damaging. Heating significantly influences membrane integrity; for instance, 75 to 90% of initial viable cells are damaged during this phase, possibly leading to the predominance of protein compared to carbohydrate content. The protein content in EPS is 60 to 88 mg bovine serum albumin/g volatile suspended solids (VSS); higher values observed in MBR sludge samples are probably attributable to the different characteristics of microbial flocs and process operating parameters. Carbohydrate concentrations are not significantly different regardless of applied procedure and sludge type, and are between 10.4 to 11.6 mg glucose/g VSS.
Development of an automated method of detecting stereotyped feeding events in multisensor data from tagged rorqual whales

Abstract The introduction of animal‐borne, multisensor tags has opened up many opportunities for ecological research, making previously inaccessible species and behaviors observable. The advancement of tag technology and the increasingly widespread use of bio‐logging tags are leading to large volumes of sometimes extremely detailed data. With the increasing quantity and duration of tag deployments, a set of tools needs to be developed to aid in facilitating and standardizing the analysis of movement sensor data. Here, we developed an observation‐based decision tree method to detect feeding events in data from multisensor movement tags attached to fin whales (Balaenoptera physalus). Fin whales exhibit an energetically costly and kinematically complex foraging behavior called lunge feeding, an intermittent ram filtration mechanism. Using this automated system, we identified feeding lunges in 19 fin whales tagged with multisensor tags, during a total of over 100 h of continuously sampled data. Using movement sensor and hydrophone data, the automated lunge detector correctly identified an average of 92.8% of all lunges, with a false‐positive rate of 9.5%. The strong performance of our automated feeding detector demonstrates an effective, straightforward method of activity identification in animal‐borne movement tag data. Our method employs a detection algorithm that utilizes a hierarchy of simple thresholds based on knowledge of observed features of feeding behavior, a technique that is readily modifiable to fit a variety of species and behaviors. Using automated methods to detect behavioral events in tag records will significantly decrease data analysis time and aid in standardizing analysis methods, crucial objectives with the rapidly increasing quantity and variety of on‐animal tag data. Furthermore, our results have implications for next‐generation tag design, especially long‐term tags that can be outfitted with on‐board processing algorithms that automatically detect kinematic events and transmit ethograms via acoustic or satellite telemetry.
Stray Inductance Reduction of Commutation Loop in the P-cell and N-cell-Based IGBT Phase Leg Module

This paper proposes a novel packaging method for insulated-gate bipolar transistor (IGBT) modules based on the concepts of P-cell and N-cell. The novel packaging reduces the stray inductance in the current commutation path in a phase-leg module and hence improves the switching behavior. A P-cell- and N-cell-based module and a conventional module are designed. Using finite-element-analysis-based Ansys Q3D Extractor, electromagnetic simulations are conducted to extract the stray inductance from the two modules. Two prototype phase-leg modules based on the two different designs are fabricated. The parasitics are measured using a precision impedance analyzer. Finally, a double pulse tester based-switching characterization is performed to illustrate the effect of stray inductance reduction in the proposed packaging design. The experimental results show the reduction in overshoot voltage with the proposed layout.
Endothelial Fcγ Receptor IIB Activation Blunts Insulin Delivery to Skeletal Muscle to Cause Insulin Resistance in Mice

Modest elevations in C-reactive protein (CRP) are associated with type 2 diabetes. We previously revealed in mice that increased CRP causes insulin resistance and mice globally deficient in the CRP receptor Fcγ receptor IIB (FcγRIIB) were protected from the disorder. FcγRIIB is expressed in numerous cell types including endothelium and B lymphocytes. Here we investigated how endothelial FcγRIIB influences glucose homeostasis, using mice with elevated CRP expressing or lacking endothelial FcγRIIB. Whereas increased CRP caused insulin resistance in mice expressing endothelial FcγRIIB, mice deficient in the endothelial receptor were protected. The insulin resistance with endothelial FcγRIIB activation was due to impaired skeletal muscle glucose uptake caused by attenuated insulin delivery, and it was associated with blunted endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) activation in skeletal muscle. In culture, CRP suppressed endothelial cell insulin transcytosis via FcγRIIB activation and eNOS antagonism. Furthermore, in knock-in mice harboring constitutively active eNOS, elevated CRP did not invoke insulin resistance. Collectively these findings reveal that by inhibiting eNOS, endothelial FcγRIIB activation by CRP blunts insulin delivery to skeletal muscle to cause insulin resistance. Thus, a series of mechanisms in endothelium that impairs insulin movement has been identified that may contribute to type 2 diabetes pathogenesis.
Assessing the Averch-Johnson-Wellisz Effect for Regulated Utilities

This paper expands upon the observation of Paul Joskow (2005) that exploration of the Averch-Johnson-Wellisz (AJW) effect over the previous fifteen years had been a waste of time and effort. In a non-random selection of 192 articles published since 1962, 39% fail to specify or provide results of tests for necessary pre-conditions for the effect and in almost all remaining articles a strong conclusion should not be reached due to problems with single-period estimation, capital price calculations, definitions of output, or input complementarities. In general, there is little evidence to suggest that there was ever an AJW effect.
A Fast Algorithm for Association Rules Mining Based on Binary Search on Binary

To mine the frequent item sets from database conveniently and rapidly, a novel approach for association rules mining is proposed in this paper. In our approach, a vector subspace is build from database and the problem of searching frequent sets in database is transformed into that of searching vectors in vector subspace based binary search. Studies show that our approach is not only simple because it scans the database only once, but also has the virtues of reducing the size of vector subspace and accelerating the searching process.