Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Prevalence of Subclavian Artery Stenosis in Patients with Peripheral Vascular Disease

Internal mammary arteries (IMA) as conduits in coronary artery bypass grafting are superior to saphenous vein grafts. If there is subclavian artery stenosis (SAS) proximal to the IMA graft, impairment of flow to the IMA may occur. If the stenosis is severe, retrograde flow from the grafted coronary artery to the brachial artery may lead to angina. Following the identification of 2 cases of angina secondary to subclavian artery stenosis at their institution, the authors prospectively performed arch angiography in a cohort of patients with manifestations of periph eral vascular disease undergoing diagnostic coronary angiography to assess the prevalence of subclavian stenosis. Fifty-two patients were enrolled in the protocol, with 48 patients having technically acceptable studies. Of these 48, 41.6% had measurable stenosis of at least one of the brachiocephalic arteries, with 35% of patients with at least a 30% stenosis of the left subclavian artery and 18.7% with more than 50% stenosis. They conclude that patients with significant peripheral vascular disease undergoing coronary angiography who are potential candidates for revascularization may benefit from arch angiography as part of their initial evaluation.
Market integration and extreme co-movements in APEC emerging equity markets

Extreme market co-movements in the context of time-varying market integration are investigated for APEC emerging equity markets using the concept of extreme correlation. We show that both foreign and domestic portfolio investments have contributed to extreme market movements; and extreme correlation is time-varying and dependent on local and regional market integrations. However, the relationship between market integration and extreme correlation varies across markets.
Neuromuscular training may reduce injuries of the anterior cruciate ligament in female athletes

1. Yoo JH, 2. Lim BO, 3. Ha M, 4. et al . Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthrosc 2010;18:824–30. [OpenUrl][1][CrossRef][2][PubMed][3][Web of Science][4] Injuries to the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) are common. Hewett et al 1 suggested that neuromuscular training reduces ACL injuries in female athletes, based on a systematic review where six studies were included. However, most of the studies were not randomised controlled trials and hence the review only provides preliminary evidence on the effectiveness of neuromuscular training. To evaluate the effectiveness of neuromuscular training in preventing ACL injuries in female athletes and to identify factors (age, type of sports, training time, programme component) that were associated with an effective programme. Four reviewers who were experienced in ACL injuries conducted a literature search in two databases (Medline and Cochrane Database for Systematic Reviews) … [1]: {openurl}? query=rft.jtitle%253DKnee%2Bsurgery%252C%2Bsports%2Btraumatology%252C%2Barthroscopy%2B%253A%2B%2Bofficial%2Bjournal%2Bof%2Bthe%2BESSKA%26rft.stitle%253DKnee%2BSurg%2BSports%2BTraumatol%2BArthrosc%26rft.aulast%253DYoo%26rft.auinit1%253DJ. %2BH. %26rft.volume%253D18%26rft.issue%253D6%26rft.spage%253D824%26rft.epage%253D830%26rft.atitle%253DA%2Bmeta-analysis%2Bof%2Bthe%2Beffect%2Bof%2Bneuromuscular%2Btraining%2Bon%2Bthe%2Bprevention%2Bof%2Bthe%2Banterior%2Bcruciate%2Bligament%2Binjury%2Bin%2Bfemale%2Bathletes. %26rft_id%253Dinfo%253Adoi%252F10.1007%252Fs00167-009-0901-2%26rft_id%253Dinfo%253Apmid%252F19760399%26rft.genre%253Darticle%26rft_val_fmt%253Dinfo%253Aofi%252Ffmt%253Akev%253Amtx%253Ajournal%26ctx_ver%253DZ39.88-2004%26url_ver%253DZ39.88-2004%26url_ctx_fmt%253Dinfo%253Aofi%252Ffmt%253Akev%253Amtx%253Actx [2]: /lookup/external-ref? access_num=10.1007/s00167-009-0901-2&link_type=DOI [3]: /lookup/external-ref? access_num=19760399&link_type=MED&atom=%2Fbjsports%2F45%2F8%2F680.atom [4]: /lookup/external-ref? access_num=000277789600022&link_type=ISI
Finger vein identification using polydirectional local line binary pattern

Local line binary pattern (LLBP), an improved version of local binary pattern (LBP), has the limitation that it can only extract horizontal and vertical line patterns, so that the effective information in an image may not be extracted and fully utilized. In this paper, we propose an extended LLBP method for finger vein identification, which is named polydirectional local line binary pattern (PLLBP). PLLBP can extract line pattern in any orientation. Hence, to extract line patterns with the most discriminative ability and effectively utilize them, we analyze the discriminative ability of LLBP histograms from different orientations. Then, a matching score-level fusion using sum rule is applied to achieve the final matching score for the last recognition. Experimental results demonstrate the proposed PLLBP method provides matching accuracy of 99.21%, which outperforms LLBP and the existing LBP-based methods.
Providing Access to Census-based Interaction Data in the UK : That ’ s WICID !

The Census Interaction Data Service (CIDS) is funded by the Economic and Social Research Council in the UK to provide access for social science researchers and students to the detailed migration and journey-to-work statistics that are collected by the national statistical agencies. These interaction data sets are known collectively as the Special Migration Statistics (SMS) and the Special Workplace Statistics (SWS). This paper outlines how problems of user access to these data have been tackled through the development of a web-based system known as WICID (Web-based Interface to Census Interaction Data). The paper illustrates various interface features including some of the query building facilities that enable users to extract counts of flows of particular groups of individuals between selected origin and destination areas. New tools are outlined for assisting area selection using digital maps of census geographies, for planning output and for adding value to the data through analysis. Mapping of flows of migrants between London boroughs and the rest of the UK demonstrates the value of the data. The paper begins with a summary of the data sets that are contained within the system and an outline of the system architecture.
The Elephant in the Living Room

poor," "their parents don't care," "they come to school without an adequate breakfast," and "they live in difficult neighborhoods. " As a profession, edu cation has gotten so good at pointing the finger of blame that, instead of hearing these claims as the excuses they are, much of the public has come to accept them as fact. Poor kids, in other words, perform at lower levels because they are poor. Likewise, black or Latino kids perform at lower lev els because they are black or Latino (and because they are also dispropor tionately poor). No wonder folks around the country are shaking their heads in disbelief at the new federal mandate to close gaps between groups over time. They simply do not believe it is possible. And education leaders are shockingly outspoken on the subject. "They may as well have decreed that pigs can fly," said the president of one state's teachers association.1 "I have difficulty with the standards because they're so unattainable for so many of our students_We just don't have the same kids they have on Long Island or Orchard Park," said a New York district superintendent.2 Research undoubtedly fed this view. Large-scale studies such as the Cole man Report issued in 1966 told the nation that schools contributed little to students' academic achievement as compared with families.3 More recent research, however, has turned these understandings upside down. Some things that schools do matter greatly in whether students learn, or whether they do not. And the thing that matters most is good teaching. 229
A Novel Power Management Circuit Using a Super-Capacitor Array for Wireless Powered Capsule Robot

Wireless power transmission (WPT) based on near-field inductive coupling principle is a promising solution to the power supply issue of a freely moving capsule robot (CR) that employs dc motors as actuators. However, the limited inductive power can cause a voltage drop when dc motors start or stall, because short-time peak power is required. To handle the voltage drop issue, we propose the use of a novel power management circuit (PMC) that consists of four successively connected segments of a full-bridge rectifier for ac–dc conversion, a buck dc–dc converter for highly efficient voltage reduction, a power buffer for power storage and short-time power supply, and a low drop-out (LDO) regulator for voltage stabilization. The power buffer is implemented with a super-capacitor array (SCA) that employs the output voltage of the dc–dc converter as its charging voltage. To analyze and optimize the PMC containing the SCA (PMC-SCA), a model is built based on deducing the input resistance relations between each pair of adjacent segments, and its correctness is then validated experimentally. A comparison between the PMC-SCA and the traditional PMC (a rectifier + a regulator) is also conducted, and the former shows superiorities in both reducing voltage drop and improving safety related to temperature rise of onboard receiving coil (RC). Finally, a primary PMC-SCA prototype measuring $\Phi $ 13 mm $ \times $ 4 mm is integrated to an inchworm-like CR for effectiveness validation; the CR working voltage is measured to be higher than 3 V at all times, which ensures the proper functioning of the CR.
The Association between SFAS No. 119 Derivatives Disclosures and the Foreign Exchange Risk Exposure of Manufacturing Firms

This study investigates whether the quantitative disclosures about notional amount and fair value of foreign exchange derivatives, required by Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (SFAS) No. 119 and its predecessors are associated with the information used by investors to assess the sensitivity of equity returns to currency fluctuations (currency exposure). I derive the underlying relations of currency risk exposure to notional amount and to fair value disclosures, applying the "delta" risk measure for derivative securities. The analysis shows that derivatives disclosures are potentially useful. I test the hypotheses using the Fortune 500 manufacturing firms over the period 1994-1996. First, I test for an association between currency exposure and derivatives disclosures. Second, I test whether current period derivatives disclosures help predict currency exposures in future periods. The results are mixed and only weakly consistent with my predictions. In particular, the evidence suggests that neither aggregated nor disaggregated fair value disclosures complement notional amount in assessing currency risk exposure. This study has three implications for increasing the usefulness of derivatives disclosures. First, improving disclosures about firms' inherent business risks will increase the usefulness of derivatives disclosures by providing information about the risks being managed with derivatives. Second, disaggregation of notional amount and fair value information by long and short positions taken, major currency, class of instrument, time to maturity, and leverage would allow users of financial statements to perform a complete exposure assessment. Third, separate disclosure of foreign exchange gains and losses on derivative instruments and the items being hedged will facilitate exposure assessment.
AdGAP: Advanced Global Average Pooling

Global average pooling (GAP) has been used previously to generate class activation maps. The motivation behind AdGAP comes from the fact that the convolutional filters possess position information of the essential features and hence, combination of the feature maps could help us locate the class instances in an image. Our novel architecture generates promising results and unlike previous methods, the architecture is not sensitive to the size of the input image, thus promising wider application.
Drak2 Contributes to West Nile Virus Entry into the Brain and Lethal Encephalitis1

Death-associated protein kinase-related apoptosis-inducing kinase-2 (Drak2), a member of the death-associated protein family of serine/threonine kinases, is specifically expressed in T and B cells. In the absence of Drak2, mice are resistant to experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis due to a decrease in the number of cells infiltrating the CNS. In the present study, we investigated the role of Drak2 in West Nile virus (WNV)-induced encephalitis and found that Drak2−/− mice were also more resistant to lethal WNV infection than wild-type mice. Although Drak2−/− mice had an increase in the number of IFN-γ-producing T cells in the spleen after infection, viral levels in the peripheral tissues were not significantly different between these two groups of mice. In contrast, there was a reduced viral load in the brains of Drak2−/− mice, which was accompanied by a decrease in the number of Drak2−/− CD4+ and CD8+ T cells in the brain following WNV infection. Moreover, we detected viral Ags in T cells isolated from the spleen or brain of WNV-infected mice. These results suggest that following a systemic infection, WNV might cross the blood brain barrier and enter the CNS by being carried by infected infiltrating T cells.
A Novel Time-Based Beamforming Strategy for Enhanced Localization Capability

The letter describes an original time-based driving strategy of a compact antenna array suitable for future 5G Internet of Things (IoT) applications. Subsets of array elements are selectively activated in real-time for agile and precise localization of tagged objects, randomly distributed in harsh electromagnetic environments. A new layout, starting from a standard time-modulated array (TMA) solution, is implemented, which allows us to fruitfully exploit the sideband radiation capability, typical of this array family. One radiating element of the array is replaced by a multiantenna architecture, thus enabling the designer to have a total control of the maximum radiation direction of the array not only at the sideband harmonics, as for standard TMAs, but also at the fundamental. In this way, an extremely accurate localization capability is obtained by properly driving the nonlinear switches at each antenna port, without resorting to complex feeding networks or phase shifters. The antenna system design must be carried out through an accurate circuit/electromagnetic cosimulation approach, thus accounting for the electromagnetic couplings among the radiating elements and the nonlinear behavior of the switches. This is demonstrated with a compact-size planar patch array operating at 5.8 GHz compatible with portable device equipment for concurrent future wireless operations.
Optimization based self-localization for IoT wireless sensor networks

In this paper we propose an embedded optimization framework for the simultaneous self-localization of all sensors in wireless sensor networks making use of range measurements from ultra-wideband (UWB) signals. Low-power UWB radios, which provide time-of-arrival measurements with decimeter accuracy over large distances, have been increasingly envisioned for realtime localization of IoT devices in GPS-denied environments and large sensor networks. In this work, we therefore explore different non-linear least-squares optimization problems to formulate the localization task based on UWB range measurements. We solve the resulting optimization problems directly using non-linear-programming algorithms that guarantee convergence to locally optimal solutions. This optimization framework allows the consistent comparison of different optimization methods for sensor localization. We propose and demonstrate the best optimization approach for the self-localization of sensors equipped with off-the-shelf microcontrollers using state-of-the-art code generation techniques for the plug-and-play deployment of the optimal localization algorithm. Numerical results indicate that the proposed approach improves localization accuracy and decreases computation times relative to existing iterative methods.
Mechanism of Intranuclear Crystal Formation of Herpes Simplex Virus as Revealed by the Negative Staining of Thin Sections

Structural alterations induced in HeLa cells by herpes simplex virus and the mechanism whereby the virus is formed in the nucleus in crystal arrays were studied by electron microscopy with both the usual and negatively stained sections. Aggregates of granular and filamentous material were observed in the cytoplasm of infected cells with both sections. On the other hand, no remarkable alterations in appearance of the cytoplasmic ground substance were observed with the usual sections of infected cells. However, the cytoplasmic ground substance of infected cells when negatively stained consisted of granular material which was different in appearance from the spongy material constituting the cytoplasmic matrix of uninfected cells. In the nucleus of infected cells, complexes consisting of round bodies, amorphous material, aggregates of uniform granules in rows, and viral crystals were often observed near the nuclear membrane in both types of sections. Examinations of the granular aggregates with negatively stained sections suggested that each granule represents a subunit and that the several adjoining subunits (approximately eight) constitute the requirement for formation of a single viral capsid with a core. Thus, rapid and simultaneous formation of the core and capsid within the aggregate would replace the rows of the granules with the viral crystal. The advantages of negative staining of thin sections for visualization of fine structural alterations are discussed.
Sexual Risk Reduction Interventions Do Not Inadvertently Increase the Overall Frequency of Sexual Behavior: A Meta-analysis of 174 Studies With 116,735 Participants

Abstract: A meta-analytic review of the influence of HIV risk reduction interventions on sexual occasions, number of partners, and abstinence was conducted to assess whether condom-related interventions inadvertently undermine sexual risk reduction efforts by increasing the frequency of sexual behavior. Included studies examined sexual risk reduction strategies and used a controlled design. Data from 174 studies (206 interventions, N = 116,735 participants) were included. In general, HIV risk reduction interventions neither increased nor decreased sexual occasions or number of partners reported. Participants in intervention conditions were less likely to be sexually active than those in control conditions. When samples included more black participants, interventions reduced the number of sexual occasions; interventions were more successful at reducing the number of partners in samples that included more men who have sex with men (MSM) or individuals engaged in sex trading. Samples that included more MSM were more likely to adopt abstinence as a risk reduction strategy. Interventions that included more information, motivational enhancement, and skills training also led to greater risk reduction. HIV risk reduction interventions do not increase the overall frequency of sexual activity. To the contrary, for some subgroups, interventions that include components recommended by behavioral science theory reduce the frequency of sexual events and partners.
Modelling of Through Silicon Via RF performance and impact on signal transmission in 3D integrated circuits

Through Silicon Via (TSV) is considered today as the third dimension interconnect opening new perspectives in term of 3D integration. Design, material and process recommendations are required to achieve 3D stacked dies and evaluate electrical performance of such chips. As a consequence, equivalent models of this incontrovertible key component become more and more mandatory. In this paper, a full parametric and frequency dependent model of high aspect ratio TSV is proposed based on both electromagnetic (EM) simulations and RF measurements. This model enables to extract TSV resistance, self inductance, oxide capacitance and parasitic elements due to the finite substrate resistivity. Its full compatibility with SPICE solvers allows the investigation of TSV impact on circuit performance.
Political connections, corporate governance and audit fees in Malaysia

Purpose - The purpose of this paper is to examine the relationship between political connection, corporate governance and audit fees in Malaysia. Specifically, it is argued that politically connected firms are perceived to be riskier and thus require auditors to undertake greater audit efforts which in turn lead to higher audit fee. Furthermore, it is also hypothesised that the demand for better corporate governance practices requires more audit effort exert from the auditors, and the demand for higher quality work is expected to be stronger for politically connected firms as these firms are being perceived to have higher risks. This is turn results in higher fees paid to the external auditor. Design/methodology/approach - This paper employs panel regression analysis. The panel data set consists of 382 non-financial firms (1,022 observations) for three years from year 2001 to 2003. Findings - Based on 1,022 firm-year observations for the period of 2001 to 2003, the results reveal that politically connected firms pay higher audit fees, while firms with better governance demand a higher audit quality, leading to higher audit fees. However, there is no evidence to support that corporate governance demands for a higher quality audit especially for politically connected firms. Originality/value - This paper contributes to the corporate governance-audit fees literature by examining a large number of corporate governance variables based on the Malaysian Code on Corporate Governance. In particular, instead of using several individual governance variables such as audit committee, board structure or composition, this study condensed the large number of corporate governance variables into a single index. Furthermore, this study was conducted in Malaysia, which is a unique environment that offers clear identifiable segments based along ethnic line, whereby, politically favoured firms are generally given special privileges by the government.