Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
SIS/Aligned Fibre Scaffold Designed to Meet Layered Oesophageal Tissue Complexity and Properties

With donor organs not readily available, the need for a tissue-engineered oesophagus remains high, particularly for congenital childhood conditions such as atresia. Previous attempts have not been successful, and challenges remain. Small intestine submucosa (SIS) is an acellular matrix material with good biological properties; however, as is common with these types of materials, they demonstrate poor mechanical properties. In this work, electrospinning was performed to mechanically reinforce tubular SIS with polylactic-co-glycolic acid (PLGA) nanofibers. It was hypothesised that if attachment could be achieved between the two materials, then this would (i) improve the SIS mechanical properties, (ii) facilitate smooth muscle cell alignment to support directional growth of muscle cells and (iii) allow for the delivery of bioactive molecules (VEGF in this instance). Through a relatively simple multistage process, adhesion between the layers was achieved without chemically altering the SIS. It was also found that altering mandrel rotation speed affected the alignment of the PLGA nanofibers. SIS-PLGA scaffolds performed mechanically better than SIS alone; yield stress improvement was 200% and 400% along the longitudinal and circumferential directions, respectively. Smooth muscle cells cultured on the aligned fibres showed resultant unidirectional alignment. In vivo the SIS-PLGA scaffolds demonstrated limited foreign body reaction judged by the type and proportion of immune cells present and lack of fibrous encapsulation. The scaffolds remained intact at 4 weeks in vivo, and good cellular infiltration was observed. The incorporation of VEGF within SIS-PLGA scaffolds increased the blood vessel density of the surrounding tissues, highlighting the possible stimulation of endothelialisation by angiogenic factor delivery. Overall, the designed SIS-PLGA-VEGF hybrid scaffolds might be used as a potential matrix platform for oesophageal tissue engineering. In addition to this, achieving improved attachment between layers of acellular matrix materials and electrospun fibre layers offers the potential utility in other applications. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: Because of its multi-layered nature and complex structure, the oesophagus tissue poses several challenges for successful clinical grafting. Therefore, it is promising to utilise tissue engineering strategies to mimic and form structural compartments for its recovery. In this context, we investigated the use of tubular small intestine submucosa (SIS) reinforced with polylactic-co-glycolic acid (PLGA) nanofibres by using electrospinning and also, amongst other parameters, the integrity of the bilayered structure created. This was carried out to facilitate smooth muscle cell alignment, support directional growth of muscle cells and allow the delivery of bioactive molecules (VEGF in this study). We evaluated this approach by using in vitro and in vivo models to determine the efficacy of this new system.
Effect of Configuration of SDMA Base Station Antenna for Space Division Characteristic in Urban Area

Multiple Access technology such as TDMA, CDMA is used for increasing the frequency utilization efficiency. SDMA system is also researched for further frequency utilization efficiency improvement [1]. A radiation pattern such that emphasize the signal from desired user and suppress the signal from the other user is formed in SDMA system by applying smart antennas at the base station. In the SDMA system signal from each user is separated spatially by forming orthogonal pattern. As the result, plural user can communicate simultaneously using the same time and the same frequency. The frequency utilization efficiency become twice if space division for two users is any time possible. However, frequency utilization efficiency in SDMA system deteriorates when users are close to each other because of interfering between each user. In the past, authors studied the characteristics of SINR when one desired user and one interfering user exist in urban area [2][3]. In this paper, in order to examine realization possibility of space division, simultaneous communication in the case of two desired users is considered. In Section 2, an urban propagation model is presented. In Section 3, evaluation method of SDMA is explained. In Section 4, effect of configuration of BS antenna on space division characteristics is shown. Effect of distribution of height of building is discussed in Section 5.
應用於行動式視訊裝置之嵌入式壓縮器解壓縮器設計 Design of An Embedded Compressor / Decompressor for Mobile Video Applications

This thesis proposes an embedded compressor/decompressor for mobile video applications. It uses lossy compression scheme to reduce the amount of data transferring between chip and external memory. This lossy compression can maintain acceptable video quality while reduces the required size of external memory, the bandwidth requirement and the power consumption on memory access. Proposed algorithm is composed by discrete cosine transform (DCT) with coarse grain bit-plane zonal coding (CGBPZ). The compression ratio is two. It compresses a 4x4 pixel-array into a 64 bits segment. First, the two dimensions discrete cosine transform converts 16 pixels into 16 elementary frequency components. Coarse grain bit-plane zonal coding packets the coefficients and then sends to external memory. A compensation scheme is also proposed for decoding. Hardware architecture of the proposed algorithm is able to be embedded into video decoder and support HD1080@100MHz, 30 frames per second. Since the compression ratio is fixed at two, the coded segments have fixed size and can be randomly accessed by motion compensation unit. The gate counts are 30K synthesized by UMC 90 nm CMOS technology. It costs 72 cycles to encode a MB and 34 cycles to decode a MB. Overall reduction ratio on memory access is 40%. Comparing with the power consumed of proposed design, the amount of power saving is large.
Yellow Paper

Herb's aunt finally came out to the porch of her house, where I sat with my bags, thinking about the bus ride back and smoking a Marlboro. She badly wanted to talk to me about something, but seemed to be having a hard time finding the words or the courage. The porch was built onto the downhill side of the house and faced a gravel road. Because it was late May, the whole countryside was lush and green; because it was early morning the neighborhood was quiet. A haze of pollen hung in the air, mingling with coal dust and the smell of a burning slate dump. Down the hill occasional houses, sides painted bright white, poked through the greenery. From that point on the porch I could look clear across Rock Lick, where another hillside was a mirror image of white house and near forest. I think it must have taken Herb's aunt considerable courage to come and talk to me. All of the other family, friends, and church folk that attended the funeral regarded me as slightly less alien than a skunk that had let itself in for supper. I hadn't expected better when I decided to accompany the crushed thing in the box back to Rock Lick; I'd only wanted to shut up the litde voice inside that said I was obligated to. Still, this shriveled little woman with her perpetual squint didn't immediately strike me as the bravest. Something about her—the way her feet trod the warped floors, the way the fabric of her clothes had faded to the same tone as the carpets and upholstery, the way she seemed to have had her heart and voice slowed down to the pace of this old coal town—told me that she had spent her life in this hollow, perhaps in this very house. "Herbert would spend hours up here on this porch, when he was a boy. I think this porch could be anything for him—a boat on the ocean, a fort, a cave in the mountains. He was a good boy. "
Factors associated with lower‐extremity amputation in patients with diabetic foot ulcers in a Chinese tertiary care hospital

Providing a better understanding of the risk factors for amputation in this particular region, Hunan province, in China might help patients with diabetic foot ulcers receive timely and appropriate medical care and help prevent amputation. Diabetic foot ulcer patients referred to the Third Xiangya Hospital during the period between December 2014 and September 2018 were enrolled. Participants who underwent amputations and received conservative treatments were compared using univariate and multivariate analyses to identify the independent predictors of amputation. Those who required amputation presented significantly higher levels of white blood cell counts, platelet counts, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, C‐reactive protein, and glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) levels. However, levels of haemoglobin, postprandial plasma C‐peptide, triglyceride, high‐density lipoprotein cholesterol, albumin, and uric acid were decreased in patients with amputations. Patients with more advanced Wagner grades had much higher rates of amputation. Multivariable‐adjusted odds ratios in stepwise logistic regression model was 1.317 for HbA1c (95% CI: 1.015‐1.709), 0.255 for triglyceride (95% CI: 0.067‐0.975), and 20.947 for Wagner grades (95% CI: 4.216‐104.080). Independent risk factors for amputation in these Chinese diabetic foot ulcer patients included an elevated HbA1c level, lower triglyceride level, and higher Wagner grades.
RBC Transfusion Strategies in the ICU: A Concise Review.

OBJECTIVES To critically assess available high-level clinical studies regarding RBC transfusion strategies, with a focus on hemoglobin transfusion thresholds in the ICU. DATA SOURCES Source data were obtained from a PubMed literature review. STUDY SELECTION English language studies addressing RBC transfusions in the ICU with a focus on the most recent relevant studies. DATA EXTRACTION Relevant studies were reviewed and the following aspects of each study were identified, abstracted, and analyzed: study design, methods, results, and implications for critical care practice. DATA SYNTHESIS Approximately 30-50% of ICU patients receive a transfusion during their hospitalization with anemia being the indication for 75% of transfusions. A significant body of clinical research evidence supports using a restrictive transfusion strategy (e.g., hemoglobin threshold < 7 g/dL) compared with a more liberal approach (e.g., hemoglobin threshold < 10 g/dL). A restrictive strategy (hemoglobin < 7 g/dL) is recommended in patients with sepsis and gastrointestinal bleeds. A slightly higher restrictive threshold is recommended in cardiac surgery (hemoglobin < 7.5 g/dL) and stable cardiovascular disease (hemoglobin < 8 g/dL). Although restrictive strategies are generally supported in hematologic malignancies, acute neurologic injury, and burns, more definitive studies are needed, including acute coronary syndrome. Massive transfusion protocols are the mainstay of treatment for hemorrhagic shock; however, the exact RBC to fresh frozen plasma ratio is still unclear. There are also emerging complimentary practices including nontransfusion strategies to avoid and treat anemia and the reemergence of whole blood transfusion. CONCLUSIONS The current literature supports the use of restrictive transfusion strategies in the majority of critically ill populations. Continued studies of optimal transfusion strategies in various patient populations, coupled with the integration of novel complementary ICU practices, will continue to enhance our ability to treat critically ill patients.
Lodging establishments as a sign of urban hospitality 1

Justification of the topic: Studies can demonstrate the role of space for hospitality; especially for urban hospitality. However, the association of the city space as urban image and lodging landscape as an attribute of urban hospitality, is not yet adequately addressed by the literature on this topic. Purpose: The objective of this research is to systematize the hospitality in accommodation establishments, which was potentially constructed from internal spaces of lodging, but can also be observed on the scale of the city, therefore lodging as a factor of urban hospitality – an approach that has been little addressed in the literature. Methodology/Design: Therefore, the research is characterized as exploratory, supported by documentary survey as well as case studies and empirical analysis based on the ideal representation (Peirce ́s semiotic). In the selection of what is to represent, it is possible to identify an intellection, by the subject issuer (lodging architecture), propose ideologies; and as such, the architecture of lodging can be a sign of urban hospitality. The interpretive method of evaluation of the results was supported by the theories of urban hospitality, particularly with the work of Lucio Grinover (2007) who draws in urban theory on image and urban landscape in Kevin Lynch's work. Findings and originality: The results suggest the possibility of urban hospitality or of the city built through lodging establishments.
Modelling the fracture process of fiber reinforced ultra high performance concrete using a three-dimensional discrete element model

Concrete is one of the most commonly used materials in civil engineering. It is highly heterogeneous and does have a very brittle fracture behaviour. Ultra high performance concrete (UHPC) is even more brittle than standard concrete and therefore often used with high caution and safety factors respectively. To get a more ductile failure behaviour it is possible to add fibers to the concrete matrix. Due to its high density and strength, the fibers in UHPC are firmly integrated in the matrix and hardly pulled out by tensile forces. It is therefore very suited to use fibers as reinforcements in UHPC technology. The Discrete Element Method (DEM) is a widespread method in the field of modeling granular or heterogeneous materials. It is able to capture discontinuities in materials and structures respectively. Based on the model of CUNDALL [1] for granular assemblies a model for solids is derived and extended to three dimensions. Bonded contacts between two particles are formed with a spring-dashpot-system in three directions at the contact point. In order to model elasticity, the microscopic DEM model must be able to represent the macroscopic properties of the body. An energy-based method to determine the model parameters proposed by [2] and others can be transferred to the presented three dimensional model. The stored strain energy of all contacts in a given unit cell is added up and divided by the volume of the unit cell to determine a specific energy density. This expression then is derived with respect to the macroscopic strains, which yields stress-strain relations that can be compared to the constitutive equations of the elastic continuum. Brittle materials are probable to crack. Therefor the advantage of the discrete modelling is used to formulate a failure criterion for the bonded contacts. The local crack initiation is most likely the distance exceedance of two material points. To capture this phenomenon a local strain failure criterion is implemented. After the failure of a contact, a fiber reinforcement is added to the model. Tensile springs are activated if a crack appears to achieve ductile failure behaviour.
Attentional control and estimation of the probability of positive and negative events

ABSTRACT People high in negative affect tend to think negative events are more likely than positive events (“probability bias”). Studies have found that weak attentional control exaggerates another negative affect-related cognitive bias – attentional bias – but it is not clear why this might be. We therefore wanted to know whether weak attentional control would be related to probability bias too. Four studies, with predominantly female student samples (N = 857), revealed correlations of around −. 38 between attentional control and probability bias. This remained significant when trait anxiety and depression were controlled; there were no interactions between attentional control and negative affect. Studies 3 and 4 found that attentional control’s relationship with probability bias was partly mediated by emotion regulation ability. These results suggest attentional control is important for regulating affect-related cognitive biases, and for emotion regulation in general. Furthermore, because cognitive biases are thought to be important for maintaining emotional disorders, these results are also consistent with weak attentional control being a risk factor for these disorders.
Development of Novel Semisolids for the Treatment of Chronic Skin Diseases

The purpose of this study was to investigate the impact of emulsifiers and formulations on intercellular lipids of porcine stratum corneum (SC) and evaluate confocal Raman microscopy (CRM) as an alternative method in this research context. To this end, four different formulations were used: three conventional creams that contained ionic and/or non-ionic emulsifiers and one surfactants-free emulsion stabilized by a polymeric emulsifier. Additionally, all emulsifiers were tested in aqueous solution/dispersion in the respective concentrations as present in the formulations. CRM and HPTLC were used to analyse changes in SC lipid content after treatment. Furthermore, lipid extraction was visualized by fluorescence staining and SC thickness was measured by CRM and light microscopy. Various emulsifiers and emulsifier mixtures showed different impact on SC lipid content and SC thickness, while none of the tested formulations had any effect on SC lipids. Emulsifiers and their mixtures that reduced the lipids content also reduced SC thickness, indicating lipid extraction is the reason for SC thinning. Results from CRM and conventional methods showed a strong positive correlation for both lipid content and SC thickness measurements. With easy sample preparation and fast analytical readout, CRM has the potential to be a standardized analytical method for skin lipids investigation.
A Retrospective Review of the Efficiency of First‐Dose Therapeutic Drug Monitoring of Gentamicin, Amikacin, and Vancomycin in the Pediatric Population

Therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) has become standard clinical practice for gentamicin, amikacin, and vancomycin to optimize efficacy and reduce toxicity. TDM after the first dose of antibiotic was adopted in our institution. This study aims to evaluate if target therapeutic drug concentrations could be achieved more rapidly in patients with TDM performed after the first dose of gentamicin, amikacin, or vancomycin compared to TDM at steady state. A single‐center retrospective cohort study was conducted at KK Women's and Children's Hospital, Singapore. Patients aged 1 month to 18 years old who received amikacin, gentamicin, or vancomycin between October 2012 to March 2016 and had at least 2 serum drug concentrations done within the same dosing interval were included. The primary objective was to compare the time taken to achieve target serum drug concentrations between first‐dose and steady‐state TDM. A total of 334 patients on amikacin, 211 patients on gentamicin, and 140 patients on vancomycin were included. Using Kaplan‐Meier analysis, the median number of days to optimize therapy was significantly shorter after first‐dose TDM was performed for amikacin (first dose, 1.51 [95% confidence interval (CI), 1.44‐1.89] days vs steady state, 2.85 [95%CI, 2.50‐3.25] days; P < . 01] and gentamicin (first dose, 1.66 [95%CI, 1.25‐2.08] days vs steady state, 3.54 [95%CI, 2.40‐4.75] days; P < . 01] but not vancomycin (first dose, 1.34 [95%CI, 1.06‐1.52] days vs steady state, 1.42 [95%CI, 1.26‐1.59] days; P = . 99]. First‐dose TDM for gentamicin and amikacin resulted in faster attainment of target serum concentrations but did not for vancomycin. Further validation of its impact on actual clinical outcomes may be required.
Internal Consistency and Reliability of the Networked Minds Social Presence Measure

This study sought to develop and test a measure of social presence. The networked minds battery is proposed for a broad self-report measure of social presence. An experiment was conducted to test the internal consistency and criterion validity of the six constructs as determined by theory, specifically the ability of the measure to distinguish levels of social presence between (1) face-to-face interaction and mediated interaction, and (2) different levels of mediated interaction. The confirmatory factor analysis supports a model based upon a structure six distinct factors. In criterion validity tests the measure was generally sensitive to predicted differences between face-to-face and mediated interaction. On the other hand the measure was less sensitive to differences among low affordance and high affordance media, although the differences suggesting that text rated higher on perceived message and emotional understanding may provide some insight into the communication effectiveness of print media.
The Impact of Centralized Employment Structure on Community Health Work

Supplemental Digital Content is Available in the Text. While community health workers (CHWs) are employed in various arrangements, little is known about the association between organizational structure and CHW experiences. Seventeen in-depth interviews were conducted with CHWs, supervisors, and leadership employed in one centrally organized setting to investigate organizational structure and perceptions of CHW effectiveness. A model that hired employees but assigned them to various settings offered support and unique career advancement opportunities. Coordinated education, ongoing trainings, and persistent supervision were perceived to improve the accuracy of resource information and facilitated collaboration across the health care system with increased health care team communication, offering insights into other organizational structures.
ACTIVE LEARNING OF BAYESIAN NETWORK STRUCTURE IN A REALISTIC SETTING

Bayesian networks (BNs) are frequently used for modeling genetic regulatory networks. The structure of a static BN cannot in general be learnt unambiguously from observational data alone but interventions (i.e. knock-outs or over-expressions) are also required. These interventions can be difficult and costly to perform, thus calling for careful planning of experiments. Active learning methods can be used to suggest which interventions should be performed in order to increase our knowledge about the network structure maximally. Here, we utilize such a method for the first time in a realistic setting with measured wildtype and perturbed gene-expression and protein data and show the applicability and usability of the approach for designing biological experiments with maximal expected utility.
The Effect of Platelet-Rich Plasma on the Chondrogenic and Osteogenic Differentiation of Stem Cells

Tissue engineering is intended to regenerate the damaged organs or to promote their healing. The techniques used by this branch of regenerative medicine consist in biological active molecules, stem cells and scaffolds. Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) is a plasma fraction containing an amount of platelets several times above the baseline. In the last decades the use of PRP has gained popularity in the field of the tissue engineering. Its properties are anti-inflammatory, analgesic and neoangiogenetic; for this reason it is able to promote tissue formation and remodeling by influencing stem cells migration, proliferation and differentiation. Stem cells used in tissue engineering are harvested from different sources. In orthobiologics, the application of the regenerative medicine in the orthopedic field, Mesenchymal Stem Cells (MSCs) from bone marrow are the most used. Nevertheless there are other alternative sources of MSCs that can be chosen such as adipose tissue, synovial fluid, muscle tissue, umbilical cord and amniotic fluid. The aim of this mini-review is to collect the works present in literature where PRP has been used in combination with stem cells from different origins: this association has shown promising results both in vitro, in chondrogenic and osteogenic differentiation and in vivo, in osteochondral defects healing.