Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Renal defects and limb deficiencies in 197 infants: Is it possible to define the “acrorenal syndrome”?

Dieker and Opitz in 1969 described the simultaneous occurrence of limb deficiencies (LDs) and renal anomalies (RAs) in three patients. Curran and Curran introduced in 1972 the term “acrorenal syndrome. ” Since then, the term “acrorenal syndrome” is used occasionally, but a well‐circumscribed definition has never been established. On the other hand, the concept of an acrorenal polytopic developmental field defect was postulated by Opitz and others to explain the association between RAs and LDs. We undertook this study to investigate whether this acrorenal “syndrome” could be identified in a large group of cases with congenital RAs and a limb deficiency. Eleven birth defect registries that are part of the International Clearinghouse for Birth Defects Monitoring (i.e., registries of ICBDMS in Finland, France [Paris and Strasbourg], Israel, Italy [IPIMC and Emilia Romagna], Mexico, Northern Netherlands, South America, Spain, and the United States [Atlanta]) provided data on 815 infants who had a LD and at least one other major congenital anomaly. These 815 cases were ascertained among 5,163,958 births. We selected the 197 cases who had both a limb deficiency and a renal or urinary tract anomaly. In about 50% of these cases a diagnosis or a recognized phenotype was reported, with chromosomal aberrations and VACTERL being most frequent. In the group with no diagnosis or recognized phenotype (95 cases), we looked for (a) clustering of specific types of LDs and RAs, and (b) for clustering of associated anomalies, in order to find evidence for and be able to define better the term “acrorenal syndrome. ” Our data suggest that an association exists between LDs and RAs, possibly explained by the concept of the acrorenal polytopic developmental field defect. However, our dataset does not yield evidence for the existence of one distinct “syndrome,” defined as a pattern of causally related multiple anomalies. Therefore, use of the term “acrorenal syndrome” should be avoided. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Why Eating Less Keeps Mitochondria Working in Aged Skeletal Muscle

The mechanisms by which caloric restriction preserves skeletal muscle health with aging continue to be explored; however, mounting evidence points toward a convergence of effects at the level of the mitochondrion. Specifically, caloric restriction reduces mitochondrial reactive oxygen species production and promotes mitochondrial renewal via enhanced drive on mitochondrial biogenesis and autophagy.
Towards Managing Business Process Variants within Organizations -- An Action Research Study

Understanding the Business Process Standardization (BPS) requirements of the operating model is one important aspect for the adequate design of the underlying Enterprise Architecture (EA). Moreover, the benefits and drawbacks of BPS have been discussed thoroughly in literature and the alignment of business processes and IT is considered to be of high importance for organizations. BPS especially deals with architecting and managing business process variants. However, there are hardly any specific methodologies available on how to identify and evaluate business process variants within organizations and how to properly design processes in this context. In order to close this gap, we develop a bi-directional rigorous procedure model that enables managers to design the organization's business architecture in the BPS context. We apply the developed procedure model and a construct for documenting process variants in an action research study, in order to test their applicability and utility.
Resistance of alkanethiol molecular wires

We use a first-principles technique to calculate the length dependence of resistance of alkanethiol wires in the metal−alkanethiol−metal configuration. The current−voltage characteristics of the wires are found to be largely linear, and the small bias resistance increases exponentially with the molecule length. We also investigate the effects of changes at the metal−molecule junction, including the contact geometry, end-groups, and junction distance. We compare theoretical results with recently reported experimental data.
The Intercellular Synchronization of Ca2+ Oscillations Evaluates Cx36-Dependent Coupling

Connexin36 (Cx36) plays an important role in insulin secretion by controlling the intercellular synchronization of Ca2+ transients induced during stimulation. The lack of drugs acting on Cx36 channels is a major limitation in further unraveling the molecular mechanism underlying this effect. To screen for such drugs, we have developed an assay allowing for a semi-automatic, fluorimetric quantification of Ca2+ transients in large populations of MIN6 cells. Here, we show that (1) compared to control cells, MIN6 cells with reduced Cx36 expression or function showed decreased synchrony of glucose-induced Ca2+ oscillations; (2) glibenclamide, a sulphonylurea which promotes Cx36 junctions and coupling, increased the number of synchronous MIN6 cells, whereas quinine, an antimalarial drug which inhibits Cx36-dependent coupling, decreased this proportion; (3) several drugs were identified that altered the intercellular Ca2+ synchronization, cell coupling and distribution of Cx36; (4) some of them also affected insulin content. The data indicate that the intercellular synchronization of Ca2+ oscillations provides a reliable and non-invasive measurement of Cx36-dependent coupling, which is useful to identify novel drugs affecting the function of β-cells, neurons, and neuron-related cells that express Cx36.
Advanced spectrum sharing in 5G cognitive heterogeneous networks

Spectrum utilization, energy consumption, and cost efficiency are three key performance metrics that should be jointly investigated in developing a sustainable 5G system. Advanced spectrum sharing can enhance both the spectral efficiency and energy efficiency in a cost-effective manner, which is expected to perform much better than conventional networks. In this article, we survey cognitive and cooperative spectrum sharing, and classify a multi-level spectrum exploitation, coordination, and utilization framework from both technical and economic perspectives. We specifically concentrate on spectrum trading and leasing, spectrum mobility, relaying, routing, and harvesting. Finally, a spectrum flowing scheme is proposed for 5G cognitive heterogeneous cellular networks, which improves both spectral and energy efficiency.
The development of components for ultrafast all-optical communication networks

Introduction The emphasis of this research program is the epitaxial growth and processing of III-V compound semiconductors. The epitaxial growth of the heterostructures is performed in the chemical beam epitaxy laboratory. The laboratory consists of two gaseous source epitaxy reactors interconnected to several smaller chambers, which are used for sample introduction and in-situ surface analysis. Such a multichamber epitaxy system allows heterostructures to be fabricated within a continuous ultrahigh vacuum environment.
Effect of Internal Clearance on Load Distribution and Life of Radially Loaded Ball and Roller Bearings

The effect of internal clearance on radially loaded deep-groove ball and cylindrical roller bearing load distribution and fatigue life was determined for four clearance groups defined in the bearing standards. The analysis was extended to negative clearance (interference) conditions to produce a curve of life factor versus internal clearance. Rolling element loads can be optimized and bearing life maximized for a small negative operating clearance. Life declines gradually with positive clearance and rapidly with increasing negative clearance. Relationships were found between bearing life and internal clearance as a function of ball or roller diameter adjusted for load. Results are presented as life factors for radially loaded bearings independent of bearing size or applied load. In addition, a modified Stribeck equation is presented that relates the maximum rolling element load to internal bearing clearance.
A two-level approach to AC optimal transmission switching with an accelerating technique

DC-based optimal transmission switching (OTS) cannot consider AC feasibility, which hinders the exploitation of the benefits of OTS in power system operations. This paper proposes a new OTS approach that considers AC feasibility. The approach uses a two-level iterative framework in which a mixed integer second-order cone programming (MISOCP) OTS model provides candidate solutions at the upper level, while the AC feasibility check is conducted at the lower level. An accelerating technique is developed to significantly improve computational efficiency while maintaining accuracy. Case studies using the IEEE 57-bus system, the IEEE 118-bus system and a real-world large system demonstrate the efficacy of the proposed approach.
Weak Decoupling Duality and Quantum Identification

If a quantum system is subject to noise, it is possible to perform quantum error correction reversing the action of the noise if and only if no information about the system's quantum state leaks to the environment. In this paper, we develop an analogous duality in the case that the environment approximately forgets the identity of the quantum state, a weaker condition satisfied by -randomizing maps and approximate unitary designs. Specifically, we show that the environment approximately forgets quantum states if and only if the original channel approximately preserves pairwise fidelities of pure inputs, an observation we call weak decoupling duality. Using this tool, we then go on to study the task of using the output of a channel to simulate restricted classes of measurements on a space of input states. The case of simulating measurements that test whether the input state is an arbitrary pure state is known as equality testing or quantum identification. An immediate consequence of weak decoupling duality is that the ability to perform quantum identification cannot be cloned. We, furthermore, establish that the optimal amortized rate at which quantum states can be identified through a noisy quantum channel is equal to the entanglement-assisted classical capacity of the channel, despite the fact that the task is quantum, not classical, and entanglement-assistance is not allowed. In particular, this rate is strictly positive for every nonconstant quantum channel, including classical channels.
A correlation-maximization denoising filter used as an enhancement frontend for noise robust bird call classification

In this paper, we propose a Correlation-Maximization denoising filter which utilizes periodicity information to remove additive noise in bird calls. We also developed a statistically-based noise robust bird-call classification system which uses the denoising filter as a frontend. Enhanced bird calls which are the output of the denoising filter are used for feature extraction. Gaussian Mixture Models (GMM) and Hidden Markov Models (HMM) are used for classification. Experiments on a large noisy corpus containing bird calls from 5 species have shown that the Correlation-Maximization filter is more effective than the Wiener filter in improving the classification error rate of bird calls which have a quasi-periodic structure. This improvement results in a 4.1% classification error rate which is better than the system without a denoising frontend and a system with a Wiener filter denoising frontend.
A Ground‐based Search for Thermal Emission from the Exoplanet TrES‐1

Eclipsing planetary systems give us an important window on extrasolar planet atmospheres. By measuring the depth of the secondary eclipse, when the planet moves behind the star, we can estimate the strength of the thermal emission from the day side of the planet. Obtaining a ground‐based detection of one of these eclipses has proven to be a significant challenge, as time‐dependent variations in instrument throughput and atmospheric seeing and absorption overwhelm the small signal of the eclipse at infrared wavelengths. We gathered a series of simultaneous L grism spectra of the transiting planet system TrES‐1 and a nearby comparison star of comparable brightness, allowing us to correct for these effects, in principle. Combining the data from two eclipses, we demonstrate a detection sensitivity of 0.15% in the eclipse depth relative to the stellar flux. This approaches the sensitivity required to detect the planetary emission, which theoretical models predict should lie between 0.05% and 0.1% of the stellar flux in our 2.9–4.3 μm bandpass. We explore the factors that ultimately limit the precision of this technique, and discuss potential avenues for future improvements.
A Coupled Numerical Technique for Self-Consistent Analysis of Micro-Electro-Mechanical-Systems

An efficient algorithm for self-consistent analysis of 3-D micro-electro-mechanical-systems (MEMS) is described. The algorithm employs a hybrid finite-element/boundary-element technique for coupled mechanical and electrical analysis. The coupled algorithm is shown to converge rapidly and is much faster than relaxation for tightly coupled problems.
A Two-Step Strategy for Developing Cultivated Pastures in China that Offer the Advantages of Ecosystem Services

Based on a site experiment on a typical steppe of Inner Mongolia, the short term effects on aboveground biomass, soil water content, soil organic carbon, and soil total nitrogen of four cultivated pastures (CPs) with different compositions of herbaceous species were examined and compared to those of adjacent, natural grassland (NG) enclosed simultaneously. All CPs produced significantly higher aboveground biomass than did the NG after two years of establishment, and the mixed culture of Agropyron cristatum ( A. cristatum ) and Medicago sativa ( M. sativa ) produced the highest (312.39% higher than the NG). Without irrigation, soil water content in the 10–20 cm soil layer was also found to be significantly higher in the CPs than in the NG, especially for the mixed cultures of A. cristatum and M. sativa, A. cristatum , M. sativa and Lolium perenne ( L. perenne ), by 184.25% and 125.97%, respectively. The improvements in soil organic carbon and soil total nitrogen in CPs were less obvious and mixed, with different species compositions showing significant increases at different depths. The experimental results suggested that, with carefully selected species compositions and proper farming measures, CPs could have a positive effect on some of the pathways that generate ecosystem services, at least in the short term. We also analyzed the underlying institutional and socioeconomic causes of China’s underdevelopment of CPs, and proposed a two-step development strategy. The first is to promote rain-fed CPs on small-hold farms, which require relatively low inputs in fertilizers and labor. The second is to promote large-scale operations, which will require significantly more inputs in land, irrigation, fertilizers, and machinery.
LoCuSS: Connecting the Dominance and Shape of Brightest Cluster Galaxies with the Assembly History of Massive Clusters

We study the luminosity gap, ∆m_(12), between the first- and second-ranked galaxies in a sample of 59 massive (~10^(15)M_⊙) galaxy clusters, using data from the Hale Telescope, the Hubble Space Telescope, Chandra and Spitzer. We find that the ∆m_(12) distribution, p(∆m_(12)), is a declining function of ∆m_(12) to which we fitted a straight line: p(∆m_(12))∝−(0.13 ± 0.02)∆m_(12). The fraction of clusters with ‘large’ luminosity gaps is p(∆m_(12) ≥ 1) = 0.37 ± 0.08, which represents a 3σ excess over that obtained from MonteCarlo simulations of a Schechter function that matches the mean cluster galaxy luminosity function. We also identify four clusters with ‘extreme’ luminosity gaps, ∆m_(12) ≥ 2, giving a fraction of p(∆m_(12) ≥ 2) = 0.07^(+0.05)_(−0.03). More generally, large luminosity gap clusters are relatively homogeneous, with elliptical/discy brightest cluster galaxies (BCGs), cuspy gas density profiles (i.e. strong cool cores), high concentrations and low substructure fractions. In contrast, small luminosity gap clusters are heterogeneous, spanning the full range of boxy/elliptical/discy BCG morphologies, the full range of cool core strengths and dark matter concentrations, and have large substructure fractions. Taken together, these results imply that the amplitude of the luminosity gap is a function of both the formation epoch and the recent infall history of the cluster. ‘BCG dominance’ is therefore a phase that a cluster may evolve through and is not an evolutionary ‘cul-de-sac’. We also compare our results with semi-analytic model predictions based on the Millennium Simulation. None of the models is able to reproduce all of the observational results on ∆m_(12), underlining the inability of the current generation of models to match the empirical properties of BCGs. We identify the strength of active galactic nucleus feedback and the efficiency with which cluster galaxies are replenished after they merge with the BCG in each model as possible causes of these discrepancies.
beta-adrenergic relaxation in pulmonary arteries: preservation of the endothelial nitric oxide-dependent beta2 component in pulmonary hypertension.

AIMS beta-adrenoceptor (beta-AR)-mediated relaxation was characterized in pulmonary arteries from normoxic and hypoxic (as model of pulmonary hypertension) mice. The endothelial NO synthase (eNOS) pathway was especially investigated because of its potential vasculoprotective effects. METHODS Pulmonary arteries from control or hypoxic (0.5 atm for 21 days) wild-type or eNOS-/- mice were used for pharmacological characterization of beta-AR-mediated relaxation in myograph, and for immunohistochemistry using anti-beta-AR antibodies. RESULTS In pulmonary arteries from normoxic mice, isoproterenol (beta-AR agonist) and procaterol (selective beta2-AR agonist) elicited relaxation, while cyanopindolol and CL316243 (beta3-AR agonists) were ineffective. The effect of isoproterenol was antagonized by CGP20712A and ICI118551 (beta1- or beta2-AR antagonists, respectively) and also partially inhibited by N omega-nitro-L-arginine methylester (L-NAME, a NOS inhibitor), endothelium denudation, or eNOS gene deletion. Relaxation to procaterol was abolished by L-NAME or endothelium removal. In eNOS-/- mice, procaterol-induced relaxation was decreased but was insensitive to L-NAME, this residual effect involving other endothelium-dependent relaxant factors as compensatory mechanisms. Immunostaining for beta2-AR was observed in the endothelial layer, but not the medial layer of pulmonary arteries. Pulmonary arteries from hypoxic mice exhibited decreased endothelial NO-dependent relaxation to acetylcholine. However, in these arteries, relaxation to procaterol was either unaffected (extralobar segments) or even increased (intralobar segments) and was still abolished by L-NAME or endothelium removal. CONCLUSION beta1- and beta2-AR, but not beta3-AR, mediate relaxation of mice pulmonary arteries. The beta2-AR component is dependent on eNOS activity and is preserved following chronic hypoxia. These data highlight the role of the beta2-AR as a pharmacological target to induce/restore endothelial NO-dependent protective effects in pulmonary circulation.
How can humanoid acquire lexicon? -active approach by attention and learning biases based on curiosity-

Observation study of human infants tells us that they can successfully acquire lexicon; understanding the relationship between the meaning and the uttered word from only one teaching by caregiver, even though there are many other possible mappings. This paper proposes a lexical acquisition model which makes use of curiosity to associate visual features of observed objects with the labels that are uttered by a caregiver. A robot changes its attention and learning rate based on curiosity. In the experiment with a real humanoid robot, the visual features are represented with self-organizing maps which adaptively represents the shape of observed objects independent of the viewpoints
Residual monomer content of repair autopolymerizing resin after microwave postpolymerization treatment

Purpose: Acrylic resins are one of the extensively used materials in removable prosthodontics however; complete dentures are highly vulnerable to fracture after long periods of clinical use. The repair of fractured prosthesis can be accomplished using acrylic resins that are light polymerized, autopolymerized, heat polymerized or microwave polymerized. Aim: To evaluate the residual monomer content of three different repair autoploymerising resins processed by two different polymerization techniques after microwave postpolymerization treatment. Materials and Methods: The study was executed with fabrication of a metal die and sixty test specimens of three different materials. The specimens were cured with conventional method and using pressure pot. After this the specimens were tested for residual monomer content using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. Results and Conclusion: Results confirmd that their residual monomer content decreased by subjecting them to another cycle of polymerization in microwave at 550 watts for 3 minutes.
Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1: Resistance to Nucleoside Analogues and Replicative Capacity in Primary Human Macrophages

ABSTRACT Antiretroviral treatment failure is associated with the emergence of resistant human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) populations which often express altered replicative capacity (RC). The resistance and RC of clinical HIV-1 strains, however, are generally assayed using activated peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) or tumor cell lines. Because of their high proliferation rate and concurrent high deoxynucleoside triphosphate (dNTP) content, both resistance and RC alterations might be misestimated in these cell systems. We have evaluated the resistance of HIV-1 clones expressing a variety of RT resistance mutations in primary human macrophages using a single cycle system. Our experiments indicate that d4T, ddI, and 3TC are more potent in macrophages than in HeLa-derived P4 tumor cells. Mutant viruses bearing thymidine analogue mutations (TAMs) or the K65R mutation had similar resistance levels in the two cell types. Strikingly, however, the M184V mutant, although fully resistant to 3TC in P4 cells, maintained some susceptibility to 3TC in macrophages from 8 of 11 donors. Using the same system, we found that the impact of resistance mutations on HIV RC was minimal in activated PBMC and in P4 cells. In contrast, mutant viruses exhibited strongly impaired RC relative to the wild type (WT) in macrophages, with the following RC order: WT > two TAMs > four TAMs = M184V > K65R. In undifferentiated monocytes, WT virus replication could be detected in three of six donors, but replication of all mutant viruses remained undetectable. Altogether, our results confirm that nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs) are powerful antiviral agents in differentiated macrophages, reveal that HIV resistance to some NRTIs may be less efficient in these cells, and indicate that resistance-associated loss of RC is more pronounced in macrophages than in high-dNTP content cell systems.