Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
First Clinical Results With a New Mechanical Connector for Distal Coronary Artery Anastomoses in CABG

BackgroundCoronary anastomoses are currently primarily carried out with the use of running nonabsorbable sutures. Recently, a renewed interest has developed for facilitated mechanical anastomotic devices especially for minimal invasive techniques or limited access surgery. The initial experience with the first successful creation of mechanical vein-to-coronary artery anastomoses in humans is reported. Methods and ResultsBetween November 2000 and June 2001, 14 patients scheduled for multivessel coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) procedure were investigated. One vein graft-to-coronary artery anastomosis per patient was performed with the St. Jude Medical ATG Symmetry coronary connector system (stainless steel investigational device, not yet commercially available). We evaluated the overall performance of the device. Intraoperative flow measurements of the grafts using transit time methods were measured. A postoperative angiographic control was performed immediately after the procedure in all patients. Hemostasis was instantaneous in all cases and all anastomoses (mechanical n=14, sutured n=40) were patent. Mean intraoperative flow measurements for the mechanical anastomosed vein grafts was 75±25 mL/min. Three month angiogram or MRI angiography is available to date in 11 patients. Ten connector grafts were patent and 1 was occluded. There were no cardiac-related adverse events or return of angina; exercise tolerance tests and stress electrocardiograms were normal in all patients. ConclusionsThe St. Jude Medical ATG Symmetry coronary connector system is a new device for sutureless distal vein graft-to-coronary artery anastomoses in CABG. This system allows the construction of geometrically perfect anastomoses. This technology represents a further step in a new era of sutureless anastomoses in cardiac surgery.
Effect of cyclic tensile load on the regulation of the expression of matrix metalloproteases (MMPs -1, -3) and structural components in synovial cells

Synovial cells are reported to colonize synthetic ligament scaffolds following anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction but the process leading to ligamentization is poorly understood. The present study investigated the effect of cyclic tensile strain on the expression of genes involved in matrix remodelling in bovine synovial cells seeded onto an artificial ligament scaffold. Synovial cells were seeded and cultured on polyester scaffolds for 3 weeks and subsequently subjected to cyclic tensile strain of 4.5% for 1 hr at frequency of 1 Hz. Changes in the levels of expression of genes for major ligament components (type I and type III collagen) and also metalloproteinases (MMP‐1 and MMP‐3), and TIMP‐1 were examined using RT‐PCR. Additionally, metalloproteinase activity was measured using both zymography and collagenase assays. The gene expression of MMP‐3 transcripts in the loaded group was almost 3‐fold that observed in control group but no differences were observed in other transcripts. Consistent with these findings, MMP‐3 activity increased by 85% under mechanical stimulus, and MMP‐1 activity showed no changes. Over expression of MMP‐3 under cyclic tensile load may mediate the proteolysis of certain substrates surrounding the ligament scaffold. This will play a critical role in facilitating cell migration, proliferation and tissue remodelling by breaking down the provisional tissue formed by the synovium, and by generating factors that induce angiogenesis and chemotactic cell migration.
Translating-transliterating named entities for multilingual information access

Named entities are major constituents of a document but are usually unknown words. This work proposes a systematic way of dealing with formulation, transformation, translation, and transliteration of multilingual-named entities. The rules and similarity matrices for translation and transliteration are learned automatically from parallel-named-entity corpora. The results are applied in cross-language access to collections of images with captions. Experimental results demonstrate that the similarity-based transliteration of named entities is effective, and runs in which transliteration is considered outperform the runs in which it is neglected.
Performance analysis of TLS-Esprit and QR TLS- Esprit algorithm for Direction of Arrival estimation

In this paper the performance analysis of TLS-Esprit, QR TLS-Esprit for Direction of Arrival(DOA) estimation is evaluated in terms of the root mean square DOA error. In these paper, exploring the Eigen analysis category of high resolution and super resolution algorithms, presentation and description, comparison and the performance and resolution analyses of these algorithm are made. These high resolution parameter estimation algorithms were designed to provide a reduced estimation error that is explicit in the noise realizations and asymptotic in the effective signal to noise ratio (SNR), i.e. the approximation becomes exact for high SNRs or a large sample size.
A randomized polynomial-time algorithm for the Spanning Hypertree Problem on 3-uniform hypergraphs

Consider the problem of determining whether there exists a spanning hypertree in a given k-uniform hypergraph. This problem is trivially in P for k=2, and is NP-complete for k>= 4, whereas for k=3, there exists a polynomial-time algorithm based on Lovasz' theory of polymatroid matching. Here we give a completely different, randomized polynomial-time algorithm in the case k=3. The main ingredients are a Pfaffian formula by Vaintrob and one of the authors (G.M.) for a polynomial that enumerates spanning hypertrees with some signs, and a lemma on the number of roots of polynomials over a finite field.
How do parents influence their children’s attitudes to life?

In December 2014, the government’s Horizon Scanning Programme published a report on the Social Attitudes of Young People. Svenja Ottovordemgentschenfelde takes a closer look and shares insights into the significant roles that parents play in shaping their children’s take on life. Svenja is a doctoral researcher at LSE’s Department of Media and Communications and contributes to the Parenting for a Digital Future research project.
Estimation of the vehicle-pedestrian encounter/conflict risk on the road based on TASI 110-car naturalistic driving data collection

Modeling vehicle-pedestrian interactions in the road environment is essential to develop pedestrian detection and pedestrian crash avoidance systems. In this paper, one novel approach is proposed to estimate the vehicle-pedestrian encountering risk in the road environment based on a large scale naturalistic driving data collection. Considering the difficulty to record actual pedestrian crashes in the naturalistic data collection, the encountering risk is estimated by the chances for driver to meet with pedestrian in the roadway as well as the chances for the driver and pedestrian to get into a potential conflict. Effects of different scenarios consisting of road conditions, pedestrian behaviors, and pedestrian numbers on the risk levels are also evaluated, and significant results are provided.
A reactive random graph (RRG) model for multicast routing in MANETs

Mobile ad hoc networks (MANETs) emerge as one of the most attractive technologies in radio networks. They are complex networks that are difficult to analyze due to their unpredicted and random high rate topological changes. Bandwidth limitations in such networks allows multicast to be an important routing solution, which reduces the communication cost via providing efficient saving in bandwidth and network resources. In this paper, we study the random graph as a model of such complex networks and we derive an analytical model for our proposed source routing-based multicast protocol (SRMP). This model, named reactive random graph (RRG), is investigated from the random graph theory, exploiting the phase transition behavior from the percolation theory. Based on our RRG model, we analyze critical properties in SRMP. Our main goal is to study and balance the tradeoff between multicast group connectivity and the optimum use of resources through minimizing the communication graph size. Useful results are drawn out through our work, providing us with significant factors for enhancing the performance of SRMP
afety and usability evaluation of a web-based insulin self-titration ystem for patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus

Objective: The rising incidence of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) induces severe challenges for the health care system. Our research group developed a web-based system named PANDIT that provides T2DM patients with insulin dosing advice using state of the art clinical decision support technology. The PANDIT interface resembles a glucose diary and provides advice through pop-up messages. Diabetes nurses (DNs) also have access to the system, allowing them to intervene when needed. The objective of this study was to establish whether T2DM patients can safely use PANDIT at home. To this end, we assessed whether patients experience usability problems with a high risk of compromising patient safety when interacting with the system, and whether PANDIT’s insulin dosing advice are clinically safe. Research design and methods: The study population consisted of patients with T2DM (aged 18–80) who used a once daily basal insulin as well as DNs from a university hospital. The usability evaluation consisted of think-aloud sessions with four patients and three DNs. Video data, audio data and verbal utterances were analyzed for usability problems encountered during PANDIT interactions. Usability problems were rated by a physician and a usability expert according to their potential impact on patient safety. The usability evaluation was followed by an implementation with a duration of four weeks. This implementation took place at the patients’ homes with ten patients to evaluate clinical safety of PANDIT advice. PANDIT advice were systematically compared with DN advice. Deviating advice were evaluated with respect to patient safety by a panel of experienced physicians, which specialized in diabetes care. Results: We detected seventeen unique usability problems, none of which was judged to have a high risk of compromising patient safety. Most usability problems concerned the lay-out of the diary, which did not clearly indicate which data entry fields had to be entered in order to obtain an advice. 27 out of 74 (36.5%) PANDIT advice differed from those provided by DNs. However, only one of these (1.4%) was considered unsafe by the panel. Conclusion: T2DM patients with no prior experience with the web-based self-management system were capable of consulting the system without encountering significant usability problems. Furthermore, the large majority of PANDIT advice were considered clinically safe according to the expert panel. One advice was considered unsafe. This could however easily be corrected by implementing a small modification to ase. the system’s knowledge b
Closed rotor slot effect on negative sequence impedance [in induction motors]

This paper presents experimental results concerning the negative sequence impedance Z/sub n/ of induction motors with different rotor slot constructions. Z/sub n/ is used as a fault index for shorted turns in stator windings, or can be used to distinguish negative sequence current due to unbalanced supply voltage from negative sequence current due to stator shorts. Although Z/sub n/ is largely independent of speed changes, experiments show that it can vary strongly with motor loading. Results presented show that, depending on rotor slot type, negative sequence reactance can change by as much as 10% to 50%, especially in motors with closed rotor slots.
The Prevalence and Effects of Adult Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder on Work Performance in a Nationally Representative Sample of Workers

Objective: The prevalence and workplace consequences of adult attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are unknown. Methods: An ADHD screen was included in a national household survey (n = 3198, ages 18–44). Clinical reinterviews calibrated the screen to diagnoses of Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 4th edition ADHD. Diagnoses among workers were compared with responses to the WHO Health and Work Performance Questionnaire (HPQ). Results: A total of 4.2% of workers had ADHD. ADHD was associated with 35.0 days of annual lost work performance, with higher associations among blue collar (55.8 days) than professional (12.2 days), technical (19.8 days), or service (32.6 days) workers. These associations represent 120 million days of annual lost work in the U.S. labor force, equivalent to $19.5 billion lost human capital. Conclusions: ADHD is a common and costly workplace condition. Effectiveness trials are needed to estimate the region of interest of workplace ADHD screening and treatment programs.
Prediction of Magnetic Hysteresis in the Force of a Prebiased E-Core Reluctance Actuator

Magnetic hysteresis in the force of a prebiased E-core reluctance actuator is researched using three analysis methods. Simulations are performed with a 2-D/3-D finite-element method (FEM); and two semianalytic methods are evaluated, namely, a generalization of the classical Preisach model, which is combined with a dynamic magnetic equivalent circuit (MEC) method, and a complex impedance model, which is combined with a static MEC model. Ultimately, the FEM simulations and analytic models are examined by a comparison with force measurements performed with a piezoelectric load cell.
A Survey and Classification of Visualisation in Multiscale Biomedical Applications

The MSV project aims to survey current best practice in multiscale visualisation and to construct a software toolkit which will make multiscale techniques readily accessible to biomedical researchers and clinicians. In this paper, current methods for multiscale data visualisation in several domains are reviewed, and a novel classification of multiscale techniques for biomedical applications by function is proposed. The classification will form the basis of a design menu and toolkit for multiscale visualisation.
ANFIS supported question classification in computer adaptive testing (CAT)

E-learning has become a major trend in the computer assisted teaching with the rapid development of Internet technologies. Web-based education is a very important component of education technology. One of the main advantage is the classroom and platform independence. Implementing Artificial Intelligence (AI) techniques to support efforts to improve the Web's intelligence and provide better services to the end users. In this study, three popular AI methods: Artificial Neural Network (ANN), Support Vector Machines (SVM), and Adaptive Network Based Fuzzy Inference System (ANFIS) were benchmarked in terms of effectiveness and performance within a Web-based environment. As the pilot test, ¿History of Civilization¿ class was selected. The question classification abilities depending on the item responses of students, item difficulties of questions, and question levels were determined by using Gaussian Normal Curve. Comparison study was conducted by considering the performance and class correctness of the sample questions (n=13) by using the given three inputs. The results showed that ANFIS has better performance than ANN and AVM in web-based education.
HO-1 Induction by CO-RM2 Attenuates TNF-α-Induced Cytosolic Phospholipase A2 Expression via Inhibition of PKCα-Dependent NADPH Oxidase/ROS and NF-κB

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is characterized by chronic inflammatory infiltration of the synovium and elevation of proinflammatory cytokines. Cytosolic phospholipase A2 (cPLA2) is involved in the development of inflammatory diseases. Heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) has been shown to possess anti-inflammatory properties. The objective of the study was to investigate the detailed mechanisms of TNF-α-induced cPLA2 expression and to determine whether carbon monoxide releasing molecule-2 (CO-RM2) suppresses TNF-α-induced expression of NF-κB-related proinflammatory genes, including cPLA2, via HO-1 induction in RA synovial fibroblasts (RASFs). Here, we reported that TNF-α-induced cPLA2 expression was mediated through TNFR1/PKCα-dependent signaling pathways, including NADPH oxidase (NOX) activation/ROS production and NF-κB activation. CO-RM2 significantly suppressed TNF-α-induced cPLA2 expression by inhibiting the ROS generation and the phosphorylation of NF-κB p65 and IKKα/β, but not the phosphorylation of p38 MAPK and JNK1/2. These results were further confirmed by a ChIP assay to detect the NF-κB DNA-binding activity. Our results demonstrated that induction of HO-1 by CO-RM2 exerted anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects which were required in concert to prevent the activation of NF-κB leading to induction of various inflammatory genes implicated in the pathogenesis of RA.
The impact of domestic violence on the workplace

This study explored the impact of domestic violence on absenteeism, worker productivity, and workplace responses to domestic violence, based on a survey of New Zealand employees. One thousand six hundred and thirty-eight (1638) completed questionnaires were returned, 249 from respondents who had direct experience of domestic violence. The majority of respondents were women. Domestic violence affected over a third of respondents' ability to get to work and their work performance. The opportunity to discuss the violence with someone at work resulted in positive outcomes. The study suggests that raising awareness of domestic violence as a workplace issue and developing appropriate legislation and workplace policies and practices would potentially benefit both workers and the employers.
Nasal and oral contribution to inhaled and exhaled nitric oxide: a study in tracheotomized patients

Nitric oxide (NO) is produced at different sites in the human airways and may have several physiological effects. Orally-produced NO seems to contribute to the levels found in exhaled air. Autoinhalation of nasal NO increases oxygenation and reduces pulmonary artery pressure in humans. The aim of this study was to measure the concentration and output of NO during nasal, oral and tracheal controlled exhalation and inhalation. Ten tracheotomized patients and seven healthy subjects were studied. The mean±sem fraction of exhaled NO from the nose, mouth and trachea was 56±8, 14±4 and 6±1 parts per billion (ppb), respectively. During single-breath nasal, oral and tracheal inhalation the fraction of inhaled NO was 64±14, 11±3 and 4±1, respectively. There was a marked flow dependency on nasal NO output in the healthy subjects, which was four-fold greater at the higher flow rates, during inhalation when compared to exhalation. There is a substantial contribution of nasal and oral nitric oxide during both inhalation and exhalation. Nasal nitric oxide output is markedly higher during inhalation, reaching levels similar to those that are found to have clinical effects in the trachea. These findings have implications for the measurement of nitric oxide in exhaled air and the physiological effects of autoinhaled endogenous nitric oxide.
Strathprints Institutional Repository Noise Suppresses or Expresses Exponential Growth

Strathprints is designed to allow users to access the research output of the University of Strathclyde. Copyright © and Moral Rights for the papers on this site are retained by the individual authors and/or other copyright owners. You may not engage in further distribution of the material for any profitmaking activities or any commercial gain. You may freely distribute both the url (http://strathprints.strath.ac.uk/) and the content of this paper for research or study, educational, or not-for-profit purposes without prior permission or charge. This version has been peer-reviewed but does not include the final publisher proof corrections, published layout or pagination. Strathprints is designed to allow users to access the research output of the University of Strathclyde. Copyright © and Moral Rights for the papers on this site are retained by the individual authors and/or other copyright owners. You may not engage in further distribution of the material for any profitmaking activities or any commercial gain. You may freely distribute both the url (http://strathprints.strath.ac.uk) and the content of this paper for research or study, educational, or not-for-profit purposes without prior permission or charge. You may freely distribute the url Abstract In this paper we will show that noise can make a given system whose solutions grow exponentially become a new system whose solutions will grow at most polynomially. On the other hand, we will also show that noise can make a given system whose solutions are bounded become a new system whose solutions will grow exponentially. In other words, we reveal that the noise can suppress or expresses exponential growth.
Appendix A : Background Information for Atrazine and Deethylatrazine

Atrazine is rapidly absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract, based on tissue distribution in case reports of atrazine ingestion and on plasma concentrations and urinary and fecal excretion in single dose studies in rats (ATSDR 2003; EPA 2002c). Absorption of atrazine, based on excretion of atrazine and its metabolites in the urine of rats during 72–96 hours after dosing, ranged from at least 37% (one study; high dose) to at least 66% (three studies; lower doses) (EPA 2002c). Fecal excretion of atrazine and metabolites accounted for 14% of the dose in 24 hours and 19% of the dose in 72 hours after dosing (Timchalk et al. 1990). Based on the fecal excretion data, at least 81% of the dose of atrazine was absorbed.
Evaluation of Protein Concentration and Limiting Amino Acids Including Lysine and Met + Cys in Prestarter Diet on Performance of Broilers

Four experiments were conducted, in two stages, to evaluate protein and limiting amino acids' (lysine and methionine + cystine) levels in pre-starter diets on broilers' performance. In each experiment of Stage 1, 640 new-born male Ross 308 cockerels were randomly allocated to eight dietary treatments with a 2 × 4 factorial arrangement. In experiment 1-1, two levels of crude protein (CP: 21% and 23.2%) and four levels of Lys (1.2, 1.3, 1.4, and 1.5%) and in experiment 1-2, two levels of CP (21 and 23.2%) and four levels of Met + Cys (0.85, 0.90, 0.95, and 1.00%) were used. In Stage 2, the optimum levels of Lys and Met + Cys obtained from Stage 1 (1.3 and 1.5% Lys, 0.90 and 1.00% Met + Cys in experiment 1-1 and 1-2, resp.) with two levels of CP (21 and 23.2%) were used in two separate simultaneous experiments with a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement for male and female birds. The levels of CP significantly influenced BWG and FCR in experiment 1-1. Dietary levels of Lys affect BWG (experiment 1-1) and FI (experiments 1-1 and 2-1) significantly. In experiments 1-2 and 2-2, the different levels of Met + Cys did not affect BWG, FI, and FCR of male or female broilers. The results of these experiments indicated that the optimal level of dietary protein and Lys were 23.2% and 1.5%, respectively. Diets with 1% Met + Cys caused optimal performance.
Applicability Analysis of the Models on Prepayment

Prepayment risk of the residential mortgage has gradually become important to commercial banks. It affects banks' income, disturbs cash flow management, triggers reinvesting risk and blocks the process of securitization. This paper states four main methods of constructing empirical models, focuses on analyzing their applicability in China and finally comes to a conclusion that an econometric model is a suitable choice.