Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Whole skeletal muscle transplantation: Mechanisms responsible for functional deficits

One aspect of tissue engineering of skeletal muscle involves the transposition and transplantation of whole muscles to treat muscles damaged by injury or disease. The transposition of whole muscles has been used for many decades, but since 1970, the development of techniques for microneurovascular repair has allowed the transplantation of muscles invariably result in structural and functional deficits. The deficits are of the greatest magnitude during the first month, and then a gradual recovery results in the stabilization of structural and functional variables between 90 and 120 days. In stabilized vascularized grafts ranging from 1 to 3 g in rats to 90 g in dogs, the major deficits are ∼25% decrease in muscle mass and in most grafts ∼40% decrease in maximum force. The decrease in power is more complex because it depends on both the average shortening force and the velocity of shortening. As a consequence, the deficit in maximum power may be either greater or less than the deficit in maximum force. Tenotomy and repair are the major factors responsible for the deficits.
On optimum left-to-right strategies for active context-free games

Active context-free games are two-player games on strings over finite alphabets with one player trying to rewrite the input string to match a target specification. These games have been investigated in the context of exchanging Active XML (AXML) data. While it was known that the rewriting problem is undecidable in general, it is shown here that it is EXPSPACE-complete to decide for a given context-free game, whether all safely rewritable strings can be safely rewritten in a left-to-right manner, a problem that was previously considered by Abiteboul et al. Furthermore, it is shown that the corresponding problem for games with finite replacement languages is EXPTIME-complete.
Erosion Risk Management Tool (ERMiT) user manual (version 2006.01.18)

The decision of where, when, and how to apply the most effective post-fire erosion mitigation treatments requires land managers to assess the risk of damaging runoff and erosion events occurring after a fire. To aid in this assessment, the Erosion Risk Management Tool (ERMiT) was developed. This user manual describes the input parameters, input interface, model processing, and output files for version 2006.01. 18. ERMiT is a web-based application that uses Water Erosion Prediction Project (WEPP) technology to estimate erosion, in probabilistic terms, on burned and recovering forest, range, and chaparral lands with and without the application of erosion mitigation treatments. User inputs are processed by ERMiT to combine rain event variability with spatial and temporal variabilities of soil burn severity and soil properties, which are then used as WEPP input parameters. Based on 20 to 40 individual WEPP runs, ERMiT produces a distribution of rain event sediment delivery rates with a probability of occurrence for each of five post-fire years. In addition, event sediment delivery rate distributions are generated for post-fire hillslopes that have been treated with seeding, straw mulch, and erosion barriers such as contour-felled logs or straw wattles.
Ambient PM2.5, O3, and NO2 Exposures and Associations with Mortality over 16 Years of Follow-Up in the Canadian Census Health and Environment Cohort (CanCHEC)

Background Few studies examining the associations between long-term exposure to ambient air pollution and mortality have considered multiple pollutants when assessing changes in exposure due to residential mobility during follow-up. Objective We investigated associations between cause-specific mortality and ambient concentrations of fine particulate matter (≤ 2.5 μm; PM2.5), ozone (O3), and nitrogen dioxide (NO2) in a national cohort of about 2.5 million Canadians. Methods We assigned estimates of annual concentrations of these pollutants to the residential postal codes of subjects for each year during 16 years of follow-up. Historical tax data allowed us to track subjects’ residential postal code annually. We estimated hazard ratios (HRs) for each pollutant separately and adjusted for the other pollutants. We also estimated the product of the three HRs as a measure of the cumulative association with mortality for several causes of death for an increment of the mean minus the 5th percentile of each pollutant: 5.0 μg/m3 for PM2.5, 9.5 ppb for O3, and 8.1 ppb for NO2. Results PM2.5, O3, and NO2 were associated with nonaccidental and cause-specific mortality in single-pollutant models. Exposure to PM2.5 alone was not sufficient to fully characterize the toxicity of the atmospheric mix or to fully explain the risk of mortality associated with exposure to ambient pollution. Assuming additive associations, the estimated HR for nonaccidental mortality corresponding to a change in exposure from the mean to the 5th percentile for all three pollutants together was 1.075 (95% CI: 1.067, 1.084). Accounting for residential mobility had only a limited impact on the association between mortality and PM2.5 and O3, but increased associations with NO2. Conclusions In this large, national-level cohort, we found positive associations between several common causes of death and exposure to PM2.5, O3, and NO2. Citation Crouse DL, Peters PA, Hystad P, Brook JR, van Donkelaar A, Martin RV, Villeneuve PJ, Jerrett M, Goldberg MS, Pope CA III, Brauer M, Brook RD, Robichaud A, Menard R, Burnett RT. 2015. Ambient PM2.5, O3, and NO2 exposures and associations with mortality over 16 years of follow-up in the Canadian Census Health and Environment Cohort (CanCHEC). Environ Health Perspect 123:1180–1186; http://dx.doi. org/10.1289/ehp.1409276
A comparison of UML and ORM for data modeling

ion mechanisms allow unwanted details to be removed from immediate consideration. This is very important with large models. ORM diagrams tend to be more detailed and take up more space than corresponding UML models, so abstraction mechanisms are often used. Various mechanisms such as modularization, refinement levels, feature toggles, layering, and object zoom can be used to hide and show just that part of the model relevant to a user’s immediate needs [11, 6]. With minor variations, these techniques can be applied to both ORM and UML. ORM also includes an attribute abstraction procedure to automatically generate a UML or ER diagram as a view. A formal foundation is needed to ensure unambiguity and executability (e.g. to automate the storage, verification, transformation and simulation of models). One particular benefit is to allow formal proofs of equivalence and implication between alternative models for the same application [16]. Although ORM’s richer graphic constraint notation provides a more complete diagrammatic treatment of schema transformations, use of textual constraint languages can partly offset this advantage. With respect to their data modeling constructs, both UML and ORM have an adequate formal foundation. Since the ORM and UML languages are roughly comparable with regard to abstraction mechanisms and formal foundations, our evaluation in the following sections will focus on the criteria of expressibility, clarity, stability, relevance and validation.
Small-Subthreshold-Swing and Low-Voltage Flexible Organic Thin-Film Transistors Which Use HfLaO as the Gate Dielectric

Pentacene organic thin-film transistors (OTFTs) with a high-kappa HfLaO dielectric were integrated onto flexible polyimide substrates. The pentacene OTFTs exhibited good performance, such as a low subthreshold swing of 0.13 V/decade and a threshold voltage of -1.25 V. The field-effect mobility was 0.13 cm2/Vmiddots at an operating voltage as low as only 2.5 V. These characteristics are attractive for high-switching-speed and low-power applications.
A stochastic differential equation model for spectrum utilization

Dynamic spectrum access has been a subject of extensive study in recent years. The increasing volume of literature calls for better understanding of the characteristics of current spectrum utilization as well as better tools for analysis. A number of measurement studies have been conducted recently, revealing previously unknown features. On the other hand, analytical studies largely continues to rely on standard models like the two-state Markov (Gilbert-Elliot) model. In this paper we present an alternative, stochastic differential equation (SDE) based spectrum utilization model that captures dynamic changes in channel conditions induced by primary users' activities. It is in closed form and verified using real spectrum measurement data. We also present a straightforward procedure to generate synthetic spectrum data that can be used for realistic simulation. We then compare this model (in its time-discretized and value-quantized form) with the standard Gilbert-Elliot model, and in particularly examine their performance when the same channel access policy is applied. Finally we introduce a 3-state Markov model that captures certain key features of the SDE model.
Control of calcium release in functioning skeletal muscle fibers.

This review focuses on the normal physiological mechanisms that control calcium release from the sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) during electrical depolarization of functioning vertebrate skeletal muscle fibers. Special at­ tention is devoted to questions concerning the functional interactions between components of the calcium release and control system. In vertebrate skeletal muscle the two known components reside in separate but closely apposed membranes: the junctional membrane of the SR, which contains the SR calcium release channel, and the immediately adjacent membrane of the transverse tubules (TT) , which contains the TT membrane voltage-sensing elements that control the SR calcium channel. The TT system carries the electrical depolarization signal from the plasma membrane radially into the fiber for near-synchronous initiation of SR calcium release throughout the fiber volume. Several recent reviews have covered various functional aspects of these components as well as their interaction in physiological depolar­ ization-release coupling (6, 23, 35, 43, 65, 86, 108, 109, 110, l lI). The restricted length of the present review has required focus on selected areas to the unfortunate neglect of related but peripheral studies and use of only typical examples as references to general points. Molecular, structural, and molecular biological aspects of the calcium release and control system are presented in companion reviews (G Meissner; C Franzini-Armstrong & A Jorgensen, this volume).
Global ocean carbonate and carbon dioxide production; the role of reef Foraminifera

Although coral reefs occupy only 0.17% of the ocean surface, they contribute 900 million tons, or roughly one sixth of the carbonate produced in the world's oceans each year. Corals, coralline algae and foraminifera are by far the most important producers of sediment on reefs. In order to understand the role of foraminifera in reef and global carbonate production cycles, we estimated carbonate production rates of reef foraminifera from more than 70 sites in all oceanic regions. Our first order production estimate shows that reef foraminifera contribute approximately 43 million tons of CaCO 3 per year, 34 million tons of which accumulate in reef sediments. Eighty percent of the global foraminiferal reef carbonate is estimated to be produced by larger symbiont-bearing species alone. The annual production of 43 million tons represents roughly 0.76 percent of the present-day CaCO 3 production in the world's oceans and approximately 4.8 percent of the global carbonate reef budget. Given an average weight of 0.5 mg for the typical reef foraminifer, the production of 43 million tons translates into a yearly turnover rate of approximately 86X10 15 individuals. The biochemical production of calcium carbonate in the ocean leads to the release of the greenhouse gas CO 2 which can be discharged into the atmosphere. Using our first order approximation, the annual production of 43 million tons of foraminiferal reef carbonate results in the release of 11.4 million tons of CO 2 . This represents only 0.05 percent of anthropogenic CO 2 emission in 1991. On a global scale, both carbonate and CO 2 production of reef foraminifera are comparatively small. In present-day reef complexes foraminifera do, however, play an essential role in the production of reef carbonates.
Influence of the vitamin D plasma level and vitamin D‐related genetic polymorphisms on the immune status of patients with type 1 diabetes: a pilot study

Vitamin D (VD) has been implicated in type 1 diabetes (T1D) by genetic and epidemiological studies. Individuals living in regions with low sunlight exposure have an increased T1D risk and VD supplementation reduced the risk in human individuals and mouse models. One possibility of how VD influences the pathogenesis of T1D is its immunomodulatory effect on dendritic cells (DC), which then preferentially activate regulatory T cells (Tregs). In the present pilot study, we collected blood samples from a small cohort of patients with T1D at baseline and months 6 and 12. VD‐deficient patients were advised to supplement with 1000 IU/day VD. We found a considerable variation in the VD plasma level at baseline and follow‐up. However, with higher VD plasma levels, a lower frequency of interleukin (IL)‐4‐producing CD8 T cells was observed. We further performed a comprehensive genotyping of 13 VD‐related polymorphisms and found an association between VD plasma level and the genotype of the VD binding protein (DBP). The frequency of DC and T cell subsets was variable in patients of all subgroups and in individual patients over time. Nevertheless, we found some significant associations, including the 1,25‐dihydroxyvitamin D3 hydroxylase (CYP27B1) genotype with the frequency of DC subtypes. In summary, our preliminary results indicate only a limited influence of the VD plasma level on the immune balance in patients with T1D. Nevertheless, our pilot study provides a basis for a follow‐up study with a larger cohort of patients.
From Duels to Battlefields: Computing Equilibria of Blotto and Other Games

We study the problem of computing Nash equilibria of zero-sum games.Many natural zero-sum games have exponentially many strategies, but highly structured payoffs. For example, in the well-studied Colonel Blotto game (introduced by Borel in 1921), players must divide a pool of troops among a set of battlefields with the goal of winning (i.e., having more troops in) a majority. The Colonel Blotto game is commonly used for analyzing a wide range of applications from the U.S presidential election, to innovative technology competitions, toadvertisement, to sports.However, because of the size of the strategy space, standard methods for computing equilibria of zero-sum games fail to be computationally feasible.Indeed, despite its importance, only few solutions for special variants of the problem are known. In this paper we show how to compute equilibria of Colonel Blotto games. Moreover, our approach takes the form of a general reduction: to find a Nash equilibrium of a zero-sum game, it suffices to design a separation oracle for the strategy polytope of any bilinear game that is payoff-equivalent. We then apply this technique to obtain the first polytime algorithms for a variety of games. In addition to Colonel Blotto, we also show how to compute equilibria in an infinite-strategy variant called the General Lotto game; this involves showing how to prune the strategy space to a finite subset before applying our reduction. We also consider the class of dueling games, first introduced by Immorlica et al. (2011). We show that our approach provably extends the class of dueling games for which equilibria can be computed: we introduce a new dueling game, the matching duel, on which prior methods fail to be computationally feasible but upon which our reduction can be applied.
Mobile telecommunications via stratosphere

This paper offers a short review of High Altitude Platform Stations (HAPS) technology that promises a low-cost and quick access to modern telecommunication services. Such a perspective has been appealing to all users in areas where the modern telecommunication infrastructure is lacking. With all its promises fulfilled, the HAPS technology will contribute significantly to bridging the digital gap and to improving the emergency and security communications. It will also offer an attractive alternative to the present solutions to the last-mile-problem .
Large‐scale characteristics of magnetospheric equatorial currents

We have analyzed the vector magnetic field data acquired with the AMPTE CCE satellite for prolonged periods of disturbed conditions (2 ≤ Kp ≤ 6, and −70 ≤ Dst ≤ −20 nT). A total of 300 orbits for 180 days during 1985 and 1986 were subjected to the present analysis. We have determined the characteristics of the intensities and flow directions of currents flowing parallel to and near the geomagnetic equatorial plane in the region between L = 4.0 and 8.8 RE. This analysis was done in a cylindrical magnetic coordinate system and by assuming north–south symmetry with respect to the geomagnetic equatorial plane. The characteristics determined from this study include the following: (1) The azimuthal currents flow westward and exhibit pronounced midnight-noon asymmetries, with the nightside intensities greater than dayside intensities by a factor of 2 to 3. The enhanced nightside current intensities have localized relative minima between 2200 and 0200 MLT and L = 5.6 and 8.8 RE, resulting from the integrated effect of a number of substorm-associated geomagnetic dipolarizations. (2) The inferred equatorial radial currents flow toward the Earth in the evening sector and away from the Earth in the morning sector throughout the region between L = 4.0 and 8.8 RE. (3) A net positive divergence (source) of equatorial current in the evening sector and a net negative divergence (sink) in the morning sector is inferred from the distribution of azimuthal and radial currents. The location, flow direction, and intensities of these divergent currents are almost identical with those of the region 2 Birkeland system. We conclude that the equatorial currents, primarily the westward ring current, and the region 2 Birkeland current system are closely connected.
Adaptive VBR video traffic management for higher utilization of ATM networks

The VBR video traffic exhibits high burstiness and correlation properties that are quite complex to be captured by a single traffic model. Efficient resource management based on few parameters of the source traffic is highly desirable. The real-time VBR video traffic has stringent quality of service (QoS) requirements such as delay (few milliseconds) and cell loss (1 in 10 -5) that are difficult to achieve with good utilization (&gt; 0.6) by static bandwidth allocation schemes. In order to satisfy such QoS constraints with good utilization, proper adaptive mechanisms have to be devised. This paper presents a dynamic bandwidth allocation scheme for VBR video traffic based on buffer monitoring and a simple LMS (least mean square) traffic prediction system. The goal is to reduce the frequency of the bandwidth reallocations and at the same time reduce the Cell-loss Ratio (CLR) with increased utilization. Simulation results indicate that utilization up to 0.8 can be achieved by the proposed scheme even under high source alignment [26] for bursty VBR video traffic. It is found that the proposed adaptive scheme outperforms the static FCFS allocation scheme with lower buffer requirements and fewer (&lt; 5%) bandwidth reallocations.
Estimating ground-level PM 2.5 using aerosol optical depth determined from satellite remot

A convertible table is comprised of a central planar section and two end sections. The end sections are hingedly secured to the central planar section for rotation thereabout. Each end section has a pair of legs fixedly secured thereto. The legs are not capable of movement with respect to the end sections, but rotate with the end sections. Utilizing the aforementioned approach, a number of table designs are possible. For example, to facilitate folding, the pair of legs attached to one end section may have a greater distance therebetween than does the pair of legs attached to the other end section. In this manner, when the end sections are folded to a position perpendicular to the central planar section, a coffee table, or cocktail table or the like having a lower overall height is formed. The end sections support the central planar section and also form two sides of the table. The legs form the other two sides of the table and may also support the central planar section.
Basal cell carcinoma: stressful life events and the tumor environment.

CONTEXT Child emotional maltreatment can result in lasting immune dysregulation that may be heightened in the context of more recent life stress. Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) is the most common skin cancer, and the immune system plays a prominent role in tumor appearance and progression. OBJECTIVE To address associations among recent severe life events, childhood parental emotional maltreatment, depression, and messenger RNA (mRNA) coding for immune markers associated with BCC tumor progression and regression. DESIGN We collected information about early parent-child experiences, severe life events in the past year as assessed by the Life Events and Difficulties Schedule, depression, and mRNA for immune markers associated with BCC tumor progression and regression from patients with BCC tumors. SETTING University medical center. PARTICIPANTS Ninety-one patients with BCC (ages, 23-92 years) who had a previous BCC tumor. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES The expression of 4 BCC tumor mRNA markers (CD25, CD3ε, intercellular adhesion molecule 1, and CD68) that have been linked to BCC tumor progression and regression were assessed in BCC tumor biopsy specimens. RESULTS Both maternal and paternal emotional maltreatment interacted with the occurrence of severe life events to predict the local immune response to the tumor (adjusted P = .009 and P = .03, respectively). Among BCC patients who had experienced a severe life event within the past year, those who were emotionally maltreated by their mothers (P = .007) or fathers (P = .02) as children had a poorer immune response to the BCC tumor. Emotional maltreatment was unrelated to BCC immune responses among those who did not experience a severe life event. Depressive symptoms were not associated with the local tumor immune response. CONCLUSIONS Troubled early parent-child relationships, in combination with a severe life event in the past year, predicted immune responses to a BCC tumor. The immunoreactivity observed in BCCs and the surrounding stroma reflects an anti-tumor-specific immune response that can be altered by stress.
The Ekven Settlement: Eskimo Beginnings on the Asian Shore of Bering Strait

This volume is the product of international research in the remote Bering Strait region at the Neoeskimo (Old Bering Sea, Birnirk, Punuk, and Thule cultures) site of Evken, near Cape Dezhnev (East Cape) on the Chukchi Peninsula, Eurasia’s easternmost point. The Neoeskimo cultural complex spans both Russian and US sides of the Bering Strait. The Ekven site cluster is perhaps best known for its large burial ground under investigation since the 1950s, but the habitation site, which lies ca. 1 km from the cemetery, is the focus of the current volume. The Evken settlement is a concentration of about 30 ruined dwellings that today look like small hills (“mounds”) with depressions in the middle. Rescue excavation at Ekven was triggered when active wave erosion began to destroy cultural deposits located close to the coastline. While the volume took a relatively long time to be released and some data have previously been published (see Dumond and Bland 2002:261–272, 2006:159–189), this