Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Primary Repair of the Unilateral Cleft Lip Nose: Completion of a Longitudinal Study

The first 10 consecutive unilateral cleft subjects operated on in 1975 by a technique of primary cleft nose correction, developed by the author (HKM), were reviewed at ages 10 and 18. No further nasal surgery had been performed on these cases. The anteroposterior and inferior facial appearances of each of the cases have been published for evaluation. A computer-based method of measuring nasal asymmetry was used to objectively analyze the results and compare them with normal and cleft control faces that were age matched. The results support the observation that nasal growth of the cleft side of the nose is unaffected by early primary nasal surgery and that the vertical shortening of the nose by the alar lift technique is preserved into adult life. Residual nostril asymmetry from septal deviation persists into adulthood.
Survey on Very Fast TLP and Ultra Fast Repetitive Pulsing for Characterization in the CDM-Domain

Charged device model pulses may be less than 1 ns wide with peak currents exceeding 10 A. They are a true challenge for the ESD protection of advanced technologies with shrinking safety margins. This paper surveys the characterization with very fast rising single shot TLP pulses and the CDM-like stress, if the square pulse is injected into an integrated circuit via a single pin. Complementing the high-voltage VF-TLP, repetitive medium voltage techniques with ps-rise times are necessary to meet the CDM-goals.
An infant with suspected right ventricular dysplasia presenting unique ventriculograms

Angiocardiography was performed twice in a male infant at ten days after birth due to cyanosis during crying and at 4 years and 10 months of age for close examination of the heart prior to an operation for cerebral abscess. Outpouchings resembling multiple diverticula were observed in both ventricles, though more notably in the right ventricle, as well as slight enlargement and reduced ejection fraction of both ventricles. Evaluation of oxygen saturation indicated right‐to‐left shunt at the atrial level. Electrocardiography suggested a marked superior axis deviation, and chest roentgenography and two‐dimensional echocardiography revealed enlargement of the right atrium and right ventricle. Soon after the examinations, the patient died suddenly during sleep at home. Since autopsy was not performed, a definitive diagnosis could not be made, but right ventricular dysplasia appeared likely. The unique angiocardiographic findings and clinical course of this rare patient are described.
Stability Enhancement of DFIG-Based Offshore Wind Farm Fed to a Multi-Machine System Using a STATCOM

In this paper, the simulation results of using a static synchronous compensator (STATCOM) to achieve damping improvement of an offshore wind farm (OWF) fed to a multi-machine system is presented. The operating performance of the studied OWF is simulated by an equivalent aggregated doubly-fed induction generator (DFIG) driven by an equivalent aggregated wind turbine (WT) through an equivalent gearbox. A PID damping controller and a hybrid PID plus fuzzy logic controller (FLC) of the proposed STATCOM are designed to contribute adequate damping characteristics to the dominant modes of the studied system under various operating conditions. A frequency-domain approach based on a linearized system model using root-loci technique and a time-domain scheme based on a nonlinear system model subject to a three-phase short-circuit fault at the connected bus are systematically performed to examine the effectiveness of the proposed control schemes. It can be concluded from the comparative simulated results that the proposed STATCOM joined with the designed hybrid PID plus FLC is shown to be superior for improving the stability of the studied system subject to a severe disturbance than the PID controller.
Neuronal cell death in neonatal hypoxia‐ischemia

Perinatal hypoxic‐ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) is a significant cause of mortality and morbidity in infants and young children. Therapeutic opportunities are very limited for neonatal and pediatric HIE. Specific neural systems and populations of cells are selectively vulnerable in HIE; however, the mechanisms of degeneration are unresolved. These mechanisms involve oxidative stress, excitotoxicity, inflammation, and the activation of several different cell death pathways. Decades ago the structural and mechanistic basis of the cellular degeneration in HIE was thought to be necrosis. Subsequently, largely due to advances in cell biology and to experimental animal studies, emphasis has been switched to apoptosis or autophagy mediated by programmed cell death (PCD) mechanisms as important forms of degeneration in HIE. We have conceptualized based on morphological and biochemical data that this degeneration is better classified according to an apoptosis‐necrosis cell death continuum and that programmed cell necrosis has prominent contribution in the neurodegeneration of HIE in animal models. It is likely that neonatal HIE evolves through many cell death chreodes influenced by the dynamic injury landscape. The relevant injury mechanisms remain to be determined in human neonatal HIE, though preliminary work suggests a complexity in the cell death mechanisms greater than that anticipated from experimental animal models. The accurate identification of the various cell death chreodes and their mechanisms unfolding within the immature brain matrix could provide fresh insight for developing meaningful therapies for neonatal and pediatric HIE. Ann Neurol 2011;69:743–758
International company restructuring and the effects on high-skilled employees in lead companies

International company restructuring involving knowledge intensive jobs causes increasing concern about the effect on the globalization of high-skilled employees. Drawing on case studies in four Danish-based companies, this article argues that high-skilled employees in lead companies are rarely insulated from international restructuring processes. However, effects on wage and working conditions vary dependent on the motivation for restructuring, and as companies learn to take advantage of pools of skilled employees abroad. Continued international restructuring appear to challenge the insulation of high-skilled workers over time. Further, the article shows that knowledge intensive companies increasingly apply relational global value chain governance with multidirectional consequences for wage and working conditions among the high-skilled employees.
Exogenous arginine vasopressin does not enhance carotid baroreflex control in the conscious dog.

Arginine vasopressin (AVP) has profound effects on the cardiovascular system, yet has minimal pressor activity at physiological levels in intact subjects. We designed an investigation to delineate the effects of AVP on open-loop carotid baroreflex control of mean arterial pressure (MAP), total peripheral resistance (TPR), and cardiac output (CO) in conscious, chronically instrumented dogs. During graded infusions of AVP (0.5-2.0 ng.kg-1.min-1), the open-loop hemodynamic responses to controlled changes in isolated carotid sinus pressure (CSP) were determined. Increasing levels of AVP infusion led to significant increases in plasma AVP levels (P < 0.01). Increasing doses of AVP led to significant increases in TPR at all levels of CSP (P < 0.01). The overall range and gain of the response were not significantly different at any level of AVP infusion. Despite this increase in systemic resistance, there was no significant change in the MAP-CSP relationship. Infusion of AVP led to a dose-dependent depression in CO (P < 0.01) and heart rate (HR; P < 0.05) at all levels of CSP with no significant effect on open-loop baroreflex control. We conclude that although exogenous AVP induces profound changes in cardiovascular function, it does not alter carotid baroreflex control of MAP, TPR, CO, and HR.
Drought-Induced Amplification of Local and Regional West Nile Virus Infection Rates in New Jersey

ABSTRACT This study looked at the influence of interannual variations in temperature and precipitation on seasonal mosquito abundances, the prevalence of West Nile virus (family Flaviviridae, genus Flavivirus, WNV) in the northeastern United States, and the capacity for local mosquito communities to maintain and transmit WNV, defined as vector community competence. Vector and virus surveillance took place within Middlesex County in New Jersey over two transmission seasons (2010 and 2011). Drought conditions during the 2010 season were associated with significant increases in the number of blood-fed Culex spp. mosquitoes collected per week, and significant increases in vector community competence, or the ability of local vector communities to transmit WNV, when compared with the wetter and milder 2011 season. These increases were associated with significantly higher weekly WNV infection rates in Culex spp. (i.e., Culex pipiens L. and Culex restuans L.) during the 2010 drought season. On a larger scale, the positive influence of drought on the amplification of WNV was also confirmed at the state level where early seasonal (June-July) increases in temperature and decreases in precipitation were strongly correlated with increases in yearly WNV infection rates over a 9-yr period (2003–2011). These data suggest that there may be clear temperature and precipitation thresholds beyond which epidemic levels of WNV transmission occur.
DuCNoC: A High-Throughput FPGA-Based NoC Simulator Using Dual-Clock Lightweight Router Micro-Architecture

On-chip interconnections play an important role in multi/many-processor systems-on-chip (MPSoCs). In order to achieve efficient optimization, each specific application must utilize a specific architecture, and consequently a specific interconnection network. For design space exploration and finding the best NoC solution for each specific application, a fast and flexible NoC simulator is necessary, especially for large design spaces. In this paper, we present an FPGA-based NoC co-simulator, which is able to be configured via software. In our proposed NoC simulator, entitled <italic>DuCNoC</italic>, we implement a <italic>Dual-Clock</italic> router micro-architecture, which demonstrates 75x<inline-formula><tex-math notation="LaTeX">$-$</tex-math><alternatives> <inline-graphic xlink:href="mardanikamali-ieq1-2735399.gif"/></alternatives></inline-formula>350x speed-up against BOOKSIM. Additionally, we implement a two-layer configurable global interconnection in our proposed architecture to (1) reduce virtualization time overhead, (2) make an efficient trade-off between the resource utilization and simulation time of the whole simulator, and especially (3) provide the capability of simulating irregular topologies. Migration of some important sub-modules like traffic generators (TGs) and traffic receptors (TRs) to software side, and implementing a dual-clock context switching in virtualization are other major features of DuCNoC. Thanks to its dual-clock router micro-architecture, as well as TGs and TRs migration to software side, DuCNoC can simulate a 100-node (10 <inline-formula><tex-math notation="LaTeX">$\times$</tex-math><alternatives> <inline-graphic xlink:href="mardanikamali-ieq2-2735399.gif"/></alternatives></inline-formula> 10) non-virtualized or a 2048-node virtualized mesh network on Xilinx Zynq-7000.
Beyond discounted utilitarianism – just distribution of climate cost

According to the IPCC climate change related damages increase substantially with global warming. Since the warming process is (most likely) caused by the anthropogenic production of greenhouse gas emissions countermeasures include mitigation of emissions and adaptation to the damages. Due to the time lag between the production of emissions and the occurrence of damages the question of intergenerational justice in bearing the costs of climate change (mitigation and damages) can be considered a decisive point. In the field of climate economics this point is generally addressed by balancing marginal abatement costs with discounted values of marginal (future) damages. As a consequence, the optimal mitigation path strongly relies on the choice of the discounting parameters. This is problematic for two reasons. First, the application of a general discount rate for all damages neglects the heterogeneous character of damages. Some damages might be easy to repair, in particular with future technology, other damages however might be irreversible and cannot be substituted at all. Second, main parameters, such as the elasticity of marginal consumption and the pure time preference are essentially normative values and their choice largely depends on the modellers’ attitude towards interand intragenerational justice. In order to circumvent the problem of discounting, the presented study introduces the model of Intergenerational Equality (IE), which proposes that the proportion of climate costs to overall economic output should be equal over time. The implementation of this concept into the well-known DICE model suggests that, due to negligible climate damages to the contemporary world, mitigation efforts should be increased significantly in the near future. In fact, the IE approach suggest an even stronger reduction compared to the Stern Review.
Performance Analysis of V-BLAST System with Imperfect Channel Estimation

In this paper, the impact of Gaussian estimation error on the performance of Vertical Bell Labs Layered Space-Time (V-BLAST) architecture using maximum likelihood (ML) receiver in independently and identically distributed (i.i.d.) Rayleigh fading channel is investigated. Based on the statistical property of squared Euclidean distance, the pairwise error probability (PEP) for V-BLAST system over i.i. d Rayleigh fading channel with channel estimate error is derived. The approximate expression of the PEP for high signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) region is used to analyze the loss of diversity order and penalty of SNR. It shows that the diversity order achieved by ML receiver is not affected by channel estimation error and the loss of SNR due to imperfect channel estimation is 3 dB. Simulation results are given to corroborate the theoretical analysis
The effects of subthreshold visual stimulation on P300 response

THE effects of the subthreshold visual stimuli on the electrical activity of the brain were investigated by an oddball-like paradigm and a single-stimulus paradigm. In the oddball-like paradigm, suprathreshold and subthreshold stimuli were presented randomly where the suprathreshold stimulus probability was 0.24. The singlestimulus paradigm contained only the suprathreshold stimuli and was identical to the oddball-like paradigm apart from the absence of subthreshold stimuli. Suprathreshold P3b amplitude was larger for the oddball-like than for the single-stimulus condition particularly in the centro-parietal region. This result suggests that at least one component of the P300 wave could be assigned to an automatic comparison and memory updating process which runs unconsciously.
Induction, Localization, and Purification of a Novel Sialidase, Deaminoneuraminidase (KDNase), from Sphingobacterium multivorum(*)

Recently, we reported the discovery of a new type of sialidase, KDNase, which specifically hydrolyzes the ketosidic linkages of 2-keto-3-deoxy-D-glycero-D-galacto-nononic acid (KDN), but not N-acylneuraminyl linkages. We now report that this enzyme, designated KDNase SM, is an inducible enzyme that is localized in the periplasm of Sphingobacterium multivorum. Growth of S. multivorum in the presence of KDN-containing oligosaccharide alditols, KDNα23Galβ13GalNAcα13[KDNα2 (8KDNα2)6]GalNAcol, as a sole carbon source induced KDNase SM activity 15-40-fold, compared with growth in the absence of inducer. KDN, Neu5Ac, or Neu5Ac oligomers were ineffective as inducers. The enzyme was released from the periplasm of induced cells by cold osmotic shock and purified 700-fold to homogeneity. The specific activity of the pure enzyme was 82,100 units/mg of protein. KDNase SM activity resided in a single polypeptide chain with an estimated molecular weight of approximately 47,500. Enzyme activity was maximal at near neutral pH. The availability of pure KDNase will now make it possible to study the structure and functional role of KDN-glycoconjugates and to determine the molecular mechanism whereby the enzyme can discriminate between KDN and N-acylneuraminic acid.
Current understanding of conventional outflow dysfunction in glaucoma

Purpose of review Regulation of intraocular pressure by the conventional (trabecular) outflow pathway is complicated, involving a myriad of mechanical and chemical signals. In most, intraocular pressure is maintained within a tight range over a lifetime. Unfortunately in some, dysfunction results in ocular hypertension and open-angle glaucoma. In the context of established knowledge, this review summarizes recent investigations of conventional outflow function, with the goal of identifying areas for future inquiry and therapeutic targeting. Recent findings Mechanical stimulation of conventional outflow cells due to intraocular pressure fluctuations impacts contractility, gene expression, pore formation, enzyme activity, and signaling. Numerous local signaling mediators in the conventional pathway such as bioactive lipids, cytokines, nitric oxide, and nucleotides participate in the regulation of outflow. Interestingly outflow through the conventional pathway is not uniform, but segmental, with passageways constantly changing due to focal protease activity of trabecular cells clearing extracellular matrix materials. The relationship between extracellular matrix expression and trabecular meshwork contractility appears to coordinately impact outflow resistance and is the target of a new class of drugs, the Rho kinase inhibitors. Summary The conventional outflow pathway is a dynamic, pressure-sensitive tissue that is vulnerable to pathology on many fronts, each representing a therapeutic opportunity.
Truncation of TRIM5 in the Feliformia Explains the Absence of Retroviral Restriction in Cells of the Domestic Cat

ABSTRACT TRIM5α mediates a potent retroviral restriction phenotype in diverse mammalian species. Here, we identify a TRIM5 transcript in cat cells with a truncated B30.2 capsid binding domain and ablated restrictive function which, remarkably, is conserved across the Feliformia. Cat TRIM5 displayed no restriction activity, but ectopic expression conferred a dominant negative effect against human TRIM5α. Our findings explain the absence of retroviral restriction in cat cells and suggest that disruption of the TRIM5 locus has arisen independently at least twice in the Carnivora, with implications concerning the evolution of the host and pathogen in this taxon.
Presynaptic Cholinergic Dysfunction in Patients with Dementia

Abstract: Indices of presynaptic cholinergic nerve endings were assayed in neocortical biopsy samples from patients with presenile dementia. For those patients in whom Alzheimer's disease was histologically confirmed, [14C]acetylcholine synthesis, choline acetyltransferase activity and choline uptake were all found to be markedly reduced (at least 40%) below mean control values. The changes occurred in samples from both the frontal and temporal lobes and for [14C]acetylcholine synthesis the decrease was similar under conditions of high and low neuronal activity (as assessed by incubations in 31 mM and 5 mM K+ respectively). Samples from other demented patients, in whom the histological features of Alzheimer's disease were not detected, produced values for all three biochemical parameters which were similar to controls. For the total group of patients with presenile dementia there were correlations between values for the three markers of presynaptic cholinergic nerve endings suggestive of a loss of functional activity at these sites in Alzheimer's disease.
General formulation for the Newton-Raphson method and the fixed-point method in finite-element programs

This paper proposes a general formulation for implementing the fixed-point method (FPM) and the Newton-Raphson method (NRM) in finite-element (FE) analysis of nonlinear magnetic problems. As the NRM and FPM have advantages and disadvantages, the aim is to make both of the methods available in FE programs and use them in a convenient manner. It is shown in the paper that the FPM can be implemented using the same formulation of the NRM that is commonly applied in FE programs. The idea is simple and straightforward, and can be applied to a wide variety of magnetic problems. As an example, the proposed scheme is applied here to a magnetic field problem formulated by the magnetic vector potential where numerical results for two types of electrical machines are carried out using two-dimensional FE simulations.
Time-inhomogeneous Levy processes in interest rate and credit risk models

In this thesis, we present interest rate models and a credit risk model, all driven by time-inhomogeneous Levy processes, i.e. stochastic processes whose increments are independent but in general not stationary. In the interest rate part, we discuss a Heath–Jarrow–Morton forward rate model (the Levy term structure model), a model for forward bond prices (the Levy forward price model) and a Libor model (the Levy Libor model) which generalizes the Libor market model. In all of these models, explicit valuation formulae are established for the most liquid interest rate derivatives, namely caps, floors, and swaptions. The formulae can numerically be evaluated fast and thus allow to calibrate the models to market data. In the Levy term structure model, we also price floating range notes. Their payoffs are path-dependent. In the credit risk part, the Levy Libor model (and therewith, as a special case, the Libor market model) is extended to defaultable forward Libor rates. We present a rigorous construction of the model and price some of the most heavily traded credit derivatives, namely credit default swaps, total rate of return swaps, credit spread options and credit default swaptions.
Elevated C-reactive protein levels in overweight and obese adults.

CONTEXT Human adipose tissue expresses and releases the proinflammatory cytokine interleukin 6, potentially inducing low-grade systemic inflammation in persons with excess body fat. OBJECTIVE To test whether overweight and obesity are associated with low-grade systemic inflammation as measured by serum C-reactive protein (CRP) level. DESIGN AND SETTING The Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, representative of the US population from 1988 to 1994. PARTICIPANTS A total of 16616 men and nonpregnant women aged 17 years or older. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Elevated CRP level of 0.22 mg/dL or more and a more stringent clinically raised CRP level of more than 1.00 mg/dL. RESULTS Elevated CRP levels and clinically raised CRP levels were present in 27.6% and 6.7% of the population, respectively. Both overweight (body mass index [BMI], 25-29.9 kg/m2) and obese (BMI, > or =30 kg/m2) persons were more likely to have elevated CRP levels than their normal-weight counterparts (BMI, <25 kg/m2). After adjustment for potential confounders, including smoking and health status, the odds ratio (OR) for elevated CRP was 2.13 (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.56-2.91) for obese men and 6.21 (95% CI, 4.94-7.81) for obese women. In addition, BMI was associated with clinically raised CRP levels in women, with an OR of 4.76 (95% CI, 3.42-6.61) for obese women. Waist-to-hip ratio was positively associated with both elevated and clinically raised CRP levels, independent of BMI. Restricting the analyses to young adults (aged 17-39 years) and excluding smokers, persons with inflammatory disease, cardiovascular disease, or diabetes mellitus and estrogen users did not change the main findings. CONCLUSION Higher BMI is associated with higher CRP concentrations, even among young adults aged 17 to 39 years. These findings suggest a state of low-grade systemic inflammation in overweight and obese persons.