Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A single-trap study of PBTI in SiON nMOS transistors: Similarities and differences to the NBTI/pMOS case

To identify the physical mechanism behind the recoverable component of the bias temperature instability (BTI), the time dependent defect spectroscopy (TDDS) has been recently proposed and used extensively. The TDDS makes use of the fact that in nano-scale devices the recovery proceeds in discrete steps. By analyzing the statistical properties of the steps, valuable information about the BTI degradation mechanisms can be obtained. So far, most single-defect studies have focused on NBTI in SiON devices as well as PBTI in high-k gate stacks. In order to deepen our understanding of the traps responsible for this detrimental phenomenon, we focus here on PBTI in SiON nMOSFETs, which have not been studied in great detail so far. From large-area devices it is known that PBTI/nMOS is about one order of magnitude lower than NBTI/pMOS. Unlike pMOSFETs, where hole trapping is responsible for BTI, in the case of nMOSFETs electron traps have to be considered.We show here that defects causing PBTI in nMOSFETs have a similar individual trapping behavior and dependence on the bias and temperature as observed for hole traps in previous NBTI/pMOS studies. Interestingly, like in pMOSFETs, we observe switching and fixed charge traps, which allows us to adapt our previously suggested model for hole capture to electron capture in nMOSFETs.
E6 Proteins from Multiple Human Betapapillomavirus Types Degrade Bak and Protect Keratinocytes from Apoptosis after UVB Irradiation

ABSTRACT Human papillomavirus (HPV) types from the beta genus (beta-HPVs) have been implicated in the development of skin cancer. A potentially important aspect of their carcinogenic role is the ability of the E6 protein to degrade the proapoptotic family member Bak, which gives cells the ability to survive UV damage. However, it is unknown if the ability to degrade Bak is limited to certain beta-HPV types or whether E6 expression in keratinocytes affects other proteins important for apoptosis signaling. We tested the abilities of E6 proteins from several representative members of the beta-HPVs to degrade Bak and protect UV-treated keratinocytes from apoptosis. The E6 proteins of the beta-HPV type 5 (HPV5), -8, -20, -22, -38, -76, -92, and -96, as well as the alpha genus HPV HPV16, all degraded Bak or prevented its accumulation following UV treatment but did not degrade Bak constitutively. In addition, when tested using HPV16 E6 (16E6) and 8E6 as representative E6 proteins from the alpha and beta genera, respectively, Bak degradation was dependent on the E3 ubiquitin ligase, E6AP. Other important regulators of apoptotic signaling were examined and found to be unperturbed by the expression of the beta-HPV E6 proteins. Importantly, the expression of beta-HPV E6 proteins protected keratinocytes from apoptosis to the same extent as 16E6-expressing cells. In conclusion, several of the beta-HPV types possess the ability to protect UV-treated keratinocytes from apoptosis by reducing levels of Bak in those cells, thus blocking the intrinsic apoptotic pathway.
Subunit Isoform Selectivity in Assembly of Na,K-ATPase α-β Heterodimers*

Background: The Na,K-ATPase consists of one α (four isoforms) and one β (three isoforms) subunits. Results: The α1 preferentially assembles with β1, whereas α2 preferentially binds to β2 isoform. Conclusion: Assembly of α-β complexes is isoform-selective. Significance: This selectivity is crucial for cell- and tissue-specific functions of the Na,K-ATPase. To catalyze ion transport, the Na,K-ATPase must contain one α and one β subunit. When expressed by transfection in various expression systems, each of the four α subunit isoforms can assemble with each of the three β subunit isoforms and form an active enzyme, suggesting the absence of selective α-β isoform assembly. However, it is unknown whether in vivo conditions the α-β assembly is random or isoform-specific. The α2-β2 complex was selectively immunoprecipitated by both anti-α2 and anti-β2 antibodies from extracts of mouse brain, which contains cells co-expressing multiple Na,K-ATPase isoforms. Neither α1-β2 nor α2-β1 complexes were detected in the immunoprecipitates. Furthermore, in MDCK cells co-expressing α1, β1, and β2 isoforms, a greater fraction of the β2 subunits was unassembled with α1 as compared with that of the β1 subunits, indicating preferential association of the α1 isoform with the β1 isoform. In addition, the α1-β2 complex was less resistant to various detergents than the α1-β1 complex isolated from MDCK cells or the α2-β2 complex isolated from mouse brain. Therefore, the diversity of the α-β Na,K-ATPase heterodimers in vivo is determined not only by cell-specific co-expression of particular isoforms, but also by selective association of the α and β subunit isoforms.
Loss of Endothelium-Dependent Relaxation in Proximal Pulmonary Arteries from Rats Exposed to Chronic Hypoxia: Effects of In Vivo and In Vitro Supplementation with l-Arginine

Summary: To explore endothelium-dependent relaxation and the L-arginine (l-ARG)-nitric oxide (NO) pathway during chronic hypoxia, we examined isolated rings from large conduit pulmonary arteries and aorta from rats exposed to either room air (N), 3-week hypoxia (H), or 3-week H followed by 72-h recovery to normoxia (room air). We examined the vasodilatory actions of acetylcholine (ACh), ionophore A23187, and endothelin-3 (ET-3) on extrapulmonary left and right branches of pulmonary arteries and thoracic aorta precontracted by phenylephrine (PE IO-6 M). Endothelium-dependent relaxation of N rat pulmonary arteries and aorta to ACh and A23187 was abolished in the presence of l-NGnitroarginine methyl ester (l-NAME 10-4 M) or methylene blue (MB 10-5 M) but was suppressed only partially by NGmonoethlyl-l-arginine(l-NMMA 5 x 10-4 M). In pulmonary arteries but not in aorta, ET-3 induced endothelium-dependent relaxation that was suppressed by l-NAME, MB, and l-NMMA. Pulmonary arteries from H rats did not relax with ET-3. As compared with those of N rats, they exhibited less relaxation to ACh and A23187, (47 ± 3 vs. 89 ± 2 and 53 ± 2 vs. 85 ± 4%, p<0.001. respectively) but exhibited similar relaxation to the nonendotheliumdependent vasodilator linsidomine. In contrast, endothelial- relaxation did not differ between N and H rat aorta. In vivo administration of 300 mg/kg l-ARG to H rats increased plasma levels of l-ARG by 10-fold and arterial tissue level of l-ARG by sixfold, and fully restored relaxation to ACh and ET-3. l-ARG added to the organ bath at a similar concentration had no effect despite a threefold increase in arterial l-ARG. We noted no difference between arterial tissue level of l-ARG in rats exposed to N, H, or H returned to normoxia (H + N). These data suggest that the impaired endotheliumdependent relaxation that occurs in large conduit pulmonary arteries during chronic hypoxia is not related to global l-ARG depletion depletion despite reversibility of the abnormality after pretreatment with l-ARG
Clinical prediction rules for mortality in patients with pulmonary embolism and cancer to guide outpatient management: a meta‐analysis

Essentials Clinical prediction rules (CPRs) can stratify patients with pulmonary embolism (PE) and cancer. A meta‐analysis was done to assess prognostic accuracy in CPRs for mortality in these patients. Eight studies evaluating ten CPRs were included in this study. CPRs should continue to be used with other patient factors for mortality risk stratification.
Compliance as a Subtle Precursor to Ethical Corrosion: A Strength-Based Approach as a Way Forward

If firms espouse to care for people and the planet in route to making a profit, why do organizations continue to operate as incubators for unprincipled thoughts, plans, and deeds? While many leaders strive to meet the regulatory requirements with the best of intentions, ensuring they are communicated, implemented, and * Professor of Management, Director, Ethics in Action Research and Education Center. This article is adapted from the chapter by Leslie E. Sekerka, Justin D. McCarthy, & Richard P. Bagozzi, Developing the Capacity for Professional Moral Courage: Facing Daily Ethical Challenges in Today’s Military Workplace, in moRaL couRage in oRganizations: Doing the Right thing at WoRK 130, 130–41 (Debra R. Comer & Gina Vega eds., 2011). This article also draws upon Dr. Sekerka’s experiences in conducting business ethics workshops and seminars with industry leaders and managers in the energy, government, defense, healthcare, and technology industries. adhered to by all employees, their operations can fall short. Business is continually plagued by the unethical actions of people and organizations, with repeated ethical lapses stemming from both business and government entities. To address this issue, the lack of ethical durability, prior research in social psychology, organizational behavior, and business ethics are leveraged to help explain the concept of ethical corrosion. This article is meant to evoke reflection on why moral courage is needed if businesses hope to achieve principled performance. Recommendations for adult moral development are provided, including a technique to generate ethics training in organizational settings.
Liver, muscle, and adipose tissue insulin action is directly related to intrahepatic triglyceride content in obese subjects.

BACKGROUND & AIMS Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease is associated with insulin resistance and diabetes. The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between intrahepatic triglyceride (IHTG) content and insulin action in liver (suppression of glucose production), skeletal muscle (stimulation of glucose uptake), and adipose tissue (suppression of lipolysis) in nondiabetic obese subjects. METHODS A euglycemic-hyperinsulinemic clamp procedure and stable isotopically labeled tracer infusions were used to assess insulin action, and magnetic resonance spectroscopy was used to determine IHTG content, in 42 nondiabetic obese subjects (body mass index, 36 +/- 4 kg/m(2)) who had a wide range of IHTG content (1%-46%). RESULTS Hepatic insulin sensitivity, assessed as a function of glucose production rate and plasma insulin concentration, was inversely correlated with IHTG content (r = -0.599; P < .001). The ability of insulin to suppress fatty acid release from adipose tissue and to stimulate glucose uptake by skeletal muscle were also inversely correlated with IHTG content (adipose tissue: r = -0.590, P < .001; skeletal muscle: r = -0.656, P < .001). Multivariate linear regression analyses found that IHTG content was the best predictor of insulin action in liver, skeletal muscle, and adipose tissue, independent of body mass index and percent body fat, and accounted for 34%, 42%, and 44% of the variability in these tissues, respectively (P < .001 for each model). CONCLUSIONS These results show that progressive increases in IHTG content are associated with progressive impairment of insulin action in liver, skeletal muscle, and adipose tissue in nondiabetic obese subjects. Therefore, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease should be considered part of a multiorgan system derangement in insulin sensitivity.
Detection of software modules with high debug code churn in a very large legacy system

Society has become so dependent on reliable telecommunications, that failures can risk loss of emergency service, business disruptions, or isolation from friends. Consequently, telecommunications software is required to have high reliability. Many previous studies define the classification fault prone in terms of fault counts. This study defines fault prone as exceeding a threshold of debug code churn, defined as the number of lines added or changed due to bug fixes. Previous studies have characterized reuse history with simple categories. This study quantified new functionality with lines of code. The paper analyzes two consecutive releases of a large legacy software system for telecommunications. We applied discriminant analysis to identify fault prone modules based on 16 static software product metrics and the amount of code changed during development. Modules from one release were used as a fit data set and modules from the subsequent release were used as a test data set. In contrast, comparable prior studies of legacy systems split the data to simulate two releases. We validated the model with a realistic simulation of utilization of the fitted model with the test data set. Model results could be used to give extra attention to fault prone modules and thus, reduce the risk of unexpected problems.
Genetic determinants of alcoholic liver disease

Alcoholic liver disease (ALD) accounts for the majority of chronic liver disease in Western countries. The spectrum of ALD includes steatosis with or without fibrosis in virtually all individuals with an alcohol consumption of >80 g/day, alcoholic steatohepatitis of variable severity in 10–35% and liver cirrhosis in approximately 15% of patients. Once cirrhosis is established, there is an annual risk for hepatocellular carcinoma of 1–2%. Environmental factors such as drinking patterns, coexisting liver disease, obesity, diet composition and comedication may modify the natural course of ALD. Twin studies have revealed a substantial contribution of genetic factors to the evolution of ALD, as demonstrated by a threefold higher disease concordance between monozygotic twins and dizygotic twins. With genotyping becoming widely available, a large number of genetic case-control studies evaluating candidate gene variants coding for proteins involved in the degradation of alcohol, mediating antioxidant defence, the evolution and counteraction of necroinflammation and formation and degradation of extracellular matrix have been published with largely unconfirmed, impeached or even disproved associations. Recently, whole genome analyses of large numbers of genetic variants in several chronic liver diseases including gallstone disease, primary sclerosing cholangitis and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) have identified novel yet unconsidered candidate genes. Regarding the latter, a sequence variation within the gene coding for patatin-like phospholipase encoding 3 (PNPLA3, rs738409) was found to modulate steatosis, necroinflammation and fibrosis in NAFLD. Subsequently, the same variant was repeatedly confirmed as the first robust genetic risk factor for progressive ALD.
Identification of Dominant Optimal HLA-B60- and HLA-B61-Restricted Cytotoxic T-Lymphocyte (CTL) Epitopes: Rapid Characterization of CTL Responses by Enzyme-Linked Immunospot Assay

ABSTRACT Human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1)-specific cytotoxic T-lymphocyte (CTL) responses play a major role in the antiviral immune response, but the relative contribution of CTL responses restricted by different HLA class I molecules is less well defined. HLA-B60 or the related allele B61 is expressed in 10 to 20% of Caucasoid populations and is even more highly prevalent in Asian populations, but yet no CTL epitopes restricted by these alleles have been defined. Here we report the definition of five novel HLA-B60-restricted HIV-1-specific CTL epitopes, using peripheral blood mononuclear cells in enzyme-linked immunospot (Elispot) assays and using CTL clones and lines in cytolytic assays. The dominant HLA-B60-restricted epitope, Nef peptide KEKGGLEGL, was targeted by all eight subjects with B60 and also by both subjects with B61 studied. This study additionally establishes the utility of the Elispot assay as a more rapid and efficient method of defining novel CTL epitopes. This approach will help to define new CTL epitopes that may play an important role in the immune control of HIV-1.
An Energy-Driven Total Variation Model for Segmentation and Classification of High Spatial Resolution Remote-Sensing Imagery

An energy-driven total variation (TV) formulation is proposed for the segmentation of high spatial resolution remote-sensing imagery. The TV model is an effective tool for image processing operations such as restoration, enhancement, reconstruction, and diffusion. Due to the relationship between the TV model and the segmentation problem, in this letter, a TV-based approach is investigated for segmentation of high-spatial-resolution remote-sensing imagery. Subsequently, an object-based classification method, i.e., majority voting, is used to classify the segmented results. In experiments, the proposed TV-based method is compared with the widely used fractal net evolution approach and the clustering segmentation methods such as the expectation–maximization and $k$-means. The performances of the segmentation and the classification are evaluated based on both thematic and geometric indices.
Multiscale two-view stereo using convolutional neural networks for unrectified images

Two-view stereo problem is a well researched problem in 3D computer vision. Algorithms proposed in the past have focused on rectified stereo images where the epipolar lines are parallel to the horizontal axis. The general problem of computing stereo correspondences for unrectified images without any knowledge of calibration parameters is an important problem but unexplored as yet. Our idea in this paper is to predict depth maps from two unrectified stereo images using a modified Flownet architecture. Since, datasets for depth map reconstruction for unrectified stereo images for deep learning do not exist, we have created a dataset of turn table sequences of 3D models from Google 3D warehouse. Following the concepts of Attention modelling, we implement an architecture for combining correlations computed at multiple resolutions using a simple element-wise multiplication of the correlations to aid the architecture to resolve correspondences for textureless and repeated textured surfaces. Our experiments show both qualitaitve and quantitative improvements of depth maps over the original Flownet architecture.
Quality of life following femoral head-neck osteochondroplasty for femoroacetabular impingement.

BACKGROUND Femoroacetabular impingement has been recently described as a common cause of hip pain and labral tears in young adults. We evaluated the early clinical results and quality of life after osteochondroplasty of the femoral head-neck junction for the treatment of femoroacetabular impingement. METHODS Thirty-seven hips in thirty-four patients with persistent hip pain and a mean age of 40.5 years underwent surgical dislocation of the hip and osteochondroplasty of the femoral head-neck junction for the treatment of camtype femoroacetabular impingement. All of the patients had had preoperative evidence of pathological changes in the labrum on imaging. The clinical course and the quality of life were assessed postoperatively. RESULTS The mean score on the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) increased from 61.2 points preoperatively to 81.4 points at a mean of 3.1 years postoperatively (p < 0.001), the mean University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA) activity score increased from 4.8 to 7.5 points (p < 0.001), the mean Short Form-12 (SF-12) physical component score increased from 37.3 to 45.6 points (p < 0.001), and the mean SF-12 mental component score increased from 46.4 to 51.2 points (p = 0.031). None of the hips underwent additional reconstructive surgery. There were no cases of osteonecrosis. Nine patients underwent screw removal from the greater trochanter because of persistent bursitis. Six of the thirty-four patients were dissatisfied with the outcome. CONCLUSIONS Cam-type femoroacetabular impingement is associated with insufficient concavity at the anterolateral head-neck junction and with pathological changes in the labrum. Osteochondroplasty of the femoral head-neck junction following surgical dislocation of the hip joint is safe and effective and can provide a significant improvement in the overall quality of life of most patients. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE Therapeutic Level IV. See Instructions to Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.
Identification of Novel Cryptosporidium Genotypes from Avian Hosts

ABSTRACT A total of 430 avian-derived fecal specimens were randomly collected from selected Western Australian commercial aviaries, poultry farms, hatcheries, wildlife parks, and the Perth Zoo and screened for the presence of Cryptosporidium by PCR. Of these, 27 Cryptosporidium-positive isolates were detected, characterized, and compared with 11 avian-derived isolates from the Czech Republic at the 18S rRNA and actin gene loci. Sequence and phylogenetic analysis identified four genetically distinct genotypes, avian genotypes I to IV, from various avian hosts. In addition, the host range for Cryptosporidium galli was extended. Cryptosporidium muris and Cryptosporidium andersoni were also identified in a tawny frogmouth and a quail-crested wood partridge, respectively.
Open Data in Scientific Settings: From Policy to Practice

Open access to data is commonly required by funding agencies, journals, and public policy, despite the lack of agreement on the concept of "open data. " We present findings from two longitudinal case studies of major scientific collaborations, the Sloan Digital Sky Survey in astronomy and the Center for Dark Energy Biosphere Investigations in deep subseafloor biosphere studies. These sites offer comparisons in rationales and policy interpretations of open data, which are shaped by their differing scientific objectives. While policy rationales and implementations shape infrastructures for scientific data, these rationales also are shaped by pre-existing infrastructure. Meanings of the term "open data" are contingent on project objectives and on the infrastructures to which they have access.
Transformation of Corporate Control in Korean Business Groups

The internal power of the large Korean business groups (chaebol) had been determined by the interests of the founding families and the hierarchical relations within their organizational structure. Since the 1980s, the family-dominated business groups have been challenged and the power of professional managers has gradually increased. Nevertheless, the dominant coalition of corporate owners and managers has been formed on the basis of shared interests and coordinated strategic management. It is reinforced through a complex set of social ties based on school, regional and marriage networks. This structure of embedded social relations within a class provides a social basis for a class’ internal integration and common action. Accordingly, our analysis of corporate control reveals the institutional dynamics of power relations that is not fully captured by the extent of interlocking directorships.
Design of Weighting Functions Under Peak Amplitude and Effective Radiated Voltage Constraints

The problem of designing optimum weighting functions subject to peak amplitude and effective radiated voltage constraints occurs in the design of active phased arrays and in spectrum control of high-pulse-repetition frequency (PRF) pulsed Doppler transmitters. Algorithms for generating such weighting functions are developed using a least-squares technique. Numerical results are presented which show that these algorithms yield substantial performance improvement over textbook weighting functions in favorable circumstances.