Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A data cube design and construction methodology based on OLAP queries

Business Intelligence systems provide an effective solution for multidimensional online computing and analysis from large volumes of data. In the decision making process, analyzed data are typically stored in a set of cubes often heterogeneous. Most of the time, the structure of these cubes is unknown by decision makers. Our goal is to enable decision makers to express their need via a query in natural language. In this paper, we deal with the problem of data cube design and construction according to a user query where the expressed need is dispersed on more than one cube. We propose a cubes design and construction approach based on fusion of cubes containing a part of the user's need. We validate our approach via a tool, called “Design-Cubes-Query”, that implements our approach and we show its use through a case study.
Impaired Coronary Microvascular Dilation Correlates with Enhanced Vascular Smooth Muscle MLC Phosphorylation in Diabetes 1

Objective: Impaired endothelium‐independent vasodilation is a known consequence of types 1 and 2 diabetes, and the mechanism of impaired vasodilation is not well understood. The following study investigated the effects of types 1 and 2 diabetes in endothelial‐independent vasodilation associated with coronary vascular smooth muscle (VSM) relaxation and contractile signaling mechanisms.
British Multinationals in South East Asia: Strategy, Subsidiaries and Performance

AIB Insights Vol. 13, No. 3 this disseRtation aims to contRibute to the theoretical and empirical literature of the multinational subsidiary strategy and performance. First, this study adopts an innovative approach to theory development by integrating internalization theory (Buckley & Casson, 1976; Hennart, 1982; Rugman, 1981) in the international business literature with the pecking order theory on capital structure and financing sources in the finance literature (Myers & Majluf, 1984). Second, the focus on testing the performance of subsidiaries has led this research to advance on the theoretical concept of subsidiary-specific advantages (SSAs) as developed by Birkinshaw (1997) and by Rugman and Verbeke (2001). These concepts have not been tested in any systematic way for emerging economies. Third, this research focuses on the recombination capability which is the highest-order firm-specific advantages (FSAs) in economic value creation in an international environment (Verbeke, 2009; Rugman, Verbeke & Nguyen, 2011). Specifically, this dissertation has three empirical studies:
Effect of Postoperative Analgesia on Major Postoperative Complications: A Systematic Update of the Evidence

BACKGROUND:Few individual clinical trials have had sufficient subject numbers to definitively determine the effects of postoperative analgesia on major outcomes. METHODS:We systematically searched the Medline and the Cochrane Library databases for the past decade and focused on meta-analyses and large, randomized, controlled trials. RESULTS:Eighteen meta-analyses, 10 systematic reviews, 8 additional randomized, controlled trials, and 2 observational database articles were identified for review or comment. Epidural analgesia with local anesthetics has the greatest theoretical potential to affect major outcomes and has been the most thoroughly investigated technique. The majority of evidence favors an ability of epidural analgesia to reduce postoperative cardiovascular and pulmonary complications only after major vascular surgery or in high-risk patients. This finding may become irrelevant because of rapid conversion of major surgery to minimally invasive techniques (e.g., endoluminal abdominal aortic repair) that carry less risk of complications. There is also consistent evidence that epidural analgesia with local anesthetics is associated with faster resolution of postoperative ileus after major abdominal surgery. Again, this finding may also become irrelevant with the adoption of laparoscopic techniques and multimodal fast-track programs for abdominal surgery. There is no current evidence that perineural analgesia, continuous wound catheters using local anesthetics, IV patient-controlled analgesia with opioids, or addition of multimodal systemic analgesics have any clinically significant beneficial effect on postoperative complications. CONCLUSIONS:Overall, there is insufficient evidence to confirm or deny the ability of postoperative analgesic techniques to affect major postoperative mortality or morbidity. This is primarily due to typically insufficient subject numbers to detect differences in currently low incidences of postoperative complications.
Tetratricopeptide repeats in the type III secretion chaperone, LcrH: their role in substrate binding and secretion

Non‐flagellar type III secretion systems (T3SSs) transport proteins across the bacterial cell and into eukaryotic cells. Targeting of proteins into host cells requires a dedicated translocation apparatus. Efficient secretion of the translocator proteins that make up this apparatus depends on molecular chaperones. Chaperones of the translocators (also called class‐II chaperones) are characterized by the possession of three tandem tetratricopeptide repeats (TPRs). We wished to dissect the relations between chaperone structure and function and to validate a structural model using site‐directed mutagenesis. Drawing on a number of experimental approaches and focusing on LcrH, a class‐II chaperone from the Yersinia Ysc‐Yop T3SS, we examined the contributions of different residues, residue classes and regions of the protein to chaperone stability, chaperone‐substrate binding, substrate stability and secretion and regulation of Yop protein synthesis. We confirmed the expected role of the conserved canonical residues from the TPRs to chaperone stability and function. Eleven mutations specifically abrogated YopB binding or secretion while three mutations led to a specific loss of YopD secretion. These are the first mutations described for any class‐II chaperone that allow interactions with one translocator to be dissociated from interactions with the other. Strikingly, all mutations affecting the interaction with YopB mapped to residues with side chains projecting from the inner, concave surface of the modelled TPR structure, defining a YopB interaction site. Conversely, all mutations preventing YopD secretion affect residues that lie on the outer, convex surface of the triple‐TPR cluster in our model, suggesting that this region of the molecule represents a distinct interaction site for YopD. Intriguingly, one of the LcrH double mutants, Y40A/F44A, was able to maintain stable substrates inside bacteria, but unable to secrete them, suggesting that these two residues might influence delivery of substrates to the secretion apparatus.
Clinical Applications of Retinal Imaging with Adaptive Optics

Before getting into the clinical utility of adaptive optics imaging technology, it is prudent to first review the basic principles of imaging with adaptive optics. With conventional optical imaging, the major factor limiting the achievable resolution is the eye’s monochromatic aberrations, which are due to imperfections in the optics of the eye. These wavefront aberrations can be separated mathematically into shapes described by low order polynomials (defocus and astigmatism) and higher order polynomials (e.g. coma and trefoil). Although lower order aberrations can be effectively corrected using spectacles or contact lenses, the higher order aberrations cannot over a large field of view. Their effect on visual function is not typically severe; however, higher order aberrations interfere with high-resolution retinal imaging. Ophthalmic adaptive optics systems are designed to measure and correct for these higher-order aberrations, and can provide image resolution that is limited only by the pupil diameter of the eye, the axial length of the eye, and the wavelength of light. As shown in Figure 1, ophthalmic adaptive optics imaging systems have three main components—a wavefront sensor (typically a Shack-Hartmann design, for measuring the eye’s aberrations), a corrective element (typically a deformable mirror, for correcting the aberrations), and an imaging device (typically a charge-coupled device [CCD] or photomultiplier tube). These design principles are not absolute, and alternative approaches that do not use a wavefront sensor or that use multiple corrective elements have been demonstrated. Nevertheless, the unifying feature of adaptive optics imaging systems is mitigation of the eye’s aberrations to achieve nearly diffraction-limited imaging. These imaging systems have so far taken the form of an adaptive optics fundus camera, an adaptive optics scanning laser ophthalmoscope, or an adaptive optics optical coherence tomograph (OCT).
Thylakoid Membrane Reduction Affects the Photosystem Stoichiometry in the Cyanobacterium Synechocystis sp. PCC 68031[C]

Biogenesis of thylakoid membranes in both chloroplasts and cyanobacteria is largely not understood today. The vesicle-inducing protein in plastids 1 (Vipp1) has been suggested to be essential for thylakoid membrane formation in Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana), as well as in the cyanobacterium Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803, although its exact physiological function remains elusive so far. Here, we report that, upon depletion of Vipp1 in Synechocystis cells, the number of thylakoid layers in individual Synechocystis cells decreased, and that, in particular, the content of photosystem I (PSI) complexes was highly diminished in thylakoids. Furthermore, separation of native photosynthetic complexes indicated that PSI trimers are destabilized and the monomeric species is enriched. Therefore, depletion of thylakoid membranes specifically affects biogenesis and/or stabilization of PSI in cyanobacteria.
Design of a 2.5kW 400V→M2V high-efficiency DC/DC converter using a novel synchronous rectification control for electric vehicles

This paper proposes the design and development of a 2.5kW 400V→12V high-efficiency DC/DC converter with a wide input voltage range (450V~220VDC) and output voltage range (16V~6VDC). The designed DC/DC converter will be used in the electric vehicle as an electric alternator. An LLC half bridge topology is adopted as the primary side of the isolated DC/DC converter. For the secondary side, a novel rectification control strategy is developed to turn on/off the rectifier MOSFETs by actively tracking the exact triggering moments. A 2.5kW prototype to charge the on-board 12V battery was built to experimentally verify the theoretical analysis. The overall system efficiency was ~92% and the maximum is 93.2%.
Associations Between Drinking Water and Urinary Arsenic Levels and Skin Lesions in Bangladesh

The present study examined the associations between drinking water and urinary arsenic levels and skin lesions among 167 residents of three contiguous villages in Bangladesh. Thirty-six (21.6%) had skin lesions (melanosis, hyperkeratosis, or both), of which 13 (36.1%) occurred in subjects who were currently drinking water containing concentrations of arsenic <50 &mgr;g/L. The risk for skin lesions in relation to the exposure estimates based on urinary arsenic was elevated more than 3-fold, with the odds ratios for the highest versus the lowest quartiles being 3.6 (95% confidence interval, 1.2 to 12.1) for urinary total arsenic and 3.2 (95% confidence interval, 1.1 to 10.0) for urinary creatinine-adjusted total arsenic. The risks for skin lesions in relation to the exposure estimates based on arsenic in drinking water were less strongly elevated, with the odds ratios for the highest versus the lowest quartiles of exposure being 1.7 (95% confidence interval, 0.6 to 5.1) for drinking-water arsenic and 2.3 for cumulative arsenic index. The study suggests that arsenic exposure is associated with skin lesions in the Bangladesh population and that urinary arsenic may be a stronger predictor of skin lesions than arsenic in drinking water in this population.
Actin-based protrusions of migrating neutrophils are intrinsically lamellar and facilitate direction changes

Leukocytes and other amoeboid cells change shape as they move, forming highly dynamic, actin-filled pseudopods. Although we understand much about the architecture and dynamics of thin lamellipodia made by slow-moving cells on flat surfaces, conventional light microscopy lacks the spatial and temporal resolution required to track complex pseudopods of cells moving in three dimensions. We therefore employed lattice light sheet microscopy to perform three-dimensional, time-lapse imaging of neutrophil-like HL-60 cells crawling through collagen matrices. To analyze three-dimensional pseudopods we: (i) developed fluorescent probe combinations that distinguish cortical actin from dynamic, pseudopod-forming actin networks, and (ii) adapted molecular visualization tools from structural biology to render and analyze complex cell surfaces. Surprisingly, three-dimensional pseudopods turn out to be composed of thin (<0.75 µm), flat sheets that sometimes interleave to form rosettes. Their laminar nature is not templated by an external surface, but likely reflects a linear arrangement of regulatory molecules. Although we find that Arp2/3-dependent pseudopods are dispensable for three-dimensional locomotion, their elimination dramatically decreases the frequency of cell turning, and pseudopod dynamics increase when cells change direction, highlighting the important role pseudopods play in pathfinding.
DEVELOPMENT OF A CURRENT CONTROL ULTRACAPACITOR CHARGER BASED ON DIGITAL SIGNAL PROCESSING

Ultracapacitor usually use as a short-term duration electrical energy storage because it has several advantages, like high power density (5kW/kg), long lifecycle and very good charge/discharge efficiency. Unlike batteries, ultracapacitors may be charged and discharged at similar rates. This is very useful in energy recovery systems such as dynamic braking of transport systems. Here are a few characteristics of ultracapacitors that should be kept in mind when integrating/designing a charging system for the intended application. An ultracapacitor with zero charge looks like a short circuit to the charging source. Most of low cost power supplies fold back the output current in response to a perceived short circuit, making them unsuitable for charging of ultracapacitors. Ultracapacitors have a low series inductance allowing easy stabilizing with switch mode chargers. The RC time constant of passive charging networks is usually too long. Therefore, linear regulators are inefficient components for ultracapacitor charging. In this paper, the development of a current control ultracapacitor charger based on Digital Signal Processing (DSP) is presented.
Treatment of Methamphetamine withdrawal in trauma patients

Background: Methamphetamine use has increased in the United States over the past several decades. Similarly, an increasing number of trauma patients are testing positive for methamphetamine, which impacts hospital resources and length of stay, particularly in intensive care units. Treatment of methamphetamine-positive patients has not been well defined in the medical literature. Methods: A systematic literature search was conducted to identify a treatment algorithm and medications used in methamphetamine-intoxication and withdrawal. PRISMA guidelines were followed in the search and classification of the available literature. Inclusion criteria were defined as “any peer-reviewed study that reported results regarding the management and treatment of withdrawal from methamphetamine. All studies that were published in English were initially identified and screened for inclusion. However, due to the paucity of published reports on this subject, all sources were reviewed. Results: The literature search yielded 329 publications, of which 22 were included in this systematic literature review. A total of 12 randomized trials, 6 animal models and 1 consensus recommendation by the WHO met inclusion criteria. 3 other studies were used as additional reference and supportive evidence. A proposed treatment algorithm for managing methamphetamine withdrawal was not identified. A consensus regarding treatment of methamphetamine-positive patients does not currently exist in the literature. Few drugs have shown any clinical efficacy in managing methamphetamine-withdrawal. However, some drugs indicated potential benefits in animal models. Most prominently, n-acetylcysteine, bupropion, and dextroamphetamine, might be beneficial for use in the acute and long-term management of methamphetamine withdrawal. Limitations: The greatest limitation was the lack of available Level I, II, and III studies in the medical literature. Reports that are published include mostly subjective experiences. Conclusions: The current methamphetamine epidemic impacts medical care and resources at trauma centers in the United States. A consensus regarding treatment of methamphetamine-positive patients, including medicinal agents and timing of their administration is lacking. Additional studies are needed to identify an effective treatment algorithm. Correspondence to: Bradley J Phillips, Vice Chairman of Surgery – Surgical Research, Associate Professor of Surgery, Department of Surgery, Department of Clinical and Translational Science, Creighton University School of Medicine Creighton University Medical Center, 601 North 30th Street, Suite 3701, Omaha, NE 68131-2137, USA, Tel: 402-717-4909; Fax: 402-717-6068; E-mail: Bradley. Phillips@alegent.org
Using Expressive and Talkative Virtual Characters in Social Anxiety Disorder Treatment

Social Anxiety affects a significant number of people, limiting their personal and social life. We describe an interactive Virtual Reality approach to the exposure therapy for social anxiety, resorting to virtual characters that exhibit combinations of facial and body expressions controllable in real-time by the therapist. The application described in this paper updates and significantly improves a former version: ameliorating the graphical quality of the virtual characters and providing them with the ability of articulating a set of sentences. The application executes in ordinary computers and it is easily used in counselling and research contexts. Although we have only resorted to free or very low cost 3D models of virtual humans, we adopted strategies to obtain an adequate final quality that we were able to validate with a significant number of observers. Moreover, a set of therapists tested the application and gave positive feedback about its potential effectiveness in Virtual Reality Exposure Therapy.
Influence of Skew and Cross-Coupling on Flux-Weakening Performance of Permanent-Magnet Brushless AC Machines

A method is proposed for predicting the flux-weakening performance of permanent-magnet (PM) brushless ac machines accounting for skew and d-q axis cross-coupling. The method is based on a d-q-axis flux-linkage model, a hybrid 2-D finite-element (FE)-analytical method being used to predict the d- and q-axis inductances. However, it only requires 2-D FE analysis of the magnetic field distribution over a cross section of the machine. The developed method is used to predict the torque-speed characteristic of an interior PM brushless ac machine with one stator slot-pitch skew. This is compared with predictions from a direct FE analysis of the machine and validated by measurements.
Nucleotide Sugars, Nucleotide Sulfate, and ATP Transporters of the Endoplasmic Reticulum and Golgi Apparatus a,

Abstract: The lumina of the endoplasmic reticulum and Golgi apparatus are the subcellular sites where glycosylation, sulfation, and phosphorylation of secretory and membrane‐bound proteins, proteoglycans, and lipids occur. Nucleotide sugars, nucleotide sulfate, and ATP are substrates in the above reactions and must first be translocated from the cytosol into the lumen of these organelles. Translocation of these nucleotide derivatives is mediated by highly specific transporters, which are antiporters with the corresponding nucleoside monophosphate, as shown by genetic and biochemical approaches in mammals and yeast. Studies with mammalian, yeast, and protozoa mutants have shown that a defect in a specific translocator results in selective impairments of glycosylation of proteins, lipids and proteoglycans in vivo. Several of these transporters have been purified, cloned, and found to encode very hydrophobic proteins with multitransmembrane domains. Experiments with yeast and mammalian cells demonstrate that these transporters play a regulatory role in posttranslational modifications.
Comparison of Luminex NxTAG Respiratory Pathogen Panel and xTAG Respiratory Viral Panel FAST Version 2 for the Detection of Respiratory Viruses

Owing to advancements in molecular diagnostics, recent years have seen an increasing number of laboratories adopting respiratory viral panels to detect respiratory pathogens. In December 2015, the NxTAG respiratory pathogen panel (NxTAG RPP) was approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration. We compared the clinical performance of this new assay with that of the xTAG respiratory viral panel (xTAG RVP) FAST v2 using 142 clinical samples and 12 external quality assessment samples. Discordant results were resolved by using a laboratory-developed respiratory viral panel. The NxTAG RPP achieved 100% concordant negative results and 86.6% concordant positive results. It detected one coronavirus 229E and eight influenza A/H3N2 viruses that were missed by the xTAG RVP FAST v2. On the other hand, the NxTAG RPP missed one enterovirus/rhinovirus and one metapneumovirus that were detected by FAST v2. Both panels correctly identified all the pathogens in the 12 external quality assessment samples. Overall, the NxTAG RPP demonstrated good diagnostic performance. Of note, it was better able to subtype the influenza A/H3N2 viruses compared with the xTAG RVP FAST v2.
Integrated constraints and inheritance in DTAC

Inheritance and constraints are two common techniques for safely managing the complexity of large access control configurations. Inheritance is used to help factor the model, while constraints are used to help ensure that the complexity will not result in an unsafe configuration arising in the future evolution of the system. In this paper we develop an integrated mathematical approach to defining both inheritance and constraints in the dynamically typed access control (DTAC) model. In the process we identify several useful relationships among DTAC objects. The combination of DTAC and our new relationships allow us to graphically construct a greater variety and complexity of efficiently verifiable separation of duty constraints than any other model we are aware of.