Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Volume of contrast to creatinine clearance ratio predicts early mortality and AKI after TAVI

The volume of contrast to creatinine clearance ratio (CV/CrCl) is a useful indicator of the risk of acute kidney injury (AKI) in patients undergoing percutaneous interventional procedures. Association between CV/CrCl and adverse outcome after transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) was suggested but it is not well established. A large retrospective multicenter cohort of 1381 patients treated with TAVI was analyzed to assess the association between CV/CrCl and the risk of AKI and mortality at 90 days and 1 year after TAVI. Patients receiving renal replacement therapy at the time of TAVI were excluded. CV/CrCl ≥ 2.2 was associated with the risk of AKI and 90 days mortality after TAVI after adjustment for age, sex, diabetes, baseline left ventricular function, baseline chronic kidney disease (CKD), previous myocardial infarction and peripheral vascular disease (hazard ratio [HR]: 1.16, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.09–1.22, p < 0.0001). Importantly, CV/CrCl was associated with the adverse outcome independently from the presence of baseline CKD (p for interaction = 0.22). CV/CrCl was independently associated with the individual components of the composite primary outcome including AKI (odds ratio: 1.18, 95% CI: 1.08–1.28, p < 0.0001) and 90 days mortality (HR: 1.90, 95% CI: 1.01–3.60, p = 0.047) after TAVI. AKI (HR: 1.94, 95% CI: 1.21–3.11, p = 0.006) but not CV/CrCl was associated with the risk of 1‐year mortality after TAVI. CV/CrCl is associated with excess renal damage and early mortality after TAVI. Procedural strategies to minimize the CV/CrCl during TAVI may improve early clinical outcomes in patients undergoing TAVI.
On Robin’s criterion for the Riemann Hypothesis

Robin’s criterion says that the Riemann Hypothesis is equivalent to \[\forall n\geq 5041, \ \ \frac{\sigma(n)}{n}\leq e^{\gamma}\log_2 n,\] where \sigma(n) is the sum of the divisors of n, \gamma represents the Euler–Mascheroni constant, and \log_i denotes the i-fold iterated logarithm. In this note we get the following better effective estimates: \begin{equation*} \forall n\geq3, \ \frac{\sigma(n)}{n}\leq e^{\gamma}\log_2 n+\frac{0.3741}{\log_2^2n}. \end{equation*} The idea employed will lead us to a possible new reformulation of the Riemann Hypothesis in terms of arithmetic functions.
Using an in-vivo natural frequency analysis to evaluate the aging effect of Achilles tendon

A possible cause of between-country foot shape difference is the difference in the tempo of growth and development. However, previous study on the growth change in Japanese children indicated that the variation represented by Dim-1 was not related to the growth change (Kouchi and Mochimaru, 2007). The only systematic population difference was in the medial inclination of the ankle (Dim-2 at ages 5 and 7, Dim-3 at age 9): US children had more medially inclined ankles at all ages, and difference between JPN and BZL was not significant at all ages. Since the present results did not agree with the expectation that the two groups with mainly European background were similar to each other, the same could be true for adult populations. It is interesting to know the situation in adults.
Upper thermal threshold of Lepidurus arcticus (Branchiopoda, Notostraca) in lakes on the southern outreach of its distribution range

The Arctic tadpole shrimp Lepidurus arcticus has a circumpolar distribution and the Scandes (Fennoscandian Mountains) marks its southernmost limit in Europe. Within this area, 391 natural and 88 regulated lakes with L. arcticus have been identified, of which 87% are above the treeline. The lakes hosting L. arcticus decrease in altitude from south to north, which results from its temperature preferences. The majority of the locations are at a lower lake air temperature than 11°C which is equivalent to a water temperature near 14°C. This is assumed to be near the upper thermal threshold for L. arcticus. In lakes that exceed this average summer water temperature (1 July – 15 September), sustainable populations seem to be rare. In warmer lakes, life cycle mismatches are assumed to explain the absence of L. arcticus, most likely by affecting the embryo and juvenile stages. The distribution appears to be dichotomous, with one large northern area north of 65°N and one separated southern “island”. Only two locations of L. arcticus are known for the area between latitudes 62.88 and 64.39°N. In this part of the Scandes, the lakes are likely too warm to host L. arcticus as most of them are situated below 700 m a.s. l. This may also be the case in the northernmost region, north of 70°N, where only 11 populations are recorded. Most of the lakes in this area typically occurs below 400 m a.s. l. L. arcticus populations are sensitive to fish predation, and dense fish populations may be another stressor limiting its distribution. In contrast to water bodies in the High Arctic where L. arcticus only exists in shallow, fishless ponds, in the Scandes they co-exist with fish in 97% of the findings. Global warming has already modified the environment of the Scandes, and populations of L. arcticus are at threat in many of the small and shallow water bodies at low altitudes.
A Structured Teaching Programme on the Knowledge and Levels of Nomophobia and its Prevention among the Selected Colleges of Surendernagar District of Gujarat

The prevalence of nomophobia is very high among adolescents. Adolescents need to be aware of the new disease which have come across through the over usage of mobile phone. Nowadays it is very easy to convey our feelings and messages in the remote corners of the world through the use of mobile phone technology. The communication through the mobile phone is very simple and is basics of all relations. Mobile technology helps the people to transfer the message form one person to another within short period of time. Based on this the present study was carried to assess the effectiveness of structured teaching programme on the knowledge and prevalence level of nomophobia among the selected colleges of Surendernagar district of Gujarat. Pre-experimental study was carried out among college students with one group pre test and post test was used to find out the findings of the study. The purposive sampling technique was used to carry out this study. 50 College students were selected from different college of C.U. Shah University. Data was collected with the help of structured demographic questionnaire and the structured knowledge questionnaire. Pre test was conducted on the first day and on the same day teaching programme was given to the students and the effectiveness of the teaching programme was checked on the eighth day. The overall test knowledge score was to be 43.4% where the overall post test knowledge score was found to be 85.5% which was to be very significant. An association was also carried to find out the significance of the socio demographic characteristics on the knowledge score.
Colocalization Analysis of Lipo-Deoxyribozyme Consisting of DNA and Protic Catalysts in a Vesicle-Based Protocellular Membrane Investigated by Confocal Microscopy

The linkage between the self-reproduction of compartments and the replication of DNA in a compartment is a crucial requirement for cellular life. In our giant vesicle (GV)-based model protocell, this linkage is achieved through the action of a supramolecular catalyst composed of membrane-intruded DNA and amphiphilic acid catalysts (C@DNA) in a GV membrane. In this study, we examined colocalization analysis for the formation of the supramolecular catalyst using a confocal laser scanning fluorescence microscope with high sensitivity and resolution. Red fluorescence spots emitted from DNA tagged with Texas Red (Texas Red-DNA) were observed in a GV membrane stained with phospholipid tagged with BODIPY (BODIPY-HPC). To our knowledge, this is the first direct observation of DNA embedded in a GV-based model protocellular membrane containing cationic lipids. Colocalization analysis based on a histogram of frequencies of “normalized mean deviation product” revealed that the frequencies of positively correlated [lipophilic catalyst tagged with BODIPY (BODIPY-C) and Texas Red-DNA] were significantly higher than those of [BODIPY-HPC and Texas Red-DNA]. This result demonstrates the spontaneous formation of C@DNA in the GV membrane, which serves as a lipo-deoxyribozyme for producing membrane lipids from its precursor.
Immunolabeling Provides Evidence for Subregions in the Songbird Nucleus Accumbens and Suggests a Context-Dependent Role in Song in Male European Starlings (Sturnus vulgaris)

Birdsong is well known for its role in mate attraction during the breeding season. However, many birds, including European starlings (Sturnus vulgaris), also sing outside the breeding season as part of large flocks. Song in a breeding context can be extrinsically rewarded by mate attraction; however, song in nonbreeding flocks, referred to here as gregarious song, results in no obvious extrinsic reward and is proposed to be intrinsically rewarded. The nucleus accumbens (NAC) is a brain region well known to mediate reward and motivation, which suggests it is an ideal candidate to regulate reward associated with gregarious song. The goal of this study was to provide new histochemical information on the songbird NAC and its subregions (rostral pole, core, and shell) and to begin to determine subregion-specific contributions to gregarious song in male starlings. We examined immunolabeling for tyrosine hydroxylase (TH), neurotensin, and enkephalin (ENK) in the NAC. We then examined the extent to which gregarious and sexually motivated song differentially correlated with immunolabeling for the immediate early genes FOS and ZENK in each subdivision of the NAC. We found that TH and ENK labeling within subregions of the starling NAC was generally similar to patterns seen in the core and shell of NACs in mammals and birds. Additionally, we found that gregarious song, but not sexually motivated song, positively correlated with FOS in all NAC subregions. Our observations provide further evidence for distinct subregions within the songbird NAC and suggest the NAC may play an important role in regulating gregarious song in songbirds.
Scarcity

Scarcity poses a paradox. If, according to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary, scarcity means “the quality or state of being scarce; especially: want of provisions for the support of life,” then presumably actual scarcity has grown ever less common over the past 200 years, as industrial capitalism has expanded global supplies of food and other material goods to unprecedented levels in both absolute and per capita terms. But, during the same period, the idea of scarcity has grown increasingly pervasive in both obvious and obscure ways. Modern economics takes scarcity as its fundamental theoretical premise and raison d’être, and major strands of environmentalism likewise find motivation in the idea that natural resources are not only finite but also increasingly scarce. The prospect of imminent scarcities of food, energy, water, or other key resources has been a leitmotif of modernity, and chronic economic inequality and poverty have left significant numbers of people lacking basic necessities, apparent victims of scarcity. It is as though society cannot produce abundance without constantly thinking about – and in some places producing – its opposite. Although the English word dates back to the fourteenth century, scarcity’s prominence as a modern concept coincides with the ascendance of market economies in northwestern Europe in the latter half of the 1700s. Scarcity was associated first and foremost with food, and especially with the political threats that high food prices could
Using X-ray computed tomography to study paving materials

X-ray computed tomography, a non-destructive three-dimensional imaging tool, has been very helpful in medical diagnosis since the first commercial tomographs were constructed in 1973. In recent years it has gained increasing applications in civil engineering materials research. Several investigators have illustrated the use of computed tomography scans for the non-destructive evaluation of soils and have shown promising applications in characterisation, modelling and computational simulation to optimise asphalt concrete mix design, predict performance and conduct investigative forensic studies. This paper provides a detailed review of X-ray computed tomography applications in characterising asphalt concrete and also describes preliminary studies conducted at the Center for Nondestructive Evaluation (CNDE) at Iowa State University for characterising asphalt and concrete materials using X-ray microcomputed tomography or micro-computed tomography. Researchers are currently using the advanced imaging faciliti.
Defense Plan Against Extreme Contingencies

This paper presents some of the short-term measures developed from the studies following the blackout in ~heBrazilian South/SoutheasdCenter- West power system in March llti 1999. 17re concept of Security Zones and Network Security Matrix is introduced. A new PLC-bo.red SPS was designed to create controllabiliip zones. ilris new scheme was named Security Control and is triggered by network topological changes. The Security Control is fast acting, with clearing times around 200 ms. A apical Securip Controller logic is presented, showing its benejits fGr the Bradian interconnected power system.
Development and validation of inducible protein degradation and quantitative phosphoproteomics to identify kinase-substrate relationships

Phosphorylation signaling is an essential post-translational regulatory mechanism that governs almost all eukaryotic biological processes and is controlled by an interplay between protein kinases and phosphatases. Knowledge of direct substrates of kinases provides evidence of mechanisms that relate activity to biological function. Linking kinases to their protein substrates can be achieved by inhibiting or reducing kinase activity and quantitative comparisons of phosphoproteomes in the presence and absence of kinase activity. Unfortunately, most of the human kinases lack chemical inhibitors with selectivity required to unambiguously assign protein substrates to their respective kinases. Here, we develop and validate a chemical proteomics strategy for linking kinase activities to protein substrates via targeted protein degradation and quantitative phosphoproteomics and apply it to the well-studied, essential mitotic regulator polo-like kinase 1 (Plk1). We leveraged the Tir1/auxin system to engineer HeLa cells with endogenously homozygous auxin-inducible degron (AID)-Plk1). We used HeLa cells and determined the impact of AID-tagging on Plk1 activity, localization, protein interactors, and substrate motifs. Using quantitative proteomics, we show that of over 8,000 proteins quantified, auxin addition is highly selective for degrading AID-Plk1 in mitotic cells. Comparison of phosphoproteome changes in response to chemical Plk1 inhibition to auxin-induced degradation revealed a striking degree of correlation. Finally, we explored basal protein turnover as a potential basis for clonal differences in auxin-induced degradation rates for AID-Plk1 cells. Taken together, our work provides a roadmap for the application of AID technology as a general strategy for the kinome-wide discovery of kinase-substrate relationships.
Tapered holey fiber and PBG couplers for optical integration

The photonic crystal (PC) coupler and planar photonic band gap (PBG) coupler were theoretically investigated. Also the conventional step-index coupler was investigated for comparison with these couplers. The PC-coupler is a structure formed by the gradual tapering of the photonic-crystal holey fiber and the conventional step-index coupler -- by the gradual tapering of the conventional fiber. The planar PBG-coupler is a planar PC waveguide, in which defect region has taper-like geometry. The photonic crystal couplers are characterized by alternation of the material refractive index along the wave propagation direction, i. e. along the optical axis of the taper. In our investigation an effective refractive index model for two-dimensional photonic crystal was used. This model allows to analyze the waveguide structures, which work on the effective index waveguiding in a defect of the photonic crystal. The optical field in photonic crystal couplers, PBG couplers and conventional couplers was investigated. Also losses and mode shape distortion of all types of the couplers were calculated.
A Microstrip Patch Antenna as a Standard Receiving and Transmitting Antenna

Absfmct-This paper discusses the possibility of employing a microstrip patch antenna as a standard transmitting or receiving antenna. The intrinsic properties of the substrate used for the antenna are determined by careful impedance measurements. *Experimental results indicate that the transmitting characteristics of a microstrip antenna can he theoretically determined from its geometry. The microstrip patch antenna discussed here is physically small (20-cm square for 450 MHz) and can be well matched to a 50-Bpower delivery system (SWR = 1.17).
Catheters and guidewires in interventional MRI: problems and solutions

We have undertaken a series of investigations to determine the possible hazards of using metallic guidewires or catheters with metallic components in the MR environment, and to assess the value of fiber optics as an alternative. A specific hazard of metals is the risk of unpredictable heating effects. We have investigated the causes and potential risks of these heating effects, and have come to the conclusion that, as a general rule, long metallic conductors should not be used. In practice, it is not possible to design a device for use in an MR environment, incorporating long metallic parts such as guidewires, mechanical cables or electrical leads, and be completely sure of safety.
Research on Life Prediction for One Gravity Piered Wharf Based on the Regulated Reliability Index

The long-term behavior of concrete structure shows that the main cause of deterioration is reinforcement corrosion. One of the most aggressive exposure conditions for concrete is marine environment. What is worse, the structure mixed with sea sand. Under these conditions, chloride-induced reinforcement corrosion rate could be very high, often leading to reduction of the service life. This paper investigates long-term corrosive beams in the above-mentioned cases. Chloride distribution is analyzed. From Fick’s second law, the parameters for chloride diffusion can be obtained. Then, the service life of the concrete structure is predicted via empolying probability analysis. The characteristics of randomness (concrete cover, diffusion coefficient, surface chloride concentration and so on) have been taken into consideration.
S&P 500 under a structural macro-financial model

In this paper, we propose a macro-financial model that combines a semi-structural, medium-term macroeconomic model with the Dynamic Gordon Model or DGM (Campbell and Shiller, 1988). The proposed framework allows us to analyze the relationship between the output gap, inflation, short-term interest rate, and stock market indicators: price, dividend, and volatility. We estimate the model for the US economy using Bayesian techniques on quarterly data from 1984 to 2020. The decomposition of the unconditional variance of the variables shows that (i) demand shocks are relevant for most macroeconomic variables and stock prices; (ii) supply shocks affect inflation mainly; (iii) shocks to the price-dividend ratio account for around 12%, 5% and 16% of the variability of the output gap, inflation, and interest rates, respectively; and (iv) the DGM mechanism helps to cushion the effects of an interest rate shock and increases the speed of convergence of all macroeconomic variables after an inflation shock, compared to a standard, semi-structural model, reflecting in this manner the importance of stock prices on the dynamics of macroeconomic variables.
A five mode single spherical cavity microwave filter

Triple-mode degeneracy in cylindrical cavities has been successfully applied to the design of a satellite communications filter and multiplexer. A novel realization of five-mode filters using only the transverse magnetic mode or the transverse electric mode degeneracies in a single spherical cavity is presented. Experimental results obtained with a prototype five-mode quasi-elliptic function filter by exciting and controlling a five degenerate modes in a single spherical cavity with a new technique using dielectric coupling are reported. The curves measured agreed well with the theoretical values. <<ETX>>
An Improved Approach to Image De-Noising Based on Multi-wavelet and Threshold

Image de-noising is widely used in image pre-processing. Its aim is to enhance signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), improve the quality of the image and project the expected feature of the image. The better de-noising result depends on the degree of the noise and image details reserved. In fact, image de-noising is based on the fact that noise and energy of the image are distributed within different frequency band. Generally, its energy is distributed over low frequency band, while both its noise and details are distributed over high frequency band. Corresponding Semi-soft threshold is used in different scale high frequency sub-bands in this paper. In this paper, noised image file is decomposed by multi-wavelet transform first; and then, the coefficients are processed with different semi-soft thresholds according to coefficients energy distribution. The reconstructed image can be obtained by using the inverse multi-wavelet transform. Simulation experiments show that image noise can be reduced effectively and image details can be preserved a lot by this method and it should be a better improved method.
Overview of different wind generator systems and their comparisons

With rapid development of wind power technologies and significant growth of wind power capacity installed worldwide, various wind turbine concepts have been developed. The wind energy conversion system is demanded to be more cost-competitive, so that comparisons of different wind generator systems are necessary. An overview of different wind generator systems and their comparisons are presented. First, the contemporary wind turbines are classified with respect to both their control features and drive train types, and their strengths and weaknesses are described. The promising permanent magnet generator types are also investigated. Then, the quantitative comparison and market penetration of different wind generator systems are presented. Finally, the developing trends of wind generator systems and appropriate comparison criteria are discussed. It is shown that variable speed concepts with power electronics will continue to dominate and be very promising technologies for large wind farms. The future success of different wind turbine concepts may strongly depend on their ability of complying with both market expectations and the requirements of grid utility companies.