LLukas22/scidocs huggingface dataset:
Potential role of microglia in retinal blood vessel formation.

PURPOSE
The role of microglia, present in the retina early in development before vascularization, remains ill defined. The authors investigated whether microglia are implicated in retinal blood vessel formation.


METHODS
The microglia and vasculature of developing human fetal and rodent retinas were examined by labeling the endothelial cells with lectin and the microglia with CD18 antibody or green fluorescent protein driven by the promoter of the chemokine receptor CX(3)CR1. Rodent ischemic proliferative retinopathy induced by hyperoxia or hypercapnia, which model retinopathy of prematurity, and ex vivo retinal explants were used to assess microglial involvement in vascular pathology. Microglial participation in developmental retinal vessel formation was further studied in neonatal rats after pharmacologic macrophage depletion with the use of clodronate liposomes and subsequent intravitreal injection of microglia.


RESULTS
Microglia intimately appose developing vessels of human and murine retinas. Ischemic retinopathy models exhibit decreased microglia concomitant with the characteristic reductions in vasculature observed in these retinopathies. Retinal explants exposed to conditions resulting in ischemic retinopathies (in vivo) reveal that antioxidants protect against microglial loss. Depletion of resident retinal microglia, but not systemic macrophages, reduced developmental vessel growth and density, which were restored by intravitreal microglial injection.


CONCLUSIONS
These observations suggest that proper retinal blood vessel formation requires an adequate resident microglial population because diminished microglia are associated with decreased vascularity in models of ischemic retinopathy and retinal vascular development. In light of these findings, the traditional definition of microglia as merely immunocompetent cells should be reconsidered to encompass this new function related to blood vessel formation.
Foldings and grazings of tori in current controlled interleaved boost converters

Chemical Process Engineering Research Institute (C.P.E.R.I.), Centre for Research and Technology Hellas (CE.R.T.H.) 57001 Thermi-Thessaloniki, Greece Indian Institute of Science Education and Research, Nadia, 741252 WB India King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia Department of Automation, Alexander Technological Educational Institute of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Newcastle University, England, UK Electrical and Computer Engineering Department, Faculty of Engineering, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
Magnetic backgrounds and noncommutative field theory

This paper is a rudimentary introduction, geared at nonspecialists, to how noncommutative field theories arise in physics and their applications to string theory, particle physics and condensed matter systems.
ONSITE EXPERIENCES WITH MULTI-TERMINAL IEC PD MEASUREMENTS AND UHF PD MEASUREMENTS

The reliability of electrical energy networks depends on the quality and availability of electrical equipment like power transformers. Local failures inside their insulation may lead to catastrophic breakdowns and can cause high outage and penalty costs. To prevent these destroying events power transformers are e.g. tested on partial discharge (PD) activity before commissioning and currently also during service. This paper introduces the multi-terminal electric PD measurement set-up of on-site transformer measurements and shows some visualization with a star diagram. In contrast the UHF-Method with a bandwidth from 300 MHz up to 3 GHz is based on the fact, that PD inside oil filled transformer emit electromagnetic waves measurable with oil valve sensors inside the transformer tank. To compare the two different measurement methods under real conditions on-site measurements on two different power transformers were made. For comparison the results, the UHF and the multi-terminal measurements were made simultaneously.
Isolated corticotrophin deficiency

Isolated ACTH deficiency (IAD) is a rare disorder, characterized by secondary adrenal insufficiency (AI) with low or absent cortisol production, normal secretion of pituitary hormones other than ACTH and the absence of structural pituitary defects. In adults, IAD may appear after a traumatic injury or a lymphocytic hypophysitis, the latter possibly due to autoimmune etiology. Conversely, a genetic origin may come into play in neonatal or childhood IAD. Patients with IAD usually fare relatively well during unstressed periods until intervening events spark off an acute adrenal crisis presenting with non specific symptoms, such as asthenia, anorexia, unintentional weight loss and tendency towards hypoglycemia. Blood chemistry may reveal mild hypoglycemia, hyponatremia and normal-high potassium levels, mild anemia, lymphocytosis and eosinophilia. Morning serum cortisol below 3 μg/dl are virtually diagnostic for adrenal insufficiency. whereas cortisol values comprised between 5–18 μg/dl require additional investigations: insulin tolerance test (ITT) is considered the gold standard but—when contraindicated—high or low dose-ACTH stimulation test with serum cortisol determination provides a viable alternative. Plasma ACTH concentration and prolonged ACTH infusion test are useful in differential diagnosis between primary and secondary adrenal insufficiency. For some patients with mild, near-to-asymptomatic disease, glucocorticoid replacement therapy may not be required except during stressful events; for symptomatic patients, replacement doses i.e., mean daily dose 20 mg (0.30 mg/kg) hydrocortisone or 25 mg (0.35 mg/kg) cortisone acetate, are usually sufficient. Administration of mineralocorticoids is generally not necessary as their production is maintained.
On the Electrodynamics with Faster-Than-Light Motion

The version of electrodynamics is constructed in which faster-than-light motions of fields and particles with real masses are possible. Transformational properties of 3-velocity, momentum, energy and electromagnetic field are presented in addition to the paper physics/0405085.
Diametral Tensile Strength, Flexural Strength, and Surface Microhardness of Bioactive Bulk Fill Restorative.

AIM
The aim was to perform comparative analysis of bioactive, contemporary bulk-fill resin-based composites (RBCs) and conventional glass-ionomer materials for flexural strength (FS), diametral tensile strength (DTS), and Vickers hardness number (VHN) in the presence of thermocycling.


MATERIALS AND METHODS
Five restorative materials [Tetric N-Ceram Bulk Fill; smart dentin replacement (SDR) Flowable Material; Bioactive restorative material (ACTIVA Bulk Fill); Ketac Universal Aplicap; and GC Fuji II] were evaluated for DTS, FS, and VHN. Half the samples in each material group were ther-mocycled. The DTS was performed under compressive load at a cross-head speed of 1.0 mm/min. The FS was assessed by three-point bending test at a cross-head speed of 0.5 mm/min. The VHN was determined using a Vickers diamond indenter at 50 gf load for 15 seconds. Differences in FS, DTS, and VHN were analyzed using analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Tukey post hoc tests at a = 0.05 level of significance.


RESULTS
N-Ceram, ACTIVA, and SDR demonstrated the highest and comparable (p > 0.05) FS. The SDR had the highest DTS value (141.28 ± 0.94), followed by N-Ceram (136.61 ± 1.56) and ACTIVA (129.05 ± 1.78). Ketac had the highest VHN value before and after thermocycling.


CONCLUSION
ACTIVA showed mechanical properties (FS and DTS) comparable with bulk-fill resin composite materials. ACTIVA showed potential for durability, as VHN was comparable post-thermocycling.


CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE
Bioactive materials showed acceptable DTS and FS values. However, hardness was compromised compared with included materials. ACTIVA Bulk Fill shows potential for dentin replacement but it needs to be covered with a surface-resistant restorative material. Further studies to improve surface characteristics of ACTIVA Bulk Fill are recommended.
Access control, confidentiality and privacy for video surveillance databases

In this paper we have addressed confidentiality and privacy for video surveillance databases. First we discussed our overall approach for suspicious event detection. Next we discussed an access control model and accedes control algorithms for confidentiality. Finally we discuss privacy preserving video surveillance. Our goal is build a comprehensive system that can detect suspicious events, ensure confidentiality as well as privacy.
Requisite expertise, firm reputation, and status in venture capital investment allocation decisions

Abstract Drawing together research in the upper echelon perspective, strategy, and organizational sociology, this paper examines (1) the relationship between the finance expertise of a venture capital (VC) firm's management team and investment selection, and (2) the moderation of this relationship by the VC firm's social position. We find that while finance expertise is associated with a lower proportion of early-stage investments, this relationship is weaker for firms with high reputation and stronger for firms with high status. We conclude with a discussion of the importance and nuances of external image considerations on investment decisions as well as insights into the importance of the requisite nature of expertise.
Biofuels (alcohols and biodiesel) applications as fuels for internal combustion engines

The increasing industrialization and motorization of the world has led to a steep rise for the demand of petroleum-based fuels. Petroleum-based fuels are obtained from limited reserves. These finite reserves are highly concentrated in certain regions of the world. Therefore, those countries not having these resources are facing energy/foreign exchange crisis, mainly due to the import of crude petroleum. Hence, it is necessary to look for alternative fuels which can be produced from resources available locally within the country such as alcohol, biodiesel, vegetable oils etc. This paper reviews the production, characterization and current statuses of vegetable oil and biodiesel as well as the experimental research work carried out in various countries. This paper touches upon well-to-wheel greenhouse gas emissions, well-to-wheel efficiencies, fuel versatility, infrastructure, availability, economics, engine performance and emissions, effect on wear, lubricating oil etc. Ethanol is also an attractive alternative fuel because it is a renewable bio-based resource and it is oxygenated, thereby providing the potential to reduce particulate emissions in compression-ignition engines. In this review, the properties and specifications of ethanol blended with diesel and gasoline fuel are also discussed. Special emphasis is placed on the factors critical to the potential commercial use of these blends. The effect of the fuel on engine performance and emissions (SI as well as compression ignition (CI) engines), and material compatibility is also considered. Biodiesel is methyl or ethyl ester of fatty acid made from virgin or used vegetable oils (both edible and non-edible) and animal fat. The main resources for biodiesel production can be non-edible oils obtained from plant species such as Jatropha curcas (Ratanjyot), Pongamia pinnata (Karanj), Calophyllum inophyllum (Nagchampa), Hevca brasiliensis (Rubber) etc. Biodiesel can be blended in any proportion with mineral diesel to create a biodiesel blend or can be used in its pure form. Just like petroleum diesel, biodiesel operates in compression ignition (diesel) engine, and essentially require very little or no engine modifications because biodiesel has properties similar to mineral diesel. It can be stored just like mineral diesel and hence does not require separate infrastructure. The use of biodiesel in conventional diesel engines result in substantial reduction in emission of unburned hydrocarbons, carbon monoxide and particulate. This review focuses on performance and emission of biodiesel in CI engines, combustion analysis, wear performance on long-term engine usage, and economic feasibility. r 2006 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
On Measuring Bias in Online Information

Bias in online information has recently become a pressing issue, with search engines, social networks and recommendation services being accused of exhibiting some form of bias. In this vision paper, we make the case for a systematic approach towards measuring bias. To this end, we discuss formal measures for quantifying the various types of bias, we outline the system components necessary for realizing them, and we highlight the related research challenges and open problems.
Holistic ship design optimization

Ship design is a complex endeavor requiring the successful coordination of many disciplines, of both technical and non-technical nature, and of individual experts to arrive at valuable design solutions. Inherently coupled with the design process is design optimization, namely the selection of the best solution out ofmany feasible ones on the basis of a criterion, or rather a set of criteria. A systemic approach to ship design may consider the ship as a complex system integrating a variety of subsystems and their components, for example, subsystems for cargo storage and handling, energy/power generation and ship propulsion, accommodation of crew/passengers and ship navigation. Independently, considering that ship design should actually address the whole ship’s life-cycle, it may be split into various stages that are traditionally composed of the concept/preliminary design, the contractual and detailed design, the ship construction/fabrication process, ship operation for an economic life and scrapping/recycling. It is evident that an optimal ship is the outcome of a holistic optimization of the entire, above-defined ship system over her whole life-cycle. But even the simplest component of the above-defined optimization problem, namely the first phase (conceptual/preliminary design), is complex enough to require to be simplified (reduced) in practice. Inherent to ship design optimization are also the conflicting requirements resulting from the design constraints and optimization criteria (merit or objective functions), reflecting the interests of the various ship design stake holders. The present paper provides a brief introduction to the holistic approach to ship design optimization, defines the generic ship design optimization problem and demonstrates its solution by use of advanced optimization techniques for the computer-aided generation, exploration and selection of optimal designs. It discusses proposed methods on the basis of some typical ship design optimization problems with multiple objectives, leading to improved and partly innovative designs with increased cargo carrying capacity, increased safety and survivability, reduced required powering and improved environmental protection. The application of the proposed methods to the integrated ship system for life-cycle optimization problem remains a challenging but straightforward task for the years to come. © 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Computational intelligence for heart disease diagnosis: A medical knowledge driven approach

This paper investigates a number of computational intelligence techniques in the detection of heart disease. Particularly, comparison of six well known classifiers for the well used Cleveland data is performed. Further, this paper highlights the potential of an expert judgment based (i.e., medical knowledge driven) feature selection process (termed as MFS), and compare against the generally employed computational intelligence based feature selection mechanism. Also, this article recognizes that the publicly available Cleveland data becomes imbalanced when considering binary classification. Performance of classifiers, and also the potential of MFS are investigated considering this imbalanced data issue. The experimental results demonstrate that the use of MFS noticeably improved the performance, especially in terms of accuracy, for most of the classifiers considered and for majority of the datasets (generated by converting the Cleveland dataset for binary classification). MFS combined with the computerized feature selection process (CFS) has also been investigated and showed encouraging results particularly for NaiveBayes, IBK and SMO. In summary, the medical knowledge based feature selection method has shown promise for use in heart disease diagnostics. 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Lateralizing the collapsed nasal valves simplified: 10-year survey of a simple concealed suture technique.

OBJECTIVE/HYPOTHESIS
A number of innovative surgical procedures have been devised to correct nasal obstruction resulting from the combined deformities of the internal and external nasal valves. Although successful, they can be complex and manipulative, requiring experience and expertise. We submit an alternative surgical procedure for the repair of isolated internal nasal valve collapse that is simple to execute in the office under local infiltration anesthesia and within the grasp of any otolaryngologist interested in its repair. The long-term success and durability of the procedure have been tested and confirmed by a 10-year survey of its effectiveness.


STUDY DESIGN
Retrospective review.


RESULTS
Fifty-two (89.9%) of 58 respondents who underwent surgical repair for nasal valve collapse between 1999 and 2009 reported complete satisfaction with the improvement in their nasal airway that remained effective over time. Failures (10.1%) resulted from sutures coming loose from a variety of reasons that could be remedied quite easily.


CONCLUSIONS
The simplified concealed suture lateralization of the collapsed internal nasal valve is highly successful and remains effective over many years with minimal complications and without any alteration in the nasal profile.
Celivarone in patients with an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator: adjunctive therapy for the reduction of ventricular arrhythmia-triggered implantable cardioverter-defibrillator interventions.

BACKGROUND
Implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (ICDs) remain the treatment of choice for the prevention of life-threatening arrhythmias. However, many patients with ICDs require additional antiarrhythmic therapy to reduce the morbidity associated with recurrent arrhythmia-triggered ICD interventions.


OBJECTIVE
Our study aimed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of celivarone in reducing these interventions.


METHODS
A total of 153 eligible ICD recipients were randomized to receive either placebo or celivarone 100 or 300 mg once daily for 6 months. The primary end point was the prevention of arrhythmia-triggered ICD therapies.


RESULTS
Fewer ventricular tachycardia and ventricular fibrillation episodes were observed in the 300-mg celivarone group than in the placebo group, with a relative risk reduction of 46%, which was not statistically significant. The analysis of all-cause shocks showed a trend toward a decreased number of events in the celivarone 300-mg group. A post hoc analysis of the primary end point in a subgroup of patients in the celivarone 300-mg group, who had received ICD therapy within 1 month of randomization, showed a significant benefit (P = .032). Celivarone was not associated with an increased risk of torsades de pointes, thyroid dysfunction, or pulmonary events. More heart failure events were reported in the celivarone groups than in the placebo group, but the difference was not statistically significant.


CONCLUSION
Celivarone tends to reduce ventricular tachycardia-/ventricular fibrillation-triggered ICD therapies. This effect was not statistically significant. There was a trend toward greater efficacy in the 300-mg group, especially in patients undergoing ICD therapy within 30 days prior to randomization. Overall, celivarone was well tolerated.
Impact of intensive statin use on the level of inflammation and platelet activation in stable angina after percutaneous coronary intervention: a clinical study.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE
This study was designed to investigate whether high-dose atorvastatin before percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) can reduce inflammation, platelet activation, and major adverse cardiac events (MACE) in patients with stable angina who are undergoing long-term statin therapy.


METHODS
In total, 215 patients with chronic stable angina were randomized to pretreatment with 80 mg of atorvastatin (12 h before PCI; n = 106) or with 20 mg of atorvastatin (12 h before PCI; n = 109). All patients underwent PCI. Serum levels of interleukin-6, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, tumor necrosis factor-α, GMP-140, and p-selectin were measured 24 h before and after PCI. The 30-day incidence of MACE was determined.


RESULTS
No differences in baseline characteristics were observed between the groups. The levels of inflammation and platelet activation were significantly lower after 24 h in the group that received intensive statin therapy (P < 0.05). The levels of inflammation and platelet activation increased sharply 24 h after PCI in the group that received the lower dose of atorvastatin (P > 0.05). In other words, pretreatment with a high dose of atorvastatin decreased the incidence of MACE sharply within 30 days (P < 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
Pretreatment with a high dose of atorvastatin significantly reduced inflammation, platelet activation, and the incidence of MACE in patients with stable angina.
Does pre-treatment with aspirin and loading dose clopidogrel obviate the need for glycoprotein IIb/IIIa antagonists during elective coronary stenting? A focus on peri-procedural myonecrosis.

AIMS
Although full platelet inhibition with aspirin and thienopyridines before coronary stenting has significantly reduced the risk of acute stent thrombosis, peri-procedural myonecrosis still occurs frequently and is associated with increased death rate. Whether further inhibition of platelet aggregation by a glycoprotein IIb/IIIa antagonist may provide an additional cardioprotection is unknown.


METHODS AND RESULTS
A total of 200 patients pre-treated with aspirin and a loading dose of clopidogrel (450 mg) were randomized just before coronary intervention (percutaneous coronary intervention, PCI) to treatment with or without abciximab. Platelet aggregation was assessed in samples collected during the procedure and the degree of platelet aggregation inhibition was correlated with cardiac enzyme release post-PCI. Abciximab treatment achieved a more complete inhibition of aggregation than dual oral antiplatelet therapy alone (median value of 1 vs. 50%, normal 100%). Any pathological increase in creatinine kinase-MB (CK-MB) post-PCI was present in 21% of the abciximab group and in 22% of the no-abciximab group (P = 0.9). Also the occurrence of clinically relevant myonecrosis [myocardial infarction (MI) = CK-MB > 3x upper limit of normal] was not significantly influenced by treatment assignment: 9 vs. 10% (P = 0.9). In a multiple logistic regression model including clinical, angiographic, and procedural characteristics, post-PCI myonecrosis was not correlated with the degree of platelet aggregation inhibition but with procedural features (such as long inflation time) and with the presence of multi-vessel disease. There were no cases of acute or subacute stent thrombosis. At 6 months, major adverse cardiac events, including cardiac death, non-fatal MI, or target lesion revascularization occurred in 13% of abciximab patients and in 16% of the control patients (P = 0.6).


CONCLUSIONS
In the studied patients scheduled for elective coronary stenting and pre-treated with aspirin and a loading dose of clopidogrel, further inhibition of platelet aggregation by abciximab does not afford additional cardioprotection. Our data suggest that distal athero-embolization rather than thrombo-embolization is involved in the phenomenon of myonecrosis post-elective stenting.
Engaging the ethics of data science in practice

Seeking more common ground between data scientists and their critics.