Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Manhole Cover Localization in Aerial Images with a Deep Learning Approach

Urban growth is an ongoing trend and one of its direct consequences is the development of buried utility networks. Locating these networks is becoming a challenging task. While the labeling of large objects in aerial images is extensively studied in Geosciences, the localization of small objects (smaller than a building) is in counter part less studied and very challenging due to the variance of object colors, cluttered neighborhood, non-uniform background, shadows and aspect ratios. In this paper, we put forward a method for the automatic detection and localization of manhole covers in Very High Resolution (VHR) aerial and remotely sensed images using a Convolutional Neural Network (CNN). Compared to other detection/localization methods for small objects, the proposed approach is more comprehensive as the entire image is processed without prior segmentation. The first experiments using the Prades-Le-Lez and Gigean datasets show that our method is indeed effective as more than 49% of the ground truth database is detected with a precision of 75%. New improvement possibilities are being explored such as using information on the shape of the detected objects and increasing the types of objects to be detected, thus enabling the extraction of more object specific features.
Endothelial progenitor cells (CD34+KDR+) and monocytes may provide the development of good coronary collaterals despite the vascular risk factors and extensive atherosclerosis.

OBJECTIVE Endothelial progenitor cells (EPC) have a regenerative role in the vascular system. In this study, we aimed to evaluate simultaneously the effects of EPC and inflammatory cells on the presence and the extent of coronary artery disease (CAD) and the grade of coronary collateral growth in patients with clinical suspicion of CAD. METHODS This study has a cross-sectional and observational design. We enrolled 112 eligible patients who underwent coronary angiography consecutively (mean age: 59±9 years). The association of circulating inflammatory cells and EPC (defined by CD34+KDR+ in the lymphocyte and monocyte gate) with the presence, severity and extent of CAD and the degree of collateral growth were investigated. Logistic regression analysis was used to define the predictors of collateral flow. RESULTS Of 112 patients 30 had normal coronary arteries (NCA, 27%, 55±9 years) and 82 had CAD (73%, 61±8 years). Among the patients with CAD, the percent degree of luminal stenosis was <50% in 12 patients; 50-90% in 35 patients; and ≥90% in the other 35 patients. Circulating inflammatory cells were higher (leukocytes, 7150±1599 vs 8163±1588 mm(-3), p=0.001; neutrophils, 4239±1280 vs 4827±1273 mm(-3), p=0.021; monocytes, 512±111 vs 636±192 mm(-3), p=0.001) and EPCs were lower (0.27±0.15% vs 0.17±0.14%, p<0.001; 21±15 vs 13±12 mm(-3), p=0.004) in CAD group than NCA group. When we investigated the collateral growth in patients having ≥90% stenosis in at least one major coronary artery, we found that the patients with good collateral growth had significantly higher EPC (0.22±0.17% vs 0.10±0.05%, p=0.009; 18±15 vs 7±3 mm(-3), p=0.003) in comparison to patients with poor collateral growth. Presence of EPC was associated with reduced risk for coronary artery disease (OR: 0.934, 95%CI: 0.883-0.998, p=0.018) and was an independent predictor for good collateral growth (OR: 1.295, 95%CI: 1.039-1.615, p=0.022). A sum of CD34+KDR-, CD34+KDR+ and CD34-KDR+ cells (192±98 mm(-3)), and a CD34-KDR- cell subpopulation within monocyte gate (514±173 mm(-3)) reached to highest counts in good collateral group among all study population. CONCLUSION Endothelial progenitor cells can be mobilized from bone marrow to induce the coronary collateral growth in case of myocardial ischemia even in presence of the vascular risk factors and extensive atherosclerosis. This finding may be supportive to investigate the molecules, which can specifically mobilize EPC without inflammatory cells.
Plasminogen activator inhibitor‐1 and asthma: role in the pathogenesis and molecular regulation

Plasminogen activator inhibitor (PAI)‐1 is a major inhibitor of the fibrinolytic system. PAI‐1 levels are markedly increased in asthmatic airways, and mast cells (MCs), a pivotal cell type in the pathogenesis of asthma, are one of the main sources of PAI‐1 production. Recent studies suggest that PAI‐1 may promote the development of asthma by regulating airway remodelling, airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR), and allergic inflammation. The single guanosine nucleotide deletion/insertion polymorphism (4G/5G) at −675 bp of the PAI‐1 gene is the major genetic determinant of PAI‐1 expression. Plasma PAI‐1 level is higher in people with the 4G/4G genotype than in those with the 5G/5G genotype. A strong association between the 4G/5G polymorphism and the risk and the severity of asthma has been suggested. Levels of plasma IgE and PAI‐1 and severity of AHR are greater in asthmatic patients with the 4G/4G genotype than in those with the 5G/5G genotype. The PAI‐1 promoter with the 4G allele renders higher transcription activity than the PAI‐1 promoter with the 5G allele in stimulated MCs. The molecular mechanism for the 4G allele‐mediated higher PAI‐1 expression is associated with greater binding of upstream stimulatory factor‐1 to the E‐box adjacent to the 4G site (E‐4G) than to the E‐5G. In summary, PAI‐1 may play an important role in the pathogenesis of asthma. Further studies evaluating the mechanisms of PAI‐1 action and regulation may lead to the development of a novel prognostic factor and therapeutic target for the treatment and prevention of asthma and other PAI‐1‐associated diseases.
Örgütsel Sessizlik: Sessizlik Davranışları, Örgütsel ve Bireysel Etkileri

Orgutsel sessizlik ve isgorenlerin sessizlik davranislari son zamanlarda yabanci literaturde sosyal psikoloji ve etkiledigi orgutsel davranis biliminin ilgilendigi bir konudur. Ancak bilinmektedir ki sessizlik; orgut veya toplum yapisinin var oldugu suredir yasanan goz ardi edilemez bir olgudur. Bireysel bir davranis olmasinin yaninda kisilerin birbirlerinden etkilenerek bir iklim haline donusen bir ozellige de sahiptir. Yapilan bu kavramsal calismayla da orgutsel sessizlik ve orgutsel sessizlik iklimi tanimlanmakta, orgutsel sessizligin orgutsel ve bireysel etkileri belirtilmekte ve bu etkiler baglaminda isgorenlerin sergiledikleri sessizlik davranislari boyutlandirilarak ayrintili bicimde anlatilmaktadir. Calismanin katkisi; her orgutte yasanan, ancak yerli literaturde kavramsal ve akademik anlamda bir yazin sahibi olmayan bu konuya dikkat cekmek ve diger orgutsel davranis olgulari ile ilgisinin arastirilmasini adina farkindalik olusturabilmektir.
The Effect of a Frequently Asked Questions Module on a Pancreatic Cancer Web Site Patient/Family Chat Room

The Internet provides access to health information and a supportive community with similar illness concerns. Securing accurate information about treatment and prognosis is important to those with pancreatic cancer given its high mortality and short survival. The purpose of this descriptive-comparative study was to determine the effect of a Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) module on postings in the chat room of a pancreatic cancer Web site. Six hundred postings were analyzed. Three themes were isolated: information seeking, giving, or both; support seeking, giving, or both; and reporting status or death. Information included treatments, nutrition, prognosis, end-of-life care, cost of care, symptoms, and support (social, emotional, spiritual, or physical). A greater proportion of postings sought information after the FAQ module was added, although questions about medical treatment decreased, whereas questions about prognosis and end-of-life care nearly doubled. There was no difference in the proportion of postings addressing support. Medical treatment was the most common treatment reported and pain was the most common symptom reported. This study supported the addition of a FAQ module to a pancreatic cancer Web site and revealed the need for information regarding pain management and care giving at the end of life.
Merkel Cell Carcinoma: Review

Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) is synonymous with primary cutaneous neuroendocrine carcinoma. It tends to affects elderly whites, but there is also an increased incidence among immunosuppressed patients. The recent identification of a novel polyomavirus associated with the tumor has stimulated renewed interest in its pathogenesis. MCC tends to show classic histologic features of a neuroendocrine carcinoma and is often positive for CK20, but nonclassic cytologic findings and unusual immunophenotypes may be observed and can lead to a diagnostic confusion. MCC needs to be distinguished from other primary cutaneous tumors with a small cell appearance and metastatic tumors. Surgical excision is the treatment of choice, but radiation therapy has also found to be effective. Sentinel lymph node biopsy has become an integral part of the staging of patients with MCC.
Progress in the study of brain evolution: From speculative theories to testable hypotheses

Darwin's theory of evolution raised the question of how the human brain differs from that of other animals and how it is the same. Early students of brain evolution had constructed rather grand but speculative theories which stated that brains evolved in a linear manner, from fish to man and from simple to complex. These speculations were soundly refuted, however, as contemporary comparative neurobiologists used powerful new techniques and methodologies to discover that complex brains have evolved several times independently among vertebrates (e.g., within teleost fishes and birds) and that brain complexity has actually decreased in the lineages leading to modern salamanders and lungfishes. Moreover, the old idea that brains evolved by the sequential addition of new components has now been replaced by the working hypothesis that brains generally evolve by the divergent modification of preexisting parts. Speculative theories have thus been replaced by testable hypotheses, and current efforts in the field are aimed at making phylogenetic hypotheses even more testable. Particularly promising new directions for comparative neurobiology include (1) the integration of comparative neuroanatomy with comparative embryology and developmental genetics in order to test phylogenetic hypotheses at a mechanistic level, (2) research into how evolutionary changes in the structure of neural circuits are related to evolutionary changes in circuit function and animal behavior, and (3) the analysis of independently evolved similarities to discover general rules about how brains may or may not change during the course of evolution. Anat. Rec. (New Anat.) 253:105–112, 1998. © 1998 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Comparison and analysis on common modulation strategies for the cascaded multilevel STATCOM

With the application of multilevel inverter in the high voltage and large power occasions in recent years, its modulation strategy has become a research hot point in the field of power electronics. As STATCOM is a typical application of multilevel converter, its common modulation strategies such as Step Wave modulation, Specific Harmonic Elimination modulation, Carrier PWM modulation, Space Vector modulation are summarized in this paper. It also points out the particularity of the most popular cascaded multilevel structure to other main circuit topologies of STATCOM and pays heavy attentions on two typical modulation strategies: SHE-PWM and CPS-SPWM. Simulations on these two algorithms in a cascaded 5-level STATCOM are done. By results discussion and comparison, it is known that these two methods are both suitable for the cascaded multilevel topology. The harmonic elimination ability of SHE-PWM is better than that of CPS-SPWM, while its calculation work becomes tremendous and difficult with the level number increasing. CPS-SPWM is easy to realize and its calculation speed is fast even under a very high level number. The proper modulation strategy of a cascaded multilevel STATCOM will be chosen based on the switch frequency limitation, STATCOM volume and its main circuit topology requirements.
EPO and TPO sequences do not explain thrombocytosis in iron deficiency anemia.

To the Editor: The letter to the editor “Amino acid sequence homology of thrombopoietin and erythropoietin may explain thrombocytosis in children with iron deficiency anemia” by Bilic and Bilic (Vol. 25, No. 8, Aug 2003) discusses several recent articles relating to platelet levels and iron deficiency anemia. The authors raise the interesting possibility that erythropoietin (EPO) may be responsible for the thrombocytosis during iron deficiency because of the strong sequence homology between EPO and thrombopoietin (TPO). They cite evidence that exogenous EPO administration can temporarily elevate platelet counts. However, there exists evidence that is contrary to this hypothesis. First, as the authors note, some patients with iron deficiency anemia and elevated EPO levels have normal platelet counts. Also, there exist other conditions associated with elevated EPO levels, such as hemolytic anemias or thalassemias, that are not associated with thrombocytosis. Thus, there is an inconsistent relationship between elevated EPO levels and elevated platelet counts. However, thrombopoiesis is a complex process, and there may be mitigating factors in these patients. The authors propose that the sequence homology between TPO and EPO may explain the synergy of the two growth factors in platelet production, implying that EPO may cross-activate the thrombopoietin receptor, mpl. However, the available literature suggests there is no cross-competition for binding of EPO and TPO to mpl and the EPO receptor. When CD34+ human hematopoietic progenitors are placed in liquid culture, we find EPO alone supports very little megakaryocytic growth and TPO alone supports virtually no erythroid growth (unpublished observation). EPO can, however, act synergistically with thrombopoietic growth factors to enhance megakaryocyte production. This may be due to EPO signaling at the level of a bipotent progenitor (BFU E/MK) leading to an increase in bipotent progenitors that are available for megakaryocyte commitment and subsequent growth stimulated by TPO. This, however, fails to explain the lack of uniform response among individuals with elevated EPO levels, suggesting that there may be other as of yet uncharacterized mechanisms that contribute to the thrombopoietic activity related to iron deficiency.
Retransplantation of the liver in adults: outcome and predictive factors for survival

Hepatic retransplantation is considered to carry a higher risk than primary transplantation. Survival might improve with more experience and better immunosuppression. We studied all 55 patients who were adults at the time of their first retransplantation and who underwent retransplantation between 1979 and May 2001. Patient survival at 1, 5 and 10 years was 73%, 63%, and 63%, respectively. Multivariate analysis of pre-transplant variables revealed prothrombin time, creatinine level, and indication for retransplantation, as independent predictive factors. Survival was highest in patients who had undergone retransplantation for hepatic artery thrombosis. Multivariate analysis, including pre-, per-, and post-operative variables, showed that era of transplantation, prothrombin time, blood loss, and intensive care unit (ICU) stay, were independent predictive factors. Survival at 1 and 5 years improved from 56% and 48%, respectively, before 1996 to 89% and 81%, respectively, after 1996. In conclusion, survival after hepatic retransplantation improved significantly through the years. Independent pre-transplant predictive factors were prothrombin time, creatinine level, and indication for retransplantation.
Isotopologue Profiling of Legionella pneumophila

Legionella pneumophila (Lp) is commonly found in freshwater habitats but is also the causative agent of Legionnaires' disease when infecting humans. Although various virulence factors have been reported, little is known about the nutrition and the metabolism of the bacterium. Here, we report the application of isotopologue profiling for analyzing the metabolism of L. pneumophila. Cultures of Lp were supplied with [U-13C3]serine, [U-13C6]glucose, or [1,2-13C2]glucose. After growth, 13C enrichments and isotopologue patterns of protein-derived amino acids and poly-3-hydroxybutyrate were determined by mass spectrometry and/or NMR spectroscopy. The labeling patterns detected in the experiment with [U-13C3]serine showed major carbon flux from serine to pyruvate and from pyruvate to acetyl-CoA, which serves as a precursor of poly-3-hydroxybutyrate or as a substrate of a complete citrate cycle with Si specificity of the citrate synthase. Minor carbon flux was observed between pyruvate and oxaloacetate/malate by carboxylation and decarboxylation, respectively. The apparent lack of label in Val, Ile, Leu, Pro, Phe, Met, Arg, and Tyr confirmed that L. pneumophila is auxotrophic for these amino acids. Experiments with [13C]glucose showed that the carbohydrate is also used as a substrate to feed the central metabolism. The specific labeling patterns due to [1,2-13C2]glucose identified the Entner-Doudoroff pathway as the predominant route for glucose utilization. In line with these observations, a mutant lacking glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (Δzwf) did not incorporate label from glucose at significant levels and was slowly outcompeted by the wild type strain in successive rounds of infection in Acanthamoeba castellanii, indicating the importance of this enzyme and of carbohydrate usage in general for the life cycle of Lp.
Mutagenesis of the Dengue Virus Type 2 NS3 Protein within and outside Helicase Motifs: Effects on Enzyme Activity and Virus Replication

ABSTRACT The protein NS3 of Dengue virus type 2 (DEN-2) is the second largest nonstructural protein specified by the virus and is known to possess multiple enzymatic activities, including a serine proteinase located in the N-terminal region and an NTPase-helicase in the remaining 70% of the protein. The latter region has seven conserved helicase motifs found in all members of the family Flaviviridae. DEN-2 NS3 lacking the proteinase region was synthesized as a fusion protein with glutathione S-transferase in Escherichia coli. The effects of 10 mutations on ATPase and RNA helicase activity were examined. Residues at four sites within enzyme motifs I, II, and VI were substituted, and six sites outside motifs were altered by clustered charged-to-alanine mutagenesis. The mutations were also tested for their effects on virus replication by incorporation into genomic-length cDNA. Two mutations, both in motif I (G198A and K199A) abolished both ATPase and helicase activity. Two further mutations, one in motif VI (R457A,R458A) and the other a clustered charged-to-alanine substitution at R376KNGK380, abolished helicase activity only. No virus was detected for any mutation which prevented helicase activity, demonstrating the requirement of this enzyme for virus replication. The remaining six mutations resulted in various levels of enzyme activities, and four permitted virus replication. For the two nonreplicating viruses encoding clustered changes at R184KR186 and D436GEE439, we propose that the substituted residues are surface located and that the viruses are defective through altered interaction of NS3 with other components of the viral replication complex. Two of the replicating viruses displayed a temperature-sensitive phenotype. One contained a clustered mutation at D334EE336 and grew too poorly for further characterization. However, virus with an M283F substitution in motif II was examined in a temperature shift experiment (33 to 37°C) and showed reduced RNA synthesis at the higher temperature.
Airborne fungus exposure prior to hospitalisation as risk factor for mould infections in immunocompromised patients

The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between fungal exposure prior to hospitalisation and ensuing onset of invasive mould infections (IMI) in patients at risk. Patients admitted to the Department of Haematology, Oncology and Transplant Surgery of the Medical University Innsbruck received a questionnaire regarding fungal exposure prior to hospital stay. Questions inquired heavy fungal exposures up to 5 days before hospitalisation. A total of 234 patients were enrolled in this study. Multiple fungus exposures were associated with the onset of community‐acquired IMI in patients with haematological malignancies. In univariate analysis, haematological malignancies (P = 0.013) and allergy to dust, pollen or moulds (P = 0.015) were significantly associated with fungal infections. In multivariate analysis, logistic regression showed that haematological patients (P = 0.015) and patients with allergy (P = 0.015) were significantly more frequently infected with fungi. Hospital‐independent fungal sources highlight risk‐factors for IMI in severe immunocompromised patients and the rate of community‐acquired IMI does increase.
Criteria for resolving the cosmological singularity in Infinite Derivative Gravity around expanding backgrounds

We derive the conditions whereby null rays `defocus' within Infinite Derivative Gravity for perturbations around an (A)dS background, and show that it is therefore possible to avoid singularities within this framework. This is in contrast to Einstein's theory of General Relativity. We further extend this to an (A)dS-Bianchi I background metric, and also give an example of a specific perturbation where defocusing is possible given certain conditions.
Mammalian target of rapamycin inhibitor rapamycin enhances anti‐leukemia effect of imatinib on Ph+ acute lymphoblastic leukemia cells

BCR‐ABL fusion gene typically causes a type of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), known as Ph+ ALL. Although imatinib (IM) treatment induced high rates of complete response (CR), serious acute and late complications are frequent, whereas more vexatiously resistance to chemotherapy and clinical relapse develops. Therefore, the efficacy of treatment in Ph+ ALL is still to be determined. In this study, we focused our attention on the potential benefit of rapamycin (RAPA), an mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) inhibitor, in combination with IM on a Ph+ ALL cell line SUP‐B15 and a primary Ph+ ALL sample in vitro. Analysis of cell proliferation showed that RAPA (50 nm) plus IM exerted good synergistic effect on Ph+ ALL cells. Notably, we found that IM treatment induced the abnormal activation of the components of mTOR signaling pathway and p‐BCR‐ABL, whereas RAPA potently eliminated this deleterious side effect induced by IM and might overcome the resistance to IM. The synergistic effect was also associated with the increase in autophagy, which seemed to have an opposite role with apoptosis in Ph+ ALL cells, and cell cycle arrest in G1 phase. Altogether, our results suggested that IM in combination with RAPA was more effective for Ph+ ALL cells than IM alone.