Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A low cost finger vein authentication system, using maximum curvature points

Finger vein patterns have been proposed as a suitable biometric feature for authentication applications. Systems using this feature are generally low cost, accurate and easy to use. Such a system is described in this work. Infrared light is used to capture an image of a finger and a pattern recognition algorithm extracts the vein patterns. For robust and precise extraction of the depicted veins, a method of calculating local maximum curvatures in cross-sectional profiles of a vein image was used. The authentication algorithm has been evaluated with images acquired from the device built, as well as with images from a 400 fingers database. The false acceptance and false rejection rates obtained were promising.
Development of a Measure for the Organizational Learning Construct

The concept of organizational learning (OL) is receiving an increasing amount of attention in the research and practice of management information systems (MIS) due to its potential for affecting organizational outcomes, including control and intelligence, competitive advantage, and the exploitation of knowledge and technology.As such, further development of the salient issues related to OL is warranted, especially measurement of the construct. Based on a domain definition grounded in the literature, this research represents the initial work in developing an empirically reliable and valid measure of organizational learning. The rigorous method utilized in the derivation of this measure, which integrates two methodological frameworks for instrument development, is the main strength of this work. The result is an eightfactor, 28-item instrument for assessing OL, derived from a sample of 119 knowledge-based firms. The empirically derived factors are awareness, communication, performance assessment, intellectual cultivation, environmental adaptability, social learning, intellectual capital management, and organizational grafting. MIS function managers can use these factors to gauge organizational or subunit success in the creation and diffusion of new applications of information technology.
Interferon beta-induced restoration of regulatory T-cell function in multiple sclerosis is prompted by an increase in newly generated naive regulatory T cells.

BACKGROUND Naturally occurring regulatory T (T(reg)) cells are functionally impaired in patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis. We recently showed that prevalences of newly generated CD31-coexpressing naive T(reg) cells (recent thymic emigrant-T(reg) cells) are critical for suppressive function of circulating T(reg) cells, and a shift in the homeostatic composition of T(reg)-cell subsets related to a reduced de novo generation of recent thymic emigrant-T(reg) cells may contribute to the multiple sclerosis (MS)-related T(reg)-cell dysfunction. Interferon beta, an immunomodulatory agent with established efficacy in MS, lowers relapse rates and slows disease progression. Emerging evidence suggests that T(reg)-cell suppressive capacity may increase in patients with MS undergoing treatment with interferon beta, although the mechanisms mediating this effect are uncertain. OBJECTIVE To evaluate the effect of interferon beta treatment on the suppressive activity and the homeostasis of circulating T(reg) cells in patients with MS. PARTICIPANTS Twenty patients with relapsing-remitting MS and 18 healthy control subjects. INTERVENTIONS Administration of interferon beta. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Effect of interferon beta on T(reg)-cell homeostasis and suppressive capacity. RESULTS Suppressive capacities of T(reg) cells were consistently upregulated at 3 and 6 months after treatment with interferon beta. The restoration of T(reg)-cell function was paralleled by increased naive recent thymic emigrant-T(reg) cells and a coincidental reduction in memory T(reg) cells. CONCLUSION The increase in T(reg)-cell inhibitory capacity mediated by interferon beta treatment can be explained by its effect on the homeostatic balance within the T(reg) cell compartment.
Recurrence of hyperprolactinemia after withdrawal of dopamine agonists: systematic review and meta-analysis.

CONTEXT Dopamine agonists are the treatment of choice for prolactinomas and symptomatic idiopathic hyperprolactinemia. However, the optimal treatment strategy and treatment duration is not clear in all details. OBJECTIVE The aim of the study was to assess the effect of dopamine agonist withdrawal in patients with idiopathic hyperprolactinemia and prolactinomas. DATA SOURCES PubMed, the Cochrane Library, the Web of Science, and EMBASE were searched electronically. No restriction was made with respect to language. STUDY SELECTION Studies reporting the proportion of normoprolactinemic patients after withdrawal of dopamine agonist or studies in which this proportion could be calculated were eligible. Both observational studies and clinical trials were eligible. Nineteen studies were included in the meta-analysis, with a total of 743 patients. DATA EXTRACTION Data extraction was performed by two reviewers independently. DATA SYNTHESIS The pooled proportion of patients with persisting normoprolactinemia after dopamine agonist withdrawal was 21% in a random effects model [95% confidence interval (CI), 14-30%; I(2) 81%). Stratified analysis showed higher proportions of treatment success in idiopathic hyperprolactinemia (32%; 95% CI, 5-80%), compared with both microprolactinomas (21%; 95% CI, 10-37%), and macroprolactinomas (16%; 95% CI, 6-36%). In a random effects meta-regression adjusting for cause of hyperprolactinemia, a longer treatment duration was associated with treatment success (P = 0.015), whereas the use of cabergoline showed a trend of effect (P = 0.07). CONCLUSIONS This meta-analysis showed that hyperprolactinemia will recur after dopamine agonist withdrawal in a considerable proportion of patients. The probability of treatment success was highest when cabergoline was used for at least 2 yr.
Should children at risk for familial adenomatous polyposis be screened for hepatoblastoma and children with apparently sporadic hepatoblastoma be screened for APC germline mutations?

Hepatoblastoma (HB) is the most frequent liver tumor in childhood, occurring in the first few years of life. Surgery combined with chemotherapy has resulted in dramatic improvements in prognosis. However, even today, about one quarter of affected children do not survive the disease. Compared to the general population, the risk of HB is 750–7,500 times higher in children predisposed to familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP), an autosomal‐dominant cancer predispostion syndrome caused by germline mutations in the tumor suppressor gene APC. Only limited data exist about the frequency of APC germline mutations in cases of apparently sporadic HB without a family history of FAP.
Growth in solid heterogeneous human colon adenocarcinomas: comparison of simple logistical models

Abstract. Three models of simple logistical growth were used to describe volumetric growth in heterogeneous tumours. Two clonal subpopulations (designated as clone A and clone D) originally obtained from a human colon adenocarcinoma were used to produce solid xenograft tumours in nude mice. Volumetric growth of tumours produced from pure cells alone was compared to that produced from 50% A:50% D, 88% A:12% D, and 9% A:91% D admixtures. Gompertzian analysis of the in vivo growth data indicated significant differences in both the initial growth rates and final asymptotic limiting volumes of the pure versus the admixed tumours. Verhulstian and modified Verhulstian models were also used to derive regression curves from the same data. The fit of the curves was compared with each other using standard (Akaike, 1974; Schwartz, 1978) information criteria. In four of the five tumour populations the Gompertz equation fitted best. Only in the 88% A:12% D tumours did the modified Verhulst model fit best. The deviations from the regression curves, the residuals, for all three models were systematically distributed. These systematic errors are likely to be the result of using simplified logistical models to describe the growth kinetics of interacting populations in heterogeneous tumours.
Efficacy of simvastatin in reducing postoperative adhesions after thyroidectomy: an experimental study

Abstract Background: We aimed to investigate whether simvastatin had any impact on the prevention of adhesion formation after thyroidectomy in a rat model. Methods: This study was performed in 66 Wistar albino rats randomized into three experimental groups. A right hemithyroidectomy was carried out in all the rats. Simvastatin was administered locally at a dose of 0.5 mg/kg and 0.8 mg/kg. Control rats received a saline solution only. Changes during the 1st week, 1st month and 3rd month were evaluated. Efficacy of the treatment was assessed by using a scoring system. Results: The severity of adhesions in low-dose simvastatin group was significantly less than the control and high-dose groups during the 1st and 3rd month (p < .05). In addition, adhesions were less in the high dose group during the 3rd month, when compared to the control group (p < .05). Moreover, fibrosis and fibroblast scores, which represent adhesions, were significantly lower in low-dose and high-dose groups at 3rd month, compared to controls (p < .05). Conclusions: We investigated the influence of simvastatin application on post-thyroidectomy adhesion formation in rats. Whether adhesions, causing technical difficulties during neck redo surgery, can be reduced by the use of simvastatin in human, needs to be studied.
Post-Transplant Malignancy in Liver Transplantation

AbstractWe aim to determine the incidence of malignancy after liver transplantation (LT) compared to general population.The records of patients who received LTs at our center from October 1989 and November 2012 were retrospectively reviewed. The standardized incidence ratio (SIR) of cancer in the patients was compared to general population using the data from the Taiwan Cancer Registry. Survival was estimated using the Kaplan–Meier method.A total of 444 patients were included. Malignancy was found in 46 (28 de novo and 19 recurrent malignancies) patients (10.4%) with the median follow up of 4.2 ± 4.2 years. The median time of cancer occurrence after transplant was 1.2 ± 1.9 years (range, 0.2–9.1 years). Post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorder was the most frequent de novo malignancy (57.1% [16/28]). The cumulative incidence rates of all malignancies were 5.1%, 10.4%, 12.8%, 15.8%, and 15.8% at 1, 3, 5, 10, and 15 years, respectively. The cumulative incidence rates of de novo malignancies were 3.4%, 5.97%, 7.7%, 10.9%, and 10.9 % at 1, 3, 5, 10, and 15 years. Compared to general population, transplant recipients had significantly higher incidence of all de novo cancers (SIR: 3.26, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 2.17–4.72), hematologic (SIR: 58.4; 95% CI, 33.3–94.8), and bladder (SIR: 10.2, 95% CI: 1.1–36.7) cancers. The estimated mean survivals after transplantation in cancer-free, de novo cancer, and recurrent cancer patients were 17.7 ± 0.5, 11.3 ± 1.2, and 3.6 ± 0.6 years, respectively.There is a significantly increased risk of malignancies after LT in the Taiwanese population.
The cannabinoid R(+)methanandamide induces IL-6 secretion by prostate cancer PC3 cells

In the present study, we have investigated the effect of the cannabinoid R(+)methanandamide (MET) in the androgen-resistant prostate cancer PC3 cells. MET induced a dose-dependent decrease in PC3 cell viability as well as a dose-dependent increase in the secretion of the cytokine IL-6. Looking deeper into the mechanisms involved, we found that MET-induced de novo synthesis of the lipid mediator ceramide that was blocked by the ceramide synthase inhibitor Fumonisin B1. Pre-incubation of cells with the cannabinoid receptor CB2 antagonist SR 144528 (SR2), but not the CB1 antagonist Rimonabant or the TRPV1 antagonist capsazepine, partially prevented the anti-proliferative effect, the ceramide accumulation, and the IL-6-induced secretion, suggesting a CB2 receptor-dependent mechanism. Fumonisin B1 did not have any effect in the IL-6 secretion increase induced by MET. However, even an incomplete down-regulation of (i.e., not a total silencing of) ceramide kinase expression by specific siRNA prevented the MET-induced IL-6 secretion. These results suggest that MET regulates ceramide metabolism in prostate PC3 cells which is involved in cell death as well as in IL-6 secretion. Our findings also suggest that CB2 agonists may offer a novel approach in the treatment of prostate cancer by decreasing cancer epithelial cell proliferation. However, the interaction of prostate cancer cells with their surrounding, and in particular with the immune system in vivo, needs to be further explored.
TREM2 variant p.R47H as a risk factor for sporadic amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.

IMPORTANCE Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a fatal neurodegenerative disease in which microglia play a significant and active role. Recently, a rare missense variant (p.R47H) in the microglial activating gene TREM2 was found to increase the risk of several neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer disease. Whether the p.R47H variant is a risk factor for ALS is not known. OBJECTIVES To determine whether p.R47H (rs75932628) in TREM2 is a risk factor for ALS and assess whether TREM2 expression is dysregulated in disease. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS Samples of DNA from 923 individuals with sporadic ALS and 1854 healthy control individuals self-reported as non-Hispanic white were collected from ALS clinics in the United States and genotyped for the p.R47H variant in TREM2. Clinical data were obtained on ALS participants for genotype/phenotype correlations. Expression of TREM2 was measured by quantitative polymerase chain reaction and compared in spinal cord samples from 18 autopsied patients with ALS and 12 neurologically healthy controls, as well as from wild-type and transgenic SOD1G93A mice. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES Minor allele frequency of rs75932628 and relative expression of TREM2. RESULTS The TREM2 variant p.R47H was more common in patients with ALS than in the controls and is therefore a significant risk factor for ALS (odds ratio, 2.40; 95% CI, 1.29-4.15; P = 4.1×10-3). Furthermore, TREM2 expression was increased in spinal cord samples from ALS patients and SOD1G93A mice (P = 2.8×10-4 and P = 2.8×10-9, respectively), confirming dysregulated TREM2 in disease. Expression of TREM2 in the human spinal cord was negatively correlated with survival (P = .04) but not with other phenotypic aspects of disease. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE This study demonstrates that the TREM2 p.R47H variant is a potent risk factor for sporadic ALS. To our knowledge, these findings identify the first genetic influence on neuroinflammation in ALS and highlight the TREM2 signaling pathway as a therapeutic target in ALS and other neurodegenerative diseases.
Design and analysis of ultra wide band planar monopole antenna

A novel two layered UWB antenna is proposed and designed to resonate at the full range of UWB frequencies' spectrums from 3.1 GHz up to 10.6 GHz, well below -14.0dB reference levels of return loss. The size of the UWB antenna is small, with width of 31.0 mm and length of 25.0 mm, and the two layers of FR4 board thickness are 0.5 mm (top layer) and 1.6 mm (bottom layer). The antenna radiates omni-directionally with different intensities at different directivities within the UWB frequency spectrums. The dual layered configuration gives the antenna additional options of being integrated with additional structures in order to perform a band rejection of a certain targeted band of frequencies, if required. The UWB antenna has also been fabricated using the same dimensions on a single layer 1.6 mm thick FR4 board and it still gives similar excellent performance.
Selective decrease in the rate of cleavage of an intracellular precursor to Rauscher leukemia virus p30 by treatment of infected cells with actinomycin D

The cleavage of an intracellular 67,000- to 70,000-dalton precursor, termed Pr4 to Rauscher leukemia virus (RLV) p30 protein proceeded at a slower rate when virus-producing cells were treated with actinomycin D (AMD). Treatment with AMD also caused a slight accumulation of Pr4 in purified early virus particles produced by a cell line which usually produces virions that contain little Pr4. The cleavage of other intracellular viral precursor polypeptides was not affected by treatment with AMD. Treatment of infected cells with cycloheximide, on the other hand, allowed the cleavage of Pr4 to proceed at the usual rate for a short period of time before further cleavage was drastically slowed or prevented. The cleavage of several other viral precursor polypeptides was also inhibited by treatment with cycloheximide. Different lines of evidence suggest that the mechanism of action of AMD is not due to a possible indirect effect on protein synthesis. Thus, the rate of cleavage of Pr4 was not affected by the length of pretreatment with AMD between 1 to 8 h. In addition, the combined effect of AMD and cycloheximide, at their maximal inhibitory concentrations, was greater than the effect of either drug alone, indicating the involvement of two at least partially different mechanisms in the action of AMD and cycloheximide. Furthermore, AMD did not affect the pulse labeling of viral precursor polypeptides. These results suggest that the interaction with viral RNA, whose production is inhibited by AMD, accelerates the cleavage of Pr4 to p30 during virus assembly. A hypothetical model is presented to illustrate th possible advantages of having a step in virus assembly in which genomic RNA interacts with a precursor to capsid proteins before the cleavage of that precursor.
OBS Simulation Tools: A Comparative Study

Regarding network performance, simulators are the most frequently used instrument, in comparison with analytical tools and in situ measurements. Optical Burst Switching (OBS) is a new paradigm where the use of modeling and simulation tools is very important. This paper studies and compares the four most relevant simulators used in scientific and academic research to model OBS networks (Network Simulator 2 (ns-2), OBS-ns Simulator, NCTUns, and OBSsimulator). The study can be used either to assist choosing the most adequate simulator for a particular scenario or to help improving the existing ones (or even create a new simulator from scratch). It's important to identify the parameters and protocols not supported (or implemented) whose performance analysis on OBS networks is critical and needs to be studied. Available simulators have several limitations because either they are not appropriate because they are based on packet traffic instead of burst traffic, or make simplistic assumptions not taking into account all of the resource reservation protocols and parameters that can influence the overall OBS network performance. We conclude that, based on the objectives of a user, this paper furnish the guidelines helping to the best choice taking into account the available simulation tools for OBS networks.
Simulation of Electromagnetic Waves in the Magnetized Cold Plasma by a DGFETD Method

The properties of electromagnetic waves propagating in magnetized plasma slabs and scattering from plasma coated spheres are investigated using the discontinuous Galerkin finite-element time-domain (DGFETD) method. The magnetized plasma is a kind of gyroelectric anisotropic dispersive medium. This anisotropy must be described by an electric permittivity tensor with both nonzero diagonal and off-diagonal elements. Instead of doing the convolution directly in the time domain, an auxiliary differential equations (ADE) method is employed to represent the constitutive relation. The algorithm is validated by studying the transmission characteristics via electron-composed plasma slabs and radar cross section (RCS) of plasma-coated spheres. All numerical results demonstrate very good agreements with exact solutions and comply with the plasma physics.
[Association between BRAF V600E mutation and central lymph node metastasis in patients with papillary thyroid carcinoma].

OBJECTIVE To investigate the association of concomitant BRAFV600E mutation with central lymph node metastases in papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC). METHODS The clinicopathological data of 126 PTC patients who underwent surgical treatment within a period of 2 years were retrospectively analyzed. The BRAF V600E gene mutation was detected by quantitative fluorescence PCR. RESULTS The BRAF mutation rate was 69.0% (87/126). The univariate analysis showed that BRAF mutation status was significantly associated with central lymph node metastasis (P<0.05), while the gender, multiple lesions, tumor size, extra-thyroidal invasion, Hashimoto's thyroiditis and tumor stage were not significantly associated with the BRAF mutation (P>0.05 for all). The multivariate analysis showed that only central lymph node metastasis was significantly correlated with BRAF mutation (P<0.05). When the diameter of tumor was ≤10 mm, BRAF mutation was statistically not significantly correlated to central lymph node metastasis (P>0.05). When the diameter of tumor was >10 mm, the central lymph node metastasis rate was significantly higher in patients with positive BRAF mutation than that in patients with a negative BRAF mutation (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS The presence of BRAF mutation is an independent predictive factor for central lymph node metastasis. When PTC is with preoperative positive BRAF mutation, the cervical dissection should be routinely performed. The larger the tumor diameter is, the more important is the central lymph node dissection. There should be re-evaluated the necessity of preventative central lymph node dissection when the tumor diameter was ≤5 mm in patients with negative BRAF mutation.
Effect of copper sulphate and lead nitrate, administered alone or in combination, on the histology of liver and kidney of Labeo rohita.

The aim of this study was to assess the effect of acute doses of copper sulphate and lead nitrate, administered alone or in combination on the histology of liver and kidney of Labeo rohita . The 96h LC 50 values for copper sulphate (CuSO 4.5H 2O) and lead nitrate (Pb(NO 3)2) were found to be 3.15 mg L -1 and 6.80 mg L -1 respectively. In this study, four groups, one control and three experimentals, each of 40 fingerlings of L. rohita were used. One treatment group was exposed to 3.15 mg L -1 of CuSO 4.5H 2O, the second to 6.80 mg L -1 of Pb(NO 3)2, the third was, exposed to mixture of 1.575 mg L -1 of CuSO4.5H 2O. + 3.40 mg L -1 of Pb(NO 3)2, whereas, the fourth group did not receive any metal treatment. Exposure of toxicants caused fatty change, karyopyknosis, nuclear vacuolization and cytoplasmic collapse in liver of all experimental groups. Congestion of blood vessel, liquefactive necrosis of first and second proximal segment, and irregularity in interstitial haematopoietic tissue were observed in kidney of all experimental animals. In addition to these, the extravasation of blood from blood vessel, coagulative necrosis of first and second proximal segments and irregular blood congestion, and tubular necrosis were also observed in E-3 group. These findings classify CuSO 4.5H 2O and Pb(NO 3)2 as strong toxic agents for L. rohita .