Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Accurate diagnosis of small cerebral aneurysms ≤5 mm in diameter with 3.0-T MR angiography.

PURPOSE To evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of three-dimensional (3D) time-of-flight (TOF) magnetic resonance (MR) angiography at 3.0 T in the detection of small cerebral aneurysms. MATERIALS AND METHODS The institutional review board approved the study protocol, and patients or qualifying family members provided informed consent. A total of 403 consecutive patients undergoing 3D TOF MR angiography and digital subtraction angiography (DSA) were prospectively enrolled. Small aneurysms were those 5 mm in diameter or smaller. DSA served as the reference standard. Three observers were blinded to clinical and DSA results, and they independently analyzed all 3D TOF MR angiographic data sets. Interobserver agreement was expressed in terms of Cohen κ value for categorical variables. Accuracy, sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), and negative predictive value (NPV) of 3D TOF MR angiography in the detection of cerebral aneurysms were determined by using patient-, aneurysm-, and location-based evaluations. RESULTS Of 403 patients, 273 aneurysms were detected with DSA in 230 patients. Patient-based evaluation with 3D TOF MR angiography at 3.0 T yielded an accuracy of 96%-97%, a sensitivity of 98.2%-98.7%, a specificity of 93.2% -94.8%, a PPV of 94.9%-96.2%, and an NPV of 97.6%-98.2% in the detection of cerebral aneurysms. Aneurysm-based evaluation yielded an accuracy of 96.4%-97.3%, a sensitivity of 98.5%-98.9%, a specificity of 93.2%-94.9%, a PPV of 95.7%-96.8%, and an NPV of 97.6%-98.2%. Aneurysm-location evaluations yielded similar results. CONCLUSION Three-dimensional TOF MR angiography is a noninvasive method that shows promising diagnostic accuracy in the detection of small cerebral aneurysms.
Auditory Alerts in Vehicles: Effects of Alert Characteristics and Ambient Noise Conditions on Perceived Meaning and Detectability

Two complementary studies were conducted. In Study 1 (categorical perception of alerts), a series of experiments examined the key parameters that result in listeners perceiving a given sound as an urgent warning versus other less urgent message categories. Initial perceptual sorting experiments identified the most significant parameters and subsequent driving simulator experiments confirmed and refined the findings. Study 1 found that four auditory characteristics accounted for most of the variance in classification of auditory alerts as urgent warnings. Sounds were classified as alarms over 90 percent of the time when they had a peak-to-total-time-ratio (ratio of the time that the sound is at full intensity to the entire pulse duration including onset and offset) of greater than or equal to . 7, an interburst interval of less than or equal to 125 ms, at least 3 harmonics, and a base frequency of greater than or equal to 1000 Hz. These results were observed initially in laboratory studies, and replicated during simulated driving. In Study 2 (warning perception in ambient noise environments), an experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of different in-vehicle ambient noise conditions on auditory signal detection and perception. Participants driving on a freeway experienced three ambient noise conditions (windows closed and no music, music playing, front windows open). Fifteen auditory alerts, presented at 65 or 75 decibels (A-weighted), occasionally occurred. Participants pressed a button as soon as they detected the sound, then provided ratings of the noticeability, urgency, and intended meaning of the sound. Study 2 found significant main effects for ambient noise condition and for alert sound for perceived noticeability, urgency, and response time to alert. Detection was impaired by the presence of music, and even more so with the front windows open. Even when auditory signals were heard, noise conditions modified their perceived urgency and meaning. There were also interactions between ambient noise condition and sound, indicating differences in how well sounds of similar loudness tolerated interference from noise.Results also demonstrate that the perceived urgency and meaning of auditory messages can change under noisier ambient conditions, and some features of more noise-resistant signals were suggested by the data. The findings of this research may help interface designers to create auditory signals that indicate the appropriate type and urgency of message.
Millimetre wave radiometers for medical diagnostics of human skin

A technique to measure the human skin emissivity in vivo is described for the frequency band 80–100 GHz. Emissivity measurements were performed on 60 participants, 35 males and 25 females, with ages ranging from 20 to 60 years. Results show that the emissivity of males is higher than that of females. The study suggests a trend in the emissivities with age and gender, which might be due to variations of skin thickness and water content. As non-contact screening is desirable in medical applications, passive millimeter-wave sensing could be a means of achieving this in the diagnosis of skin disease or damage, where the disease/damage alters the water content or the skin thickness.
Microbiology of semen specimens from males attending a fertility clinic

The relationship between semen quality, pyospermia and bacteriology was studied in 201 semen specimens from male patients attending a fertility clinic. Semen quality parameters were within normal limits in 115 (57%) patients, slightly reduced in 60 (30%), and 26 (13%) had findings indicating reduced fertility. Twelve patients (6%) had pyospermia. In 182 patients, 552 microorganisms were detected, including Enterobacteriaceae (2.8%), Gardnerella vaginalis (9.6%), Chlamydia trachomatis (1.6%), Mycoplasma genitalium (0.9%), and Ureaplasma urealyticum (11.8%). Semen quality was neither related to occurrence of microorganisms nor pyospermia. However, pyospermia was associated with simultaneous growth of Gardnerella vaginalis and Ureaplasma urealyticum. The exact nature of this association could not be ascertained, in as far as the males were not questioned about urethritis symptoms.
A learning process based on covariance matrix adaptation for morphological-linear perceptrons

The dilation-erosion-linear perceptron (DELP) is a morphological-linear model based on fundamentals of mathematical morphology (MM). Its design is a gradient-based learning process using ideas from the backpropagation (BP) algorithm. However, a drawback arises from the gradient estimation of morphological operators, because they are not differentiable of usual way. In this sense, this paper presents an evolutionary learning process, using the covariance matrix adaptation evolutionary strategy (CMAES), to design the DELP model. Furthermore, we conduct an experimental analysis using a relevant set of binary classification problems, and the obtained results are discussed and compared to results found using the DELP model with its classical learning process.
PENGARUH MOTIVASI KERJA, KOMPENSASI DAN PROMOSI JABATAN TERHADAP KEPUASAN KERJA KARYAWAN (STUDI PADA KANTOR WILAYAH DIREKTORAT JENDERAL PERBENDAHARAAN SULAWESI UTARA)

Sumber Daya Manusia merupakan faktor yang sangat penting, terutama bagi suatu organisasi atau perusahaan. Mengingat begitu pentingnya peranan Sumber Daya Manusia dalam suatu perusahaan, sudah sepatutnya jika suatu organisasi atau perusahaan memperhatikan aspek-aspek kerja yang berkaitan dengan Sumber Daya Manusia. Dalam meningkatkan kepuasan kerja karyawan berbagai cara dapat dilakukan misalnya, dengan melalui motivasi kerja, pemberian kompensasi yang layak dan promosi jabatan. Tujuan penelitian ini yaitu untuk mengetahui pengaruh motivasi kerja, kompensasi, dan promosi jabatan terhadap kepuasan kerja karyawan pada Kantor Wilayah Direktorat Jenderal Perbendaharaan Sulawesi Utara. Metode yang digunakan adalah analisis regresi linier berganda. Sampel yang digunakan sebanyak 74 karyawan dengan metode sampling jenuh. Hasil penelitian menunjukan motivasi kerja, kompensasi dan promosi jabatan secara simultan berpengaruh signifikan terhadap kepuasan kerja, secara parsial motivasi kerja berpengaruh secara tidak signifikan terhadap kepuasan kerja.
Modulation of Induced Gamma Band Responses in a Perceptual Learning Task in the Human EEG

Fragmented pictures of an object, which appear meaningless when seen for the first time, can easily be identified after the presentation of an unfragmented version of the same picture. The neuronal mechanism for such a rapid perceptual learning phenomenon is largely unknown. Recently, induced gamma band responses (GBRs) have been discussed as a possible physiological correlate of activity in cell assemblies formed by learning. The present study was designed to investigate the modulation of induced GBRs in a perceptual learning task by using a 128-channel EEG montage. In the first sequence of the experiment, fragmented pictures from the Snodgrass and Vandervart inventory were presented. The fragmentation of the pictures was selected that subjects were unable to identify them. In the second experimental sequence the perceptual learning sequence half of the pictures were displayed in their unfragmented version. In the third sequence, all pictures were presented again in the fragmented version. Now, subjects had to rate whether or not they could identify the images. Results showed an increase in spectral gamma power at parietal electrode sites for identified pictures. In addition, neural activity in the gamma band was highly synchronized between posterior electrodes. For pictures not presented in their complete version, we found no such pattern in the third sequence. From our results, we concluded that induced GBRs might represent a signature of synchronized neural activity in a Hebbian cell assembly, activated by the fragmented picture after perceptual learning took place. No difference between identified and unidentified pictures was found in the visual evoked potential in the same time range and in the evoked GBR in the same frequency range as the induced response.
Adaptive responses by mouse fetus to a maternal HLE diet by downregulating SREBP1: a microarray- and bio-analytic-based study[S]

Maternal diet has long been recognized as a significant factor affecting offspring development and health, but the target genes affected by a maternal high-lipid diet are currently unknown. In this study, the gene expression profile of neonatal mouse liver was analyzed using gene chips to identify genes with significant up- or downregulated expression levels due to maternal high-fat diet during gestation. Real-time PCR and Western blotting were used to measure key genes selected using microarray. Serum lipid, glucose, and insulin levels in adult offspring from dams fed with chow or a high-lipid diet were measured using commercial kits. Results indicate that the expression of genes involved in cholesterol and fatty acid synthesis were significantly inhibited, while the expression of genes involved in glycolysis were significantly decreased by maternal high-lipid diet during gestation. SREBP1 might be the key gene regulating genes involved in fatty acid, glucose, and cholesterol metabolism in response to a maternal high-fat diet.
Cell retention–chemostat studies of hybridoma cells—analysis of hybridoma growth and metabolism in continuous suspension culture in serum‐free medium

The steady‐state metabolic parameters for a hybridoma cell line have been determined in continuous suspension–perfusion culture over a wide range of perfusion rates and cell bleed rates. Significant increases in viable cell concentrations and volumetric productivities were achieved at high perfusion rates and low cell bleed rates. At the low growth rates examined in this study, cellular metabolism shifted to become more oxidative, and as a result, the fraction of consumed substrate converted to inhibitory metabolic by‐products was reduced. Specific antibody productivity was found to be non–growth associated. © 1993 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Hereditary hypophosphatemic rickets with hypercalciuria and nephrolithiasis—Identification of a novel SLC34A3/NaPi‐IIc mutation

Hereditary hypophosphatemic rickets with hypercalciuria (HHRH) is characterized by rickets, hyperphosphaturia, hypophosphatemia, elevated 1,25‐dihydroxyvitamin‐D, increased gastrointestinal calcium absorption and hypercalciuria. Serum calcium, 25‐hydroxyvitamin‐D and PTH levels are normal. Here we describe a boy with HHRH, nephrolithiasis, and compound heterozygosity for one previously described mutation (g.4225_50del) and a novel splice mutation (g.1226G>A) in SLC34A3, the gene encoding the renal sodium‐phosphate co‐transporter NaPi‐IIc. The patient's mother and grandmother are carriers of g. 4225_50del, and both have a history of nephrolithiasis associated with hypercalciuria and elevated 1,25‐dihydroxyvitamin‐D. His three siblings (2–6 years old), who are also carriers of g. 4225_50del, have hypercalciuria but so far their renal ultrasounds are normal. Thus, SLC34A3/NaPi‐IIc mutations appear to be associated with variable phenotypic changes at presentation, which can include recurrent nephrolithiasis. © 2011 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Derivative Use of Turkish Investment Funds During the 2008-09 Financial Crisis

This paper centers on the question of how derivatives were utilized by investment fund managers in the course of 2008-09 global financial crisis. In this vein, we analyze investment funds defined as mutual funds and investment trusts, by comparing them in terms of derivative use under three fund categories. With respect to 193 investment funds, our first categorization is ? investment objectives? and our results show that the 43.40 % (22.12%) [51.85%] of the funds invested in only equity (bonds) [both equity and bonds] used derivatives. Secondly, in terms of their ? legal structures? , we find that 56.67% of the closed-ended and 27.61% of the open-ended funds used derivatives. In the final category, i.e. ? fund-type? , it is observed that 51.89% (8.03%) of the A-type (B-type) funds used derivatives. We proceed with logit analysis in order to identify the relation between of fund characteristics and derivative use. We find for each category that the likelihood of derivative use increased as the turnover of funds escalated. Furthermore, we make univariate analyses to compare distributional parameters between derivative users and non-users. In terms of ? investment objectives? , users having bond-dominated portfolios had higher standard deviation, idiosyncratic risk and skewness, while those of non-users had higher beta and timing beta. For the structural categorization, users significantly had higher standard deviation, idiosyncratic risk and skewness and yet non-users had a higher beta and timing beta. In case of ? fund type? , non-users had a higher beta yet a lower kurtosis. Lastly, we apply regression analyses to test relation between risk change and fund? s previous performance. The empirical results indicate that there was a negative relationship, which was weaker for derivative users.
Technical report. The G2 chromosomal radiosensitivity assay

Although requiring stringent experimental conditions to achieve good reproducibility, the G2 assay has potential as a sensitive marker for cancer susceptibility, and is particularly useful in population studies. Immediate culture of blood is preferable, but overnight storage of blood either at ambient temperature or at 4 degrees C does not appear significantly to affect G2 scores. Transport of blood may lead to additional variability in assay results and should be well controlled. Although reproducibility is generally good, G2 scores on blood from certain individuals appear to show significant variability in repeat samples. Thus, determination of an individual's radiosensitivity may require multiple assays on different occasions. While it is recognized that the distinction between aligned and mis-aligned discontinuities has no scientific basis, some laboratories have decided for the purpose of record-keeping to score all aligned discontinuities as gaps, and mis-aligned discontinuities as breaks. In all cases the final G2 score should comprise the sum of all gaps and breaks.
Reversible developmental stasis in response to nutrient availability in the Xenopus laevis central nervous system

ABSTRACT Many organisms confront intermittent nutrient restriction (NR), but the mechanisms to cope with nutrient fluctuations during development are not well understood. This is particularly true of the brain, the development and function of which is energy intensive. Here we examine the effects of nutrient availability on visual system development in Xenopus laevis tadpoles. During the first week of development, tadpoles draw nutrients from maternally provided yolk. Upon yolk depletion, animals forage for food. By altering access to external nutrients after yolk depletion, we identified a period of reversible stasis during tadpole development. We demonstrate that NR results in developmental stasis characterized by a decrease in overall growth of the animals, a failure to progress through developmental stages, and a decrease in volume of the optic tectum. During NR, neural progenitors virtually cease proliferation, but tadpoles swim and behave normally. Introducing food after temporary NR increased neural progenitor cell proliferation more than 10-fold relative to NR tadpoles, and cell proliferation was comparable to that of fed counterparts 1 week after delayed feeding. Delayed feeding also rescued NR-induced body length and tectal volume deficits and partially rescued developmental progression defects. Tadpoles recover from developmental stasis if food is provided within the first 9 days of NR, after which access to food fails to increase cell proliferation. These results show that early stages of tadpole brain development are acutely sensitive to fluctuations in nutrient availability and that NR induces developmental stasis from which animals can recover if food becomes available within a critical window. Summary: With limited nutrients, developing Xenopus laevis tadpoles enter a week-long period of reversible stasis during which animals continue to move but growth and proliferation cease until food becomes available again.
Application of Electrophysiologic Techniques in Poor Outcome Prediction Among Patients With Severe Focal and Diffuse Ischemic Brain Injury

Objective To explore various electrophysiologic examinations as predictors for poor outcome in patients with severe ischemic brain injury, by comparing the prognostic ability of EEG, short-latency somatosensory evoked potentials (SLSEP), and brain stem auditory evoked potentials (BAEP). Methods EEG, SLSEP, and BAEP were recorded in 161 patients with severe ischemic brain injuries (Glasgow Coma Scale ⩽ 8), 77 with anoxic–ischemic encephalopathy after cardiopulmonary resuscitation, while 84 experienced massive hemispheric infarction at between 1 and 7 days after the onset. Outcomes were reviewed after 6 months using the Glasgow Outcome Scale. Results Six months after the onset, poor outcomes (Glasgow Outcome Scale, 1–2) were identified in 66 and 54 patients among the anoxic–ischemic encephalopathy and the massive hemispheric infarction group, respectively. By using the prognostic authenticity analysis of predictors, unfavorable EEG patterns, lack of EEG reactivity, pathologic N20 of SLSEP, and pathologic wave V of BAEP showed the high sensitivity (92.4%–97.0%, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 82.5%–99.5%), while bilateral absence of SLSEP N20 showed the highest specificity (100%, 95% CI: 67.9%–100%) and positive predictive value (100%, 95% CI: 90.4%–100%) in the anoxic–ischemic encephalopathy group. In the massive hemispheric infarction group, unfavorable EEG patterns showed the highest sensitivity (96.3%, 95% CI: 86.2%–99.4%) while bilateral absence of SLSEP N20 and BAEP wave V showed the highest specificity (100%, 95% CI: 85.9%–100%) and positive predictive value (100%, 95% CI: 80.8%–100%). Conclusions The predictive power of electrophysiologic examinations is different according to the etiology of ischemic brain injury. Short-latency somatosensory evoked potentials (N20) can be considered the most powerful method to predict poor outcome in anoxic–ischemic encephalopathy. Combination of EEG (unfavorable EEG patterns) and SLSEP (N20)/BAEP (wave V) is best suited in massive hemispheric infarction to predict poor outcome.
Peculiar glucagon processing in the intestine is the genesis of the paradoxical rise of serum pancreatic glucagon in patients after total pancreatectomy.

BACKGROUND/AIMS Although glucagon has been detected even in the serum of totally pancreatectomized patients and the origin was suggested to be the intestine, the kinetics of glucagon are not well known after pancreatectomy. In the present study, we investigated the kinetics of glucagon and glucagon-related peptides in pancreatectomy patients and discuss the glucagon processes. METHODOLOGY Ten patients who had undergone total pancreatoduodenectomy reconstruction using Billroth II type procedures (group PX) and 12 normal subjects (group C) were also enrolled in this study. All patients received a 75-g oral glucose tolerance test in the early morning fasting state. Serum glucagon levels were assessed using the glucagon specific C-terminal (immunoreactive glucagon: IRG) and nonspecific N-terminal (glucagon-like immunoreactivity: GLI) radioimmunoassays. The molecular forms of these glucagon-related peptides were also estimated using the gel filtration chromatography method before and after the oral glucose load. RESULTS After the glucose load, serum GLIs were increased significantly in group PX suggesting that these were affected by the alimentary tract reconstructions. Serum IRGs were significantly increased in group PX, but decreased in group C after oral glucose load suggesting that these paradoxical increased responses in group PX might be associated with the insulin secretion deficiencies, but not associated with the alimentary tract reconstruction. CONCLUSIONS The paradoxical rise in IRGs based on the findings of gel filtration chromatography in group PX were possibly due to the generated peculiar glicentin-like peptide from the glucagon precursor, preproglucagon, after total pancreatectomy, which might be processed in intestines in association with the insulin deficiencies.
Self‐reported Depressive Symptoms in Myasthenia Gravis

&NA; It is well known that patients with a chronic medical illness experience major depression at a higher rate than the general population. The purpose of this study was to determine the frequency of depression among patients with myasthenia gravis (MG) who were referred to a Muscular Dystrophy Association clinic. Forty‐five patients with a diagnosis of MG were evaluated with a self‐administered survey regarding various typical somatic and psychologic symptoms of depression (the Beck Depression Inventory [BDI]) and then scored according to the BDI guidelines. Thirty‐three percent of these patients generated scores suggestive of depression (24% were categorized as mildly depressed, 7% as moderately depressed, and 2% as severely depressed). These results suggest that patients with MG patients experience depression at a higher rate than the general population and at a similar rate as patients with other chronic illnesses.