Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The key performance indicators of projection-based light field visualization

ABSTRACT At the time of writing this paper, light field visualization has entered the professional environments in the industry and has also become commercially available. It is not yet present on the consumer market, however, and its widespread emergence is expected in the following decade, with affordable end user devices and a vast variety of applications and contents. The successful integration of this technology into people’s everyday lives essentially depends on the visualization quality, which is achieved through excellence in terms of the key performance indicators of the display system and the content it visualizes. In this paper, the key performance indicators of light field visualization for both display and content are reviewed. Beyond providing a comprehensive review of the vital parameters of visualization quality, this paper discusses the ongoing and future relevant research efforts, demonstrates the practical uses of the technology, highlights certain dependencies between the indicators, and addresses issues of perceived quality with regard to the lack of compliance with the requirements and visual thresholds.
Endoscopic vs. Microscopic Resection of Sellar Lesions—A Matched Analysis of Clinical and Socioeconomic Outcomes

Background Direct comparisons of microscopic and endoscopic resection of sellar lesions are scarce, with conflicting reports of cost and clinical outcome advantages. Objective To determine if the proposed benefits of endoscopic resection are realized on a population level. Methods We performed a matched cohort study of 9,670 adult patients in the MarketScan database who underwent either endoscopic or microscopic surgery for sellar lesions. Coarsened matching was applied to estimate the effects of surgical approach on complication rates, length of stay (LOS), costs, and likelihood of postoperative radiation. Results We found that LOS, readmission, and revision rates did not differ significantly between approaches. The overall complication rate was higher for endoscopy (47% compared to 39%, OR 1.37, 95% CI 1.22–1.53). Endoscopic approach was associated with greater risk of neurological complications (OR 1.32, 95% CI 1.11–1.55), diabetes insipidus (OR 1.65, 95% CI 1.37–2.00), and cerebrospinal fluid rhinorrhea (OR 1.83, 95% CI 1.07–3.13) compared to the microscopic approach. Although the total index payment was higher for patients receiving endoscopic resection ($32,959 compared to $29,977 for microscopic resection), there was no difference in long-term payments. Endoscopic surgery was associated with decreased likelihood of receiving post-resection stereotactic radiosurgery (OR 0.67, 95% CI 0.49–0.90) and intensity-modulated radiation therapy (OR 0.78, 95% CI 0.65–0.93). Conclusion Our results suggest that the transition from a microscopic to endoscopic approach to sellar lesions must be subject to careful evaluation. Although there are evident advantages to transsphenoidal endoscopy, our analysis suggests that the benefits of the endoscopic approach are yet to be materialized.
Distribution of Antioxidant Enzymes in Developing Human Lung, Respiratory Distress Syndrome, and Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia

We studied cell-specific protein expression of all the major antioxidant enzymes (AOEs) and related proteins, such as copper-zinc superoxide dismutase (CuZnSOD), manganese SOD (MnSOD), extracellular SOD (ECSOD), catalase, the heavy and light chains of γ-glutamylcysteine synthetase (γ-GCS-l and γ-GCS-h, also called glutamate cysteine ligase), the rate-limiting enzyme in glutathione synthesis, hemeoxygenase-1 (HO-1), and thioredoxin (Trx), in developing human lung, respiratory distress syndrome, and bronchopulmonary dysplasia by immunohistochemistry. Generally, after 17 weeks of gestational age, MnSOD was predominantly expressed in bronchial epithelium, alveolar epithelium, and macrophages, CuZnSOD was expressed in bronchial epithelium, ECSOD was expressed in bronchial epithelium, vascular endothelium, and the extracellular matrix, catalase was expressed in bronchial epithelium and alveolar macrophages, γ-GCS-h was expressed in bronchial epithelium and endothelium, and γ-GCS-l was expressed in bronchial epithelium. Trx was restricted to bronchial epithelium and to a lesser extent to alveolar macrophages, and HO-1 found in alveolar macrophages. Basically, the expression of these enzymes was similar in normal and diseased lung. It can be concluded that various AOEs and related proteins differ in their distribution and expression in lung before term, but generally it seems that infants are better adapted to high oxygen tension than might be expected.
Does single versus stepped curing of composite resins affect their shear bond strength?

BACKGROUND Shrinkage occurs during polymerization of all resin composites, affecting not only the physical properties of the composites but also the marginal integrity of the restoration. Stepped photo-polymerization, in contrast to single-cure photo-polymerization, is said to minimize this shrinkage. The thickness of the increments of resin composite being cured may also be a factor in final shear bond strength. This study compared the shear bond strength resulting from these two curing methods with resin composites of various thicknesses. METHODS Resin composite in increments of 1.5, 3 and 4.5 mm thickness, cured by stepped or single-cure photo-polymerization, was bonded to human third molar dentin with either the Scotchbond Multipurpose adhesive system or the Singlebond adhesive system. Each experimental group consisted of 12 specimens. After 7 days of storage in water, shear bond strength was tested to failure, and the mode of failure was recorded. RESULTS The thickness of the resin composite and the method of curing had no significant effect on shear bond strength for bonds mediated by Scotchbond Multipurpose adhesive, but significantly lower shear bond strength was recorded for bonds mediated by Singlebond adhesive for resin composite 4.5 mm in thickness. With thicker resin composite, there was a tendency toward a greater proportion of adhesive cohesive bond failures. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE The stepped photo-polymerization system of curing appears to offer no advantages over single-cure photo-polymerization, except that the former reportedly improves marginal adaptation and reduces marginal leakage. These results suggest that increments of resin composite to be cured by either method should be no thicker than 2 mm, particularly when the bond is mediated by a single-bottle adhesive.
Hand Pose Learning: Combining Deep Learning and Hierarchical Refinement for 3D Hand Pose Estimation

Hand Pose Estimation aims to predict the position of joints on a hand from an image. This problem is pretty challenging since a hand can perform a variety of poses and tends to cause self-occlusion easily. This paper proposes a hybrid method of training a deep learning model and hierarchical refinement for hand pose estimation in a 3D space using depth images. First, we design a so-called skeleton-difference layer that can allow a convolutional neural network (CNN) training process to effectively learn the shape as well as physical constraints of a hand. Secondly, we employ a refinement method that is capable of hierarchically regressing a hand pose with an energy function. In the experiments we have conducted, the results validate the robustness and the performance of our system, and show that our method is able to predict the joints more accurately. Such appealing results may be attributed to consideration of physical joint relationship, which in turn makes the estimated hand poses quite natural and complete.
Congenital pancytopenia and absence of B lymphocytes in a neonate with a mutation in the ikaros gene

Congenital pancytopenia is a rare and often lethal condition. Current knowledge of lymphoid and hematopoietic development in mice, as well as understanding regulators of human hematopoiesis, have led to the recent discovery of genetic causes of bone marrow failure disorders. However, in the absence of mutations of specific genes or a distinct clinical phenotype, many cases of aplastic anemia are labeled as idiopathic, while congenital immune deficiencies are described as combined immune deficiency.
Survivin-directed RNA interference cocktail is a potent suppressor of tumour growth in vivo

Background: Survivin is proposed to play a central role in the progression and resistance to therapy of diverse tumour types. High levels of this molecule in tumour cells also correlate with loss of the TP53 tumour suppressor gene, suggesting a molecular connection between TP53 loss and transcriptional induction of Survivin. Patients with TP53 germline mutations, such as those with Li-Fraumeni syndrome, are particularly susceptible to sarcomas, including rhabdomyosarcomas. Our study aimed to identify rhabdomyosarcoma tumours that express Survivin, in order to test novel Survivin-targeted therapies in these tumours. Methods: Tumour microarray slides composed of 63 primary rhabdomyosarcoma tumours were stained with a polyclonal antibody to Survivin to identify tumours expressing Survivin. Subcutaneous tumours were then established in NOD/SCID mice using RH30red cells, a red fluorescent clone of the RH30 human alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma cell line. Tumours were treated by hydrodynamic injection with a cocktail of Survivin-shRNA-encoding plasmids for a period of 2 weeks. Results: Over 80% of primary rhabdomyosarcoma tumours expressed Survivin. Treatment of rhabdomyosarcoma xenografts showed greater than 70% reduction in growth when compared with control injected tumours at study completion (average tumour sizes: 1683 v 304 mm3, p<0.05). Conclusions: Our findings support a role for Survivin in rhabdomyosarcoma biology and provide preliminary evidence for the therapeutic use of Survivin-targeted RNA interference for human tumours that express high levels of this molecule.
Accuracy of whole-body dual-modality fluorine-18-2-fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose positron emission tomography and computed tomography (FDG-PET/CT) for tumor staging in solid tumors: comparison with CT and PET.

PURPOSE To assess the accuracy of positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) when staging different malignant diseases. PATIENTS AND METHODS This was a retrospective, blinded, investigator-initiated study of 260 patients with various oncological diseases who underwent fluorine-18-2-fluoro-2-deoxy-d-glucose PET/CT for tumor staging. CT images alone, PET images alone, PET + CT data viewed side by side, and fused PET/CT images were evaluated separately according to the tumor-node-metastasis system. One hundred forty patients with tumors not staged according to the tumor-node-metastasis system or a lack of reference standard were excluded from data analysis; 260 patients were included. Diagnostic accuracies were determined for each of the four image sets. Histopathology and a clinical follow-up of 311 (+/- 125) days served as standards of reference. RESULTS PET/CT proved significantly more accurate in assessing tumor-node-metastasis system stage compared with CT alone, PET alone, and side-by-side PET + CT (P < .0001). Of 260 patients, 218 (84%; 95% CI, 79% to 88%) were correctly staged with PET/CT, 197 (76%; 95% CI, 70% to 81%) with side-by-side PET + CT, 163 (63%; 95% CI, 57% to 69%) with CT alone, and 166 (64%; 95% CI, 58% to 70%) with PET alone. Combined PET/CT had an impact on the treatment plan in 16, 39, and 43 patients when compared with PET + CT, CT alone, and PET alone, respectively. CONCLUSION Tumor staging with PET/CT is significantly more accurate than CT alone, PET alone, and side-by-side PET + CT. This diagnostic advantage translates into treatment plan changes in a substantial number of patients.
Evaluation and comparison of composite and split-thickness skin grafts using cutometer mpa 580.

BACKGROUND In our preliminary experiments we found that composite skin grafts consisting of allogeneic acellular dermis and thin epidermal autologous grafts applied to the excised burn wound in one stage led to better results in terms of viscoelastic properties than autologous split-thickness skin grafts. PATIENTS AND METHODS In ten burn patients we applied composite skin grafts consisting of allogeneic acellular dermis and thin epidermal autologous grafts and followed the quality of the reconstructed skin cover with a special device, Cutometer MPA 580, over a period of four years. RESULTS The cutometric curves demonstrated better viscoelastic properties in composite skin grafts than in conventional split-thickness skin grafts after four years. We found Cutometer MPA 580 to be an advantageous device for the objectification of improved quality of reconstructed skin cover. DISCUSSION Among the various methods the cutometer showed the advantage of being a non-invasive, precise, and objective method of measuring skin's viscoelastic properties. The Vancouver Scar Score is a subjective evaluation of skin viscoelasticity. CONCLUSION Our prospective clinical study clearly demonstrated that cutometric measurement produced objective results in contrast to clinical evaluation, the Vancouver Scar Score, and other non-quantitative methods. Our hypothesis that composite skin grafts consisting of allogeneic acellular dermis and thin epidermal autologous grafts applied onto the excised burn wound in one stage led to better results in terms of viscoelastic properties than autologous split-thickness skin grafts was fully confirmed.
Effects of Imagery-Eliciting Strategies on Imagery Processing, Memory, Beliefs, Attitudes, and Intentions From Print Advertisements.

The dissertation research examined four research questions. First, the question of w hether or not imagery processing could be m easured was addressed. It w as assum ed that mental imagery does exist and can be measured in three dimensions: quality, quantity, and elaboration. Support for this assumption is provided by the psychometric properties of the scale developed to m easure Imagery processing in concert with the support toward nomological validity of the construct that w as provided by applying the scale in an experiment. Second, antecedents to mental imagery were examined, namely, the imagery-eliciting strategies of pictures and instructions to imagine, and their effects on consequence variables of memory, beliefs, attitudes, and intentions. A range of pictures was examined instead of simple pictures versus words. Also, it w as shown that Including instructions to imagine within m essage stimuli was more effective than not including instructions to imagine within m essage stimuli for several consequence variables studied. Pictures included in a print advertisement enhanced brand attitudes; more specifically, concrete pictures resulted in greater brand attitudes than either abstract or no pictures. More positive attitudes toward the advertisement were evident from concrete pictures as opposed to abstract pictures. Instructions to imagine enhanced inferred beliefs and attitudes. Third, the moderating role of processing preference on relationships between imageryeliciting strategies and consequence variables and between imagery-eliciting strategies and dimensions of imagery processing was examined. This hypothesis was not supported. Fourth, the mediating role of imagery processing on relationships found between imagery-eliciting strategies and consequence variables w as examined. When the mediating role of imagery processing, specifically elaboration and quality, w as examined, relationships between imagery-eliciting strategies and consequence variables were completely or partially explained by those dimensions. Thus, further understanding of the effects of imagery-eliciting strategies in apictures. Instructions to imagine enhanced inferred beliefs and attitudes. Third, the moderating role of processing preference on relationships between imageryeliciting strategies and consequence variables and between imagery-eliciting strategies and dimensions of imagery processing was examined. This hypothesis was not supported. Fourth, the mediating role of imagery processing on relationships found between imagery-eliciting strategies and consequence variables w as examined. When the mediating role of imagery processing, specifically elaboration and quality, w as examined, relationships between imagery-eliciting strategies and consequence variables were completely or partially explained by those dimensions. Thus, further understanding of the effects of imagery-eliciting strategies in a print advertising context is provided.
Evidence for two classes of chromatin-associated Epstein-Barr virus-determined nuclear antigen

A new class of Epstein-Barr virus nuclear antigen (EBNA) was identified by the complement fixation assay. This new species of EBNA is more tightly bound to chromatin and was termed class II EBNA, as opposed to the more weakly associated species, class I EBNA. Preparations of this new antigen(s) specifically reduced absorption with the titer of anti-EBNA antibodies as determined by the anticomplement immunofluorescence assay. Therefore, the complement fixation antigens (class II EBNA) appear to be related to the classical EBNA (class I EBNA). The class I EBNA was found to focus at the same pH (4.6) as the soluble antigen found in the cytosol. The class II EBNA differed from the class I EBNA with regard to its overall charge, molecular size, antigenicity, and affinity for chromatin. The class II EBNA appeared to be a basic protein, based on its apparent pI of 9.2 and its binding to cation-exchange resins. It differed from histones with regard to its molecular size (molecular weight between 60,000 and 70,000) and its elution from hydroxylapatite chromatography. Steps were taken to prevent proteolysis and artifacts in the immunological assays and in the overall charge estimation of the new antigen by nonspecific basic histone protein-acidic protein interactions. Both class I and class II EBNA were identified by radioimmunoelectrophoresis on two-dimensional polyacrylamide gels with pI values of 5.0 and 8.5, respectively, and a molecular weight range of 60,000 to 70,000 for both. A lower-molecular-weight antigen identified by molecular sieve chromatography appeared to be due to interference by histones in the immunoassays since it was not observed by the two-dimensional gel electrophoresis. Further characterization of this class II EBNA is in progress.
Active Versus Passive Investing I: The South African Experience

Abstract The two investment strategies, active and passive (index) investing, are evaluated by comparing the average performance of actively managed funds in the general equity category of the South African unit trust sector with its benchmark, the ALSI index. Various comparative methodologies are followed in the analysis and cover the period 1988-2003. When the upfront costs applicable to the active funds are excluded it is found that active funds on average outperform the index benchmark. However, when including these costs the index outperforms the average of active fund returns. Similarly, on a risk-adjusted basis the index benchmark fares better than the average of actively managed funds.
The complete mitogenome of the Roman snail Helix pomatia Linnaeus 1758 (Stylommatophora: Helicidae)

Abstract This study reports the complete mitochondrial sequence of the Roman snail, one of the largest terrestrial snails of Europe. Two specimens of Helix pomatia were sequenced, which had a sequence length of 14,070 and 14,072 base pairs. The mitogenome has the common metazoan makeup (13 protein-coding genes, two ribosomal RNAs, and 21 transfer RNAs) and the ‘typical’ Helicid gene order (Cytochrome Oxidase subunit III and tRNA-T translocated compared to other Helicoidea). All protein coding genes could be annotated with proper start and stop codons (no completion of stop codons by polyadenylation). The specimens have a sequence similarity of 99.0% (146 differences) and the average base composition is 29.7% A, 15.0% C, 17.9% G, and 37.4% T. Phylogenetic anlyses with available Helicid mitogenomes show Helicinae as monophyly and H. pomatia as the sister-group of (Cepaea nemoralis, Theba pisana, and Cornu aspersum).
Isolation of rsp-1, a novel cDNA capable of suppressing v-Ras transformation

Using an expression cloning assay, we have isolated a novel cDNA, referred to as rsp-1, which suppresses the v-Ras-transformed phenotype. When introduced into NIH 3T3 fibroblasts under the control of a metallothionein promoter, rsp-1 confers resistance to v-Ras, but not to v-Mos or v-Src, and inhibits growth of the cells. The rsp-1 cDNA contains a 831-bp open reading frame encoding a 277-amino-acid leucine-rich protein. The rsp-1 cDNA exhibits no significant homology to sequences in the DNA data bases. However, searches of the protein data bases revealed that it contains a series of leucine-based repeats which are homologous to the leucine repeats found in the regulatory region of the yeast adenylyl cyclase. rsp-1 specific RNA is detectable in a wide variety of cell lines and tissues, and the gene is conserved among eukaryotic species. These data suggest that rsp-1 plays a role in Ras signal transduction.
A refined aquatic ecological risk assessment for a pyrethroid insecticide used for adult mosquito management

The use of pyrethroid insecticides has increased substantially throughout the world over the past few decades as the use of organophorous, carbamate, and organochlorine insecticides is being phased out. Pyrethroids are the most common class of insecticides for ultralow‐volume (ULV) aerosol applications used to manage high densities of adult mosquitoes. Pyrethroids are highly toxic to nontarget organisms such as certain aquatic organisms, and there have been concerns about the effect of applications of ULV insecticides on these organisms. To address the uncertainties associated with the risks of ULV applications and the contradictory findings of other ecological risk assessments, the authors performed a probabilistic aquatic ecological risk assessment for permethrin using actual environmental deposition on surfaces to estimate permethrin concentrations in water. The present study is the first ecological risk assessment for pyrethroids to quantitatively integrate the reduction in bioavailability resulting from the presence of dissolved organic matter. As part of the risk assessment, the authors incorporated a species sensitivity distribution to take into account the differences in toxicity for different species. The 95th percentile estimated concentration would result in less than 0.0001% of the potentially affected fraction of species reaching the lethal concentration that kills 50% of a population. The results of the present study are supported by the weight of evidence that pyrethroids applied by ground‐based ULV equipment will not result in deleterious effects on aquatic organisms. Environ. Toxicol. Chem. 2013;32:948–953. © 2013 SETAC
Monetary Policy and Exchange Rate Interactions in a Small Open Economy

The transmission mechanisms of monetary policy in a small open economy like Norway are analysed through structural VARs, with special emphasis on the interdependence between monetary policy and exchange rate movements. By imposing a long-run neutrality restriction on the real exchange rate, thereby allowing the interest rate and the exchange rate to react simultaneously to news, I find considerable interdependence between monetary policy and the exchange rate. In particular, following a contractionary monetary policy shock, the real exchange rate immediately appreciates, after which it gradually depreciates back to the baseline. The results are found to be consistent with findings from an “event study”.