Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Discrimination Between Brown and White Adipose Tissue Using a 2-Point Dixon Water–Fat Separation Method in Simultaneous PET/MRI

The purpose of the study was to evaluate signal-fat-fraction (SFF) analysis based on a 2-point-Dixon water–fat separation method in whole-body simultaneous PET/MR imaging for identifying brown adipose tissue (BAT) and discriminating it from white adipose tissue (WAT) using cross-validation via PET. Methods: This retrospective, internal review board–approved study evaluated 66 PET/MR imaging examinations of 33 pediatric patients (mean age, 14.7 y; range, 7.4–21.4 y). Eleven elderly patients were evaluated as controls (mean age, 79.9 y; range, 76.3–88.6 y). Pediatric patients were divided into 2 groups: with and without metabolically active supraclavicular BAT. The standard of reference for the presence of BAT was at least 1 PET examination showing 18F-FDG uptake. PET/MR imaging included a 2-point Dixon water–fat separation method. Signal intensities in regions of interest on fat and water images and mean standardized uptake values (SUVmean) were determined bilaterally in supraclavicular and gluteal fat depots. SFF was calculated from the ratio of fat signal over summed water and fat signal. Statistical analysis was conducted using the Student t test and correlation analysis. Results: SFF was significantly lower (P < 0.0001) in supraclavicular BAT than gluteal WAT in all pediatric subjects. Supraclavicular SFF was significantly higher in the control than in the pediatric group (P < 0.0001). In PET-positive patients with multiple examinations, SFF stayed stable whereas SUVmean fluctuated (median intraindividual change, 5% vs. 91%). No significant correlation between SUVmean and SFF could be observed for BAT. Conclusion: The results demonstrate that MR imaging–SFF analysis is a reproducible imaging modality for the detection of human BAT and discrimination from WAT. SFF values of BAT are independent from its metabolic activity, making SFF a more reliable parameter for BAT than the commonly used PET signal. However, with the intent to investigate both the composition of BAT and its activation status, hybrid PET/MR imaging might provide supplemental information.
Instructorsâ Beliefs on Critical Thinking and Their Classroom Practices: A Case Study

The ability to think critically is an essential life skill which needs to be developed in order to compete in a global environment. Current literature reveals that explicit critical instruction, and practice of critical thinking (CT) strategies helps to improve learner’s performances. Hence, it is vital for instructors to have strong beliefs in critical thinking as it influences their classroom practice. The present study seeks to fill the gap between instructors’ beliefs as well as practices which serves to be important in improving the educational process. The aim of this study is to investigate how instructors perceived CT as well as their classroom instruction in teaching the skills among tertiary level learners. Further, it also investigates whether the constructs (beliefs and practices) of the instructors matched with one another. The participants of this study involved instructors from Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM) located in Seri Iskandar Perak. Data were collected using exploratory qualitative approach and the findings were presented in a qualitative descriptive approach through interviews as well as observations.
Imatinib-induced regression of AIDS-related Kaposi's sarcoma.

PURPOSE Activation of the platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) and c-kit receptors has been proposed as important in mediating the growth of AIDS-related Kaposi's sarcoma (KS). We investigated the response of KS to the PDGF receptor (PDGFR)/c-kit inhibitor, imatinib mesylate, and investigated the effect of this therapy on critical signal transduction intermediates. PATIENTS AND METHODS Ten male patients with AIDS-related cutaneous KS, which progressed despite chemotherapy and/or highly active antiretroviral therapy, received imatinib mesylate administered orally, 300 mg twice daily. Clinical response was determined by serial tumor measurements. To determine biologic and histologic response, skin lesion biopsies were obtained at baseline and following 4 weeks of therapy. RESULTS Five of 10 participants had a partial response by tumor measurements. Biopsies after 4 weeks of therapy demonstrated histologic regression in four of six patients. Four patients' tumor biopsies were assessable for immunohistochemistry end points pre- and post-therapy. These demonstrated inhibition of PDGFR and its downstream effector, extracellular receptor kinase, which is a member of the mitogen-activated protein kinase family. The most common adverse event was diarrhea, which led to dose reduction in six patients. CONCLUSION Imatinib mesylate administered orally twice daily for AIDS-related KS results in clinical and histologic regression of cutaneous KS lesions within 4 weeks. These promising results demonstrate that inhibition of the c-kit and/or PDGF receptors may represent an effective strategy for treating KS.
Autoimmune retinopathy

Purpose of review Autoimmune retinopathy (AIR) is an immune-mediated disorder characterized by progressive visual loss, abnormal electroretinographic and visual field findings in the presence of circulating anti-retinal antibodies. This review highlights advances made toward understanding the pathophysiology, clinical manifestations, and trends in the management of AIR. Recent findings The pathophysiology of AIR is likely antibody-mediated. AIR serum autoantibodies are variable in their size and retinal tissue they target and can also be present in healthy controls and multiple autoimmune diseases. Rarely, AIR may be associated with dysregulated self-tolerance mechanisms in the thymus. Despite progress in research, our understanding of AIR remains incomplete. Lack of standardized methods for anti-retinal antibody testing continues to challenge the interpretation of seropositivity. Conventional immunosuppressives have been further studied, and promising immunomodulatory therapies, such as targeted B-cell therapy, have been introduced. Newer imaging modalities such as fundus autofluorescence and spectral domain optical coherence tomography may be helpful in diagnosis, monitoring progression of disease and response to treatment. Summary AIR is a rare but vision-threatening disease whose pathogenesis is poorly defined. Lack of standardized clinical or laboratory criteria further complicates the diagnosis and management. Despite recent progress, further basic science research into the autoimmune process is needed. Prospective controlled clinical trials with immunomodulatory therapy can help define future treatment paradigms
Motor Learning Characterizes Habilitation of Children With Hemiplegic Cerebral Palsy

Background. This study tested in children with cerebral palsy (CP) whether motor habilitation resembles motor learning. Methods. Twelve children with hemiplegic CP ages 5 to 12 years with moderate to severe motor impairments underwent a 16-session robot-mediated planar therapy program to improve upper limb reach, with a focus on shoulder and elbow movements. Participants were trained to execute point-to-point movements (with robot assistance) with the affected arm and were evaluated (without robot assistance) in trained (point-to-point) and untrained (circle-drawing) conditions. Outcomes were measured at baseline, midpoint, immediately after the program, and 1 month postcompletion. Outcome measures were the Fugl-Meyer (FM), Quality of Upper Extremity Skills Test (QUEST), and Modified Ashworth Scale (MAS) scores; parent questionnaire; and robot-based kinematic metrics. To assess whether learning best characterizes motor habilitation in CP, the authors quantified (a) improvement on trained tasks at completion of training (acquisition) and 1 month following completion (retention) and (b) quantified generalization of improvement to untrained tasks. Results. After robotic intervention, the authors found significant gains in the FM, QUEST, and parent questionnaire. Robot-based evaluations demonstrated significant improvement in trained movements and that improvement was sustained at follow-up. Furthermore, children improved their performance in untrained movements indicating generalization. Conclusions. Motor habilitation in CP exhibits some traits of motor learning. Optimal treatment may not require an extensive repertoire of tasks but rather a select set to promote generalization.
Swift Panchromatic Observations of the Bright Gamma-Ray Burst GRB 050525a

The bright gamma-ray burst GRB 050525a has been detected with the Swift observatory, providing unique multiwavelength coverage from the very earliest phases of the burst. The X-ray and optical/UV afterglow decay light curves both exhibit a steeper slope ~0.15 days after the burst, indicative of a jet break. This jet break time combined with the total gamma-ray energy of the burst constrains the opening angle of the jet to be 3. °2. We derive an empirical "time-lag" redshift from the BAT data of = 0.69 ± 0.02, in good agreement with the spectroscopic redshift of 0.61. Prior to the jet break, the X-ray data can be modeled by a simple power law with index α = -1.2. However, after 300 s the X-ray flux brightens by about 30% compared to the power-law fit. The optical/UV data have a more complex decay, with evidence of a rapidly falling reverse shock component that dominates in the first minute or so, giving way to a flatter forward shock component at later times. The multiwavelength X-ray/UV/optical spectrum of the afterglow shows evidence for migration of the electron cooling frequency through the optical range within 25,000 s. The measured temporal decay and spectral indexes in the X-ray and optical/UV regimes compare favorably with the standard fireball model for gamma-ray bursts assuming expansion into a constant-density interstellar medium.
Evolution of knowledge bases in European regions: searching for spatial regularities and links with innovation performance

ABSTRACT This paper aims at a greater comprehension of the distribution of differentiated knowledge bases and their association with innovation performance. Drawing on evolutionary economic geography, we applied a combinatorial and dynamic view on knowledge bases. The main contribution is the examination of changes and transformations of knowledge bases over time in particular group of regions in Europe and links with innovation performance. Our study revealed systematic regularities between regions with different innovation performance and their knowledge bases. With decreasing regional innovation performance the volatility of knowledge bases over time increases. Innovation leaders evinced stability over time and the most balanced composition of knowledge bases (compared with Central and Eastern Europe regions). Western European countries and regions exhibit the most balanced structure of knowledge bases. An important complementarity and synergy has been identified in the close relatedness of the symbolic knowledge base to the analytical knowledge base. The highest intensity of SME cooperation takes place in regions with a strong analytical base and in regions with the most balanced mix among all three bases (particularly in the UK, the Netherlands and Belgium. Underperforming in innovation show a balanced mix of synthetic and symbolic knowledge bases.
Paternalistic leadership and knowledge sharing with outsiders in emerging economies

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to examine knowledge sharing with external partners within the China context, demonstrating that paternalistic leadership combined with the resulting reciprocal relations between leaders and employees are accountable for knowledge transfer with external partners based on social exchange. Design/methodology/approach This study collected data at two time-points and obtained 391 usable observations for hypothesis testing using questionnaire surveys administered to the managers of major Chinese companies. Findings Empirical analysis of employees at major Chinese firms shows that paternalistic leadership may encourage perceived reciprocal support from employees that results in smooth knowledge sharing with outsiders in the form of voluntary helping behaviors. Originality/value This study expects that both scholars and practitioners will gain answers on how to best encourage employees into contributing toward relationships with external stakeholders within the China context. One valuable point in this study is demonstrating that Chinese firms’ benevolent leadership promotes human relationships and thereby long-term relationships with alliance partners, while their moral leadership promotes ethical trust between alliance partners. These factors may accordingly further increase knowledge sharing opportunities with external partners.
The Focus of Academic Economics: Before and after the Crisis

Has the global financial crisis of 2007ff had a visible impact on the economics profession? To answer this question we employ a bibliometric approach and compare the content and orientation of economic literature before and after the crisis with reference to two different samples: A large-scale sample consisting of more than 440,000 articles published between 1956 and 2016 and a smaller sample of 400 top-cited papers before and after the crisis. Our results suggest that â€“ unlike the Great Depression of the 1930s â€“ the current financial crisis did not lead to any major theoretical or methodological changes in contemporary economics, although the topic of financial instability received increased attention after the crisis.
In vitro evaluation of long-term bonding of Procera AllCeram alumina restorations with a modified resin luting agent.

STATEMENT OF PROBLEM Bonded densely sintered aluminum oxide ceramic restorations such as Procera AllCeram laminates rely on a strong and long-term durable resin bond. Air particle abrasion and a phosphate-modified resin luting agent have the potential to provide such bonds to aluminum oxide ceramics, but their efficacy on the Procera AllCeram intaglio surface is unknown. The inherent microroughness of this surface may influence bond strengths, because micromechanical interlocking is a main contributor for adhesion of resins to ceramic materials. PURPOSE This study evaluated the bond strength of a phosphate-modified resin luting agent with and without silanization to an air particle-abraded Procera AllCeram intaglio surface compared with a conventional resin-bonding system before and after artificial aging. MATERIAL AND METHODS Sixty square (10 x 10 x 2 mm) specimens of Procera AllCeram alumina ceramic with the Procera intaglio surface were air particle abraded with aluminum oxide. Composite cylinders (2.9 mm in diameter and 3.0 mm in width) were fabricated with Z-250 composite and bonded to the ceramic specimens with either Panavia 21 TC or Rely X ARC (control) and their corresponding bonding/silane coupling agents. In addition, Panavia was used without silanization as suggested in similar studies. Subgroups of 10 specimens were stored in distilled water for either 3 or 180 days before shear bond strength was tested with a universal testing machine (MPa) until fracture. The 180-day specimens were subjected to thermocycling at 2000 cycles every 30 days (12,000 cycles total). Data were analyzed with 1-way analysis of variance and Tukey's multiple comparison (alpha=.05). Failure modes were examined with a light microscope (original magnification x 25). RESULTS Differences between short-term and long-term groups were highly significant (P=.000). Bond strength with Rely X ARC and its silane coupling agent (22.75 +/- 4 MPa) decreased significantly (P=.000) after artificial aging (3.32 +/- 3.62 MPa). Panavia 21 after silanization revealed significantly different (P=.003) early (21.42 +/- 4.3 MPa) and late (16.09 +/- 2.37 MPa) bond strengths but achieved the highest bond strength after artificial aging. Bond strengths of Panavia without silanization both early (8.06 +/- 2.1 MPa) and late (6.91 +/- 2.49 MPa) were not significantly different. Failure modes were mainly adhesive at the ceramic surface for all groups. CONCLUSION Panavia 21 in combination with its corresponding bonding/silane coupling agent can achieve an acceptable resin bond to the air particle-abraded intaglio surface of Procera AllCeram restorations after artificial aging, which had mixed effects on the other investigated groups. The conventional resin luting agent revealed the most dramatic decrease in bond strength.
Toll-like Receptor-4 Is Up-Regulated in Hematopoietic Progenitor Cells and Contributes to Increased Apoptosis in Myelodysplastic Syndromes

Purpose: To investigate the function and expression of Toll-like receptors (TLR) in bone marrow cells of myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) patients and to examine their involvement in the apoptotic phenomenon characterizing MDS hematopoiesis. Experimental Design: TLR mRNA and protein expression was investigated in bone marrow cell populations of MDS patients and controls. TLR-4 ability to recognize lipopolysaccharide and up-regulate self mRNA and protein expression was examined. Tumor necrosis factor involvement in the constitutive and lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced TLR expression was also evaluated. Possible correlation between TLR-4 overexpression and apoptosis was investigated by simultaneous staining with Annexin V and TLR-4. Results: TLR-2 and TLR-4 are expressed in almost all bone marrow cell lineages including megakaryocytes, erythroid cells, myeloid precursors, monocytes, and B lymphocytes and are up-regulated in MDS patients compared with controls. In hematopoietic CD34+ cells, TLR-4 is also expressed and significantly up-regulated at both the mRNA and protein levels. Treatment with an anti–tumor necrosis factor antibody reduces both constitutive and LPS-induced TLR-4 levels. Increased TLR-4 expression correlates with increased apoptosis as TLR-4 is almost exclusively found in apoptotic bone marrow mononuclear and CD34+ cells. The addition of the TLR-4 ligand LPS further enhances the apoptosis of these cells. Conclusions: TLR-4 and other TLRs are significantly up-regulated in MDS patients whereas TLR-4 is involved in promoting apoptosis, possibly contributing to MDS cytopenia.
Urban development and governance in Nigeria: challenges, opportunities and policy direction

Volumes of literature discourse illuminate several weaknesses of Nigeria’s urban planning and governance system particularly in the face of rapid urbanisation, and rising levels of urban poverty and informality. However, these literature discourses often fail to situate the weaknesses within the context of opportunities presented by the system, and provide a clear policy direction. An in-depth understanding of the weaknesses of the system, and opportunities it presents especially for the on-going construction of massively scaled urban developments to meet demands of various urban actors and their impact is imperative for far reaching policy formulation and implementation. Based on an examination of the perspectives of key urban stakeholders solicited through semi-structured interviews in three Nigerian cities of Abuja, Minna and Enugu, this study provides insights into how the failings of the existing regime provide opportunities for the urban developmental landscape. The findings suggest that pluralistic forms of social steering in urban planning and governance have the potential to succeed. Nevertheless, Government input especially in the area of infrastructure provision is critical.
The Impact of the Identification of GSIBs on their Business Model

Most research papers dealing with systemic footprint in the banking system either investigate the definition and the measure of systemic risk, or try to identify systemic banks and to calibrate the systemic risk buffers. To the best of our knowledge, this paper is among the first to provide empirical evidence on how the recent international regulation designed for global systemically important banks (GSIBs) drove changes on these institutions’ activity. Our data consists of cross-section observations for 97 large international banks from 22 countries from 2005 to 2016 (12 years). Our econometric approach quantifies the impact of the FSB designation on GSIBs’ activity, controlling for both structural differences between GSIBs and non-GSIBs and structural evolutions of the banking system over time (industry trends). We find that GSIBs have curbed downward the expansion of their total balance sheet after the FSB designation, which resulted in an additional improvement of their leverage ratio. In turn, a sizeable downward pressure is noticed on their return on equity (ROE). However, no adverse consequences can be observed on risk-taking and issuance of loans to the economy. Finally, while the relative deleveraging experienced by GSIBs illustrates a mean-reverting process, tending to close the structural gap between GSIBs and non-GSIBs, this is not the case for the cost of their deposits, which remains lower than the one of other banks, tending to prove that the GSIB framework has not so far put an end to the “too-big-to-fail” distortions.
Factors Associated with Hand Hygiene Compliance among Critical Care Nurses

hours of the day. Our experience suggests that after-hours exposures are often managed in emergency rooms or standalone clinics, and physicians in these settings may be less familiar with the approaches to exposure management and pharmacologic agents for prophylaxis. Finally, we agree with Tan et al that medication cost is an important consideration, and the guidelines indicate that a more cost-efficient alternative to RAL may be required. Individual facilities should consider undertaking comparative cost-benefit analyses—emphasizing factors that improve PEP adherence and minimize toxicities—when updating institutional PEP policies and protocols. The guidelines list several alternative medications for PEP regimens. Other experts are in agreement with PHS on a preference for RAL-based occupational PEP. Given the limited data available on PEP administration, efficacy, and failures, some experts may disagree, and reasonable arguments can be made to support different conclusions. We echo the call for publication of relevant PEP data to inform regimen decisions. While such data are unlikely to coalesce around a single optimal regimen, electronic publication of this guideline is intended to allow for prompt updates when additional data become available.
[Observation on analgesia effect of electroacupuncture during gynecologic outpatient operation].

OBJECTIVE To verify the feasibility of electroacupuncture analgesia applied to gynecologic outpatient operation. METHODS Two hundred patients were randomly divided into an electroacupuncture analgesia group and an intravenous anesthesia group, 100 cases in each group. Operation types included artificial abortion, diagnostic curettage and remove of intrauterine divice. The electroacupuncture analgesia group was treated with electroacupuncture at bilateral Hegu (LI 4) and Neiguan (PC 6), and the routine gynecologic outpatient operation was performed under patients' waking state. The intravenous anesthesia group was treated with routine gynecologic outpatient operation after intravenous injection of fentanyl and propofol. RESULTS The excellent rate and the effective rate of analgesia were 88.0% (88/100) and 100.0% (100/100) in the electroacupuncture analgesia group, and 94.0% (94/100) and 100.0% (100/100) in the intravenous anesthesia group, with no statistically significant differences between the two groups (all P > 0.05). There was no adverse reaction in the electroacupuncture anesthesia group, but 11 cases of adverse reactions in the intravenous anesthesia group. CONCLUSION Electroacupuncture analgesia can effectively alleviate the pain during gynecologic outpatient operation and it is simple and safe without adverse reactions.