Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Ultrasound Guided Combined Cryoablation and Microencapsulated 5-Fluorouracil Inhibits Growth of Human Prostate Tumors in Xenogenic Mouse Model Assessed by Luminescence Imaging

Modern approaches to minimally invasive ablative treatment of solid tumors involve the use of miniature instruments and combined treatments. These can be enhanced with ultrasound imaging that depicts tumor margins; facilitates guidance, delivery, and dosage of local chemotherapy; and can monitor the effectiveness of the treatment. This paper describes the advantages of ultrasound guided cryosurgery combined with local chemotherapy delivered in multilamellar, echogenic microcapsules of 5-FU (“μcaps”) using a xenograft tumor model. Genetically engineered bioluminescent human prostate tumor cells, DU-145Luc+, were implanted subcutaneously into athymic nude mice. Experiments were designed to mimic the situation where palliative cryoablation spares a portion of the tumor so that the combined effect of cryosurgery and focal injections of chemotherapeutic microcapsules could be evaluated. Eighteen (18) tumors were treated with percutaneous partial cryoablation or interstitial chemoablation, or a combination of both. A single F/T cycle was applied to tumor and micro-encapsulated chemotherapy is delivered at outer margin of frozen tumor in two opposite sites. Results show that the tumor and cryosurgical kill zone contours were seen with both the bio-luminescence assay (BLI) and ultrasonography (US). US can easily detect as little as 2 μl of echogenic μcaps, and monitor their lifetime in the tumor tissue. BLI was determinant in showing that minute amounts of microcapsule chemotherapy (38.7 ng of 5-FU/g tumor) dramatically inhibited tumor growth starting within two days after injection. The mean BLI emitted by control tumors was 5.6 times greater at Day 4 than the BLI measurements from tumors treated with 5-FU μcaps (p=0.036). By Day 7, BLI values from the control tumors were still 2.7 times greater than those treated with 5-FU μcaps (p<0.01). In tumors treated by partial cryoablation, the mean BLI of viable tumor cells was 20 times less at day 3 (p=0.05) and 46% less at day 7 than the non-treated tumors. The combined treatment produced a dramatic inhibition of tumor growth that lasted throughout the 7-day study. The BLI measured from viable tumor cells in non-treated tumors was 34 times greater at day 3 and more than 350 times greater at day 7 than those treated by combined cryoablation and 5-FU μcaps. The results demonstrated, for the first time, that a single moderate freeze of a human prostate tumor combined with bi-focal peripheral microcapsule chemotherapy (5-FU) has a better and longer inhibitory effect on tumor growth compared to the growth inhibition rendered by cryosurgery or local microcapsule chemo-therapy alone. This shows promise for a new, focal, combined ablative modality using US guided deposition of microencapsulated drug(s) and echogenic markers deposited in the hypothermic margin of tumors which could enhance the efficacy of cryoablation of prostate cancers.
Democracy and trust in the age of the Social Web

late modern democracies are characterized by a form of disenchanted trust, that is, trust that comes out of a series of procedures of taming distrust, such as contracts, law enforcements, transparent procedures (concerning vote, attribution of rights, allocation of resources, etc.), the form of trust that seems to reign over the Social Web is the most naive and wild form of blind trust that we have ever experienced in mature societies. Why is it so? This paper is an attempt to solve the puzzle. My idea is that much discussion about trust and the Web has revolved around a conception of trust that doesn't reflect the form of trust relationships we are involved on the net. Trust is a multifaceted notion in philosophy and social sciences that tries to capture our willingness to enter risky relationships that are potentially advantageous for both parties. Trust characterizes the fundamental uncertainty of human condition, in which we need to transfer some power of control upon our lives to others in order to survive thus giving them the power to harm us. The literature on trust in social science has tried to capture the nature of this complex and instable relation, and measure its rational bases. Yet, I don't think that the notion of relational trust says anything about our trust in information-dense environments such as the Internet and the Social Web. Trust in these environments is first of all a form of epistemic trust, that is, trust in persons or systems through which we are able to extract relevant information. In this paper, I provide a definition of epistemic trust suitable to understand the massive trust we observe in social networks and discuss the complex relation between trust and information. The Social Web is first of all an epistemic engine that allows us to extract information about what happens around us. This use of the social web explains why it is so easy to trust in this virtual environment. I conclude that a responsible use of e-environments should encourage the production and spreading of devices whose aim is to assess the credibility of the systems that produce the so-called "trusted information" and protect users from the enchanted forms of trust they tend to develop through the Web in order to get information.
Higher Order Sliding Mode observers for actuator faults Diagnosis in robot manipulators

A diagnostic scheme for actuator faults which can occur on a robot manipulator using a model-based Fault Diagnosis (FD) technique is addressed. With the proposed FD scheme it is possible to detect a fault, which can occur on a specific component of the system. To detect actuator faults, higher order sliding mode Unknown Input Observers (UIO) are proposed to make analytical redundancy. The observers input laws are designed according to the so-called Super-Twisting Second Order Sliding Mode Control (SOSMC) approach and they are proved to be capable of guaranteeing the exponential convergence of the fault estimate to the actual fault signal. The proposed approach is verified in simulation and experimentally on a COMAU SMART3-S2 robot manipulator.
Financial Intégration, Comovements and Monetary policy

The end of the twentieth century was characterized by important changes in financial markets with their development, liberalization and concentration in a cross-border dynamic. A highlight of these changes is the gradual acceleration of comovements between asset prices, both between market segments, but also between countries. If the opening of capital markets enhances the optimal allocation of resources and risks, this opening may also imply a global systemic risk with some intensified comovements observed in times of crisis. As a result, the multiplication of these fast dynamics of transmission is a major challenge for policy makers (central banks) in terms of financial modelling to ensure the monitoring of the financial system stability as a whole. The first objective of this thesis consists in the use of innovative techniques in financial econometrics (including multifractal models) that allow to take into account both the long-term dynamics of assets (for instance, linked to the advent of the Euro area) without neglecting the very short term dynamics. A second objective highlights the interest for policy makers in the use of high frequency data. We notably show that the use of such data sheds a new light on the evaluation of the operational framework of the European Central Bank and its interaction with all the financial markets.
Crystallographic analysis of thin specimens

Electron backscattering diffraction (EBSD) is commonly used on bulk samples for crystallographic material characterization. In this work, the technique was applied on transmission electron microscopy (TEM)‐type thin specimens, prepared with a focused ion beam. Orientation maps were successfully collected on specimens made of a Cu3Au copper–gold alloy. As compared to EBSD analysis on a bulk specimen, an improved pattern quality and a high spatial resolution (well below 10 nm) were obtained. Furthermore, a clear improvement of the signal‐to‐noise ratio with decreasing sample thickness was observed.
Mesenchymal stem cell therapy unable to rescue the vision from advanced Behcet's disease retinal vasculitis: report of three patients

Retinal vasculitis (RV) is the most aggressive lesion of ocular manifestations of Behcet's disease, seen in 32.1% of patients. Although visual acuity (VA) improves with early and aggressive treatment, in the long run it is seen in only 48% of patients. Mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) transplantation (MSCT) can theoretically reverse the RV process.
A Causal Model of Consumer-Based Brand Equity

Branding literature suggests that consumer-based brand equity (CBBE) is a multidimensional construct. Starting from this approach and developing a conceptual multidimensional model, this study finds that CBBE can be best modelled with a two-dimensional structure and claims that it achieves this result by choosing the theoretically based causal specification. On the contrary, with reflective specification, one will be able to fit almost any valid construct because of the halo effect and common method bias. In the final model, Trust (in quality) and Advantage are causing the second-order Brand Equity. The two-dimensional brand equity is an intuitive model easy to interpret and easy to measure, which thus may be a much more attractive means for the management as well.
CEO option compensation and systemic risk in the banking industry

Abstract We document that CEO risk-taking incentives induced by stock option compensation increase a bank’s contribution to systemic distress risk and systemic crash risk through reacting to common risk exposure of the banking industry. We also find that this relation operates through channels of engagement in non-interest income-generating activities and maturity mismatch associated with short-term debt financing. Further analysis reveals that CEO option-based risk-taking incentives increase investments in innovative financial products that form naturally interconnected networks, which increase systemic risk. Finally, we show that market illiquidity and financial crisis accentuate the relation between CEO risk-taking incentives and systemic risk.
A low-volume, low-pressure tracheal tube cuff reduces pulmonary aspiration*

Objective:Leakage of fluid from the subglottic space to the lungs occurs along the longitudinal folds within the wall of an inflated high-volume, low-pressure (HVLP) cuff. The low-volume, low-pressure (LVLP) cuff does not have these folds yet allows for convenient and reliable control of tracheal wall pressure. Pulmonary aspiration during anesthesia has been linked with postoperative pneumonia and during critical illness causes ventilator-associated pneumonia. Design:Prospective, blinded, randomized controlled trial; prospective observational study; and benchtop models. Setting:Department of Anaesthesia and Critical Care, Queen Elizabeth Hospital. Patients:Anesthetized patients (n = 38) and critically ill patients with either an LVLP or HVLP cuffed tracheostomy tube following swallow assessments (n = 67). Interventions:The LVLP cuff was compared with HVLP cuffs for leakage of dye placed in the subglottic space to the tracheobronchial tree in a rigid tracheal model and a benchtop pig trachea model (before and after a standardized cuff movement). Measurements and Main Results:In the rigid tracheal model, the incidence of leakage was 0% in the LVLP group and 100% in the HVLP group (p < .01). Dye leakage in the pig tracheal model with HVLP cuffs was 44% before tube movement, increasing to 79% afterward. The LVLP cuff did not leak in the pig tracheal model. Dye leakage in anesthetized patients was 0% before movement and 5% after in the LVLP group and in the HVLP group 22% increasing to 67% after movement (p < .001). Forty-nine percent of swallow assessments were scored as failed in the critical care patients with HVLP tracheostomy tube cuffs, and there were no episodes of aspiration following swallow assessment in the LVLP group (p < .05). Conclusions:The LVLP cuffed tracheal and tracheostomy tubes reduced pulmonary aspiration in the benchtop models and in anesthetized and critically ill patients. The single failure of the LVLP cuff in the anesthesia group was probably associated with accidental endobronchial intubation following tube movement.
Effect of immunoglobulins and IgG-fragments on the human erythrocyte aggregation, studied by a rheoscope combined with image analyzer.

Using a rheoscope, combined with a TV image analyzer and a computer, the effects of immunoglobulins and IgG-fragments on the process of human erythrocyte aggregation were determined. The immunoglobulins accelerated the aggregation; the effect increased with their molecular weight, i.e., IgG congruent to gamma-globulin less than IgA less than IgM. An empirical relationship, expressing the dependence on the immunoglobulin concentrations, was proposed. F(ab')2-fragment accelerated the aggregation, more effectively than IgG, while Fab- and Fc-fragments did not. Therefore, two Fab-portions are presumably needed to form the aggregates, and the flexibility between two Fab-portions may be important. A case of multiple myeloma showed an increased aggregation, due to the increased myeloma protein.
Synergistic dopaminergic neurotoxicity of MPTP and inflammogen lipopolysaccharide: relevance to the etiology of Parkinson's disease

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a profound movement disorder resulting from progressive degeneration of the nigrostriatal dopaminergic pathway. Although its etiology remains unknown, increasing evidence suggests the involvement of multiple factors such as environmental toxins and genetic susceptibilities in the pathogenesis of PD. In this study using mesencephalic neuronglia cultures as an in vitro PD model, we demonstrated that the neurotoxin 1‐methyl‐4‐phenyl‐1,2,3,6‐tetrahydropyridine (MPTP, 0.1–0.5 µM) and an inflammogen lipopolysaccharide (LPS, 0.5 ng/ml) synergistically induced a progressive and selective degeneration of dopaminergic neurons. The synergistic neurotoxicity was observed when both agents were applied either simultaneously or in tandem. The synergistic neurotoxicity was more prominent when lower doses of both agents were applied for a longer period of time. Mechanistically, microglial NADPH oxidase‐mediated generation of reactive oxygen species played a pivotal role in the synergistic neurotoxicity: MPTP and LPS synergistically stimulated the NADPH oxidase‐mediated release of superoxide free radical; pharmacological inhibition and genetic inactivation of NADPH oxidase prevented superoxide production and the synergistic neurotoxicity. Additionally, inhibition of nitric oxide synthase afforded significant neuroprotection, suggesting the involvement of nitric oxide in the synergistic neurotoxicity. This study lends strong support for a multifactorial etiology of PD and provides clues for therapeutic interventions.
Growth Differentiation Factor-15 Prevents Low Potassium-induced Cell Death of Cerebellar Granule Neurons by Differential Regulation of Akt and ERK Pathways*

Growth differentiation factor-15 (GDF-15) is a novel member of the transforming growth factor-β superfamily and has been shown to be induced in neurons subsequent to lesions. We have therefore begun to study its putative role in the regulation of neuron survival and apoptosis. Cultured cerebellar granule neurons (CGN) survive when maintained in high K+ (25 mm) but undergo apoptosis when switched to low K+ (5 mm). GDF-15 prevented death of CGN in low K+. This effect could be blocked by phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/Akt pathway inhibitors LY294002 or wortmannin. In contrast, mitogen-activated protein kinase (MEK)/extracellular-signal-regulated kinase (ERK) pathway inhibitors U0126 and PD98059 potentiated GDF-15 mediated survival and prevented cell death in low K+ even without factor treatment. Immunoblots revealed GDF-15-induced phosphorylation of Akt and glycogen synthase kinase-3β. This activation was suppressed by phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase inhibitors. Low K+ induced delayed and persistent ERK activation, which was blocked by MEK inhibitors or GDF-15. ERK activation induced c-Jun, a member of the AP-1 transcription factor family. GDF-15 or U0126 prevented c-Jun activation. Furthermore, we show that GDF-15 prevented generation of reactive oxygen species, a known activator of ERK. Together, our data suggest that GDF-15 prevents apoptosis in CGN by activating Akt and inhibiting endogenously active ERK.
Dynamic simulation of a planetary gear set and estimation of fault growth on the sun gear

Planetary gears are widely used in aeronautic and industrial applications because of the properties of compactness and high torque-to-weight ratios. Due to high service load, harsh operating conditions or simply fatigue, faults may develop in gears. If the faults cannot be detected early, the health condition will continue to degrade, even the consequence of big economic loss or catastrophic accident. In this study, the vibration properties of a planetary gear set for different crack levels in the sun gear are investigated through dynamic simulation. A simplified crack growth model is proposed for the sun gear and the time-varying mesh stiffness of a planetary gear set with the crack on the sun gear is analytically derived using the potential energy method. Through analyzing the simulated vibration signals, a new method is proposed to estimate the crack growth without requiring the comparison with the vibration signals when the gear box is running in the perfect conditions.
The Q192R polymorphism of the paraoxonase-1 (PON1) gene is associated with susceptibility to gestational diabetes mellitus in the Greek population

Abstract A key factor protecting from oxidative stress in gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) and in type 2 diabetes (T2D) is paraoxonase-1 (PON1). Inconclusive and limited data exist regarding the effect of a coding polymorphism (Q192R) of the PON1 gene in conferring susceptibility to both states. In the present study, we investigated the association between the PON1 gene and the risk for GDM in the Greek population and assessed for the first time its transcriptional efficiency. We studied 185 women with GDM and 104 non-diabetic controls for the PON1 polymorphism. For PON1 mRNA expression, peripheral leucocytes were harvested from 20 GDM and 20 control women, harboring different genotypes for the polymorphism, using real-time quantitative PCR. The RR genotype and the R allele of the PON1 Q192R polymorphism were significantly associated with an increased risk for GDM (p = 0.012 and p < 0.0001, respectively). Furthermore, there was no statistical correlation between the individual metabolic parameters tested and the three genotypes. Finally, the expression levels of PON1 mRNA in GDM patients did not exhibit any statistical difference compared with normal controls (p = 0.138). These data independently document that the Q192R polymorphism is closely associated with GDM susceptibility, while the PON1 gene expression is not impaired in GDM.
Does Income Smoothing Really Create Value

Extant literature suggests that income smoothing, as measured by unit-free measures such as the correlation between pre-managed earnings and discretionary accruals, creates value. We recognize that income smoothing also drives up the volatility of discretionary accruals due to larger dollar amounts of smoothing efforts. We find that although the unit-free aspect of income smoothing is associated with higher future returns, the volatility aspect is associated with lower future returns. Taken together, high levels of future returns associated with the correlation measure are completely offset by negative future returns associated with the volatility measure over one-month to five-year horizons. These findings are robust to a battery of control variables and to different measures of income smoothing, and robust for industry groupings and firms adopting similar income-smoothing practices. Our results cast doubts on the ability of income smoothing to create value for shareholders over time. In particular, although the literature suggests that investors value smooth firm performance, artificially dampening the variabilities of reported earnings over time does not fool investors. Instead, income smoothing destroys value because investors are more sensitive to the increase in information asymmetry brought about by the volatility measure than to the decrease in information asymmetry brought about by the correlation measure.
Coffee drinking enhances the analgesic effect of cigarette smoking

Nicotine (from cigarette smoke) and caffeine (from coffee) have analgesic effects in humans and experimental animals. We investigated the combined effects of coffee drinking and cigarette smoking on pain experience in a group of moderate nicotine-dependent, coffee drinking, young smokers. Pain threshold and pain tolerance were measured during cold pressor test following the habitual nocturnal deprivation of smoking and coffee drinking. Smoking increased pain threshold and pain tolerance in both men and women. Coffee drinking, at a dose that had no independent effect, doubled the increase in pain threshold induced by smoking. The effect could not be explained by a cumulative raise in blood pressure. Our data suggest that caffeine enhances the analgesic effect of nicotine.
Dynamic Performance of Brushless DC Motors With Unbalanced Hall Sensors

Brushless dc (BLDC) motors controlled by Hall-effect sensors are widely used in various applications and have been extensively researched in the literature, mainly under the assumption that the Hall sensors are ideally placed 120 electrical degrees apart. However, this assumption is not always valid; in fact, sensor placement may be significantly inaccurate, especially in medium- and low-precision BLDC machines. This paper shows that misplaced Hall sensors lead to unbalanced operation of the inverter and motor phases, which increases the low-frequency harmonics in torque ripple and degrades the overall drive performance. The paper also presents several average-filtering techniques that can be applied to the original Hall-sensor signals to mitigate the effect of unbalanced placement during steady-state and transient operations. The proposed methodology is demonstrated by modeling and hardware, and is shown to achieve dynamic performance similar to that of a BLDC motor with accurately positioned Hall sensors.
Polymorphism of metallothionein genes in the Pacific oyster Crassostrea gigas as a biomarker of response to metal exposure

Quantification of metallothioneins (MTs) is classically associated with a cellular response to heavy metal contamination and is used in the monitoring of disturbed ecosystems. Despite the characterization of several MT genes in marine bivalves, only a few genetic studies have used MT genes as potential biomarkers of pollution. The aim of this study was to assess whether MT gene polymorphism could be used to monitor exposure of the Pacific oyster Crassostrea gigas to heavy metals and to develop specific genetic markers for population genetic studies in relation to environmental stress. The polymorphism of two exons of the C. gigas MT gene CgMT1 were studied using polymerase chain reaction single-strand conformation polymorphism (PCR-SSCP) in both field populations exposed to various metals concentrations and in experimentally exposed populations. High frequencies of two SSCP types in exons 2 and 3 of the CgMT1 gene have found to be significantly associated with tolerance to metals in experimental and field oyster populations. The use of MT1 gene polymorphism in C. gigas as in the present study should therefore be of high ecological relevance. In conclusion, the analysis of the types in these two CgMT1 gene exons, which can confer a greater tolerance to heavy metals, can constitute a good biomarker of effect of the presence of heavy metals in ecosystems.