Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Mono- Versus Bisegment Reconstruction Algorithms for Dual-Source Computed Tomography Coronary Angiography

Objective:To compare the image quality of mono- versus bisegment reconstruction algorithms for dual-source computed tomography coronary angiography (CTCA). Materials and Methods:Eighty consecutive patients (27 women; average age, 60 ± 12 years) were randomly assigned to 2 different CTCA scanning protocols: 40 patients (group A) underwent dual-source CTCA with a heart rate (HR)-dependent pitch adaptation with datasets reconstructed using the monosegment algorithm; 40 patients (group B) underwent CTCA at a fixed pitch of 0.2 and datasets were reconstructed using both mono- and bisegment algorithms. The temporal resolution was 82 milliseconds for mono- and 42 to 83 milliseconds (58 ± 14 milliseconds) for bisegment reconstruction, the latter depending on the HR during CTCA. Images were reconstructed in the reconstruction phase having least motion artifacts in the individual patient, primarily during mid-diastole at 70% of the R-R interval. The HR variability was defined as the standard deviation from the average HR. Two blinded observers independently assessed the image quality of each coronary segment using a 4-point scale (1: excellent to 4: nonevaluable). Effective radiation dose estimates were calculated. Results:The overall image quality showed no significant differences between the 2 groups scanned with a fixed or a HR-adapted pitch (group A, score 1.21 ± 0.63; group B, score 1.19 ± 0.52). The overall image quality was superior when using monosegment (group A and B, score 1.21 ± 0.63 and 1.19 ± 0.52, respectively) when compared with the bisegment reconstruction algorithm (group B, score 1.33 ± 0.72; P < 0.01). Image quality did not significantly correlate with average HR neither for monosegment (group A: r = 0.07; P = 0.35; group B: r = 0.06; P = 0.41) nor bisegment reconstructions (r = 0.07; P = 0.32). There was no significant correlation between image quality and HR variability using monosegment reconstructions (group A: r = 0.09; P = 0.22; group B: r = 0.05; P = 0.67), whereas a significant correlation was found for bisegment reconstructions (group B: r = 0.51; P < 0.01). The estimated effective radiation dose was significantly higher in group B (10.8 ± 1.4 mSv) when compared with group A (9.0 ± 0.8 mSv; P < 0.01). Conclusions:Although providing a higher temporal resolution at certain HRs, the use of bisegment reconstructions for dual-source CTCA does not result in an improved overall image quality when compared with the monosegment reconstruction algorithm.
Illness perception in individuals with atopic dermatitis

Abstract Accumulating evidence suggests that in order to understand and respond to the difficulties presented by illness, patients construct their own “common sense” cognitive model of illness. This study set out to examine self-help group members, and students' beliefs about their atopic dermatitis (AD) and to investigate their relationship with symptom report and clinical and demographic variables. A total of 284 participants with AD undertook a self-assessment of their disease severity and completed the Revised Illness Perception Questionnaire. The most frequent symptoms associated with AD were itching, sleep difficulties and pain. The most commonly reported triggers of AD were stress, hereditary factors and emotional state. Over 75% of participants believed that their condition would be chronic. Self-help group members reported more significant consequences of the condition, a greater emotional impact, while the student group felt they had more personal control of their AD. Multiple regression analyses indicated that illness beliefs, in particular perceived consequences associated with AD and personal control, accounted for a significant proportion of the variance in emotional response to the condition. This study suggests that participants' beliefs and emotional response are more strongly associated with the meaning they ascribe to their condition rather than its severity.
Determinants of the capital structure of TSL sector enterprises

Summary Determinants of the capital structure of TSL (Transport, Spedition, Logistics) sector enterprises The capital structure has been of interest for researchers in the field of financial theory for over 60 years. However, literature surveys show that relatively few studies on the structure of capital and the factors shaping it can be applied to the TSL industry. The TSL (Transport, Spedition, Logistics) sector belongs to industries with a high development potential, both in the world and Poland. In order to meet the need for the diagnosis of the TSL industry in Poland, the research was undertaken to identify and examine the strength and direction of the impact of selected factors on the capital structure of enterprises in the TFL sector in Poland. The article consists of two parts. The first part explains the issues related to defining the concept of capital structure and includes identification of capital structure determinants based on the literature. The second part shows research methods, describes the sample, defines variables and presents results of the research. The enterprises listed on the NewConnect market were the subject of the research. It was to achieve the set goal that the correlation analysis and the linear regression method were used. Both correlation analysis and regression analysis have not confirmed the significance of all seven capital structure determinants. The correlation analysis has confirmed the significance of four determinants: asset structure, profitability, company size and financial liquidity. The regression analysis has also confirmed the statistical significance of the four determinants; these are: the structure of assets, size of the company, financial liquidity and the effective tax rate. The analysis of correlation shows that the level of indebtedness is positively correlated with the size of the enterprise and profitability, while negatively, with the structure of assets and financial liquidity. In turn, the regression analysis shows that the level of indebtedness is positively correlated only with one variable: the size of the enterprise, while negatively with the three variables: the structure of assets, financial liquidity and the effective tax rate.
Nitric Oxide Synthase Expression in the Endothelium of Pulmonary Arterioles in Normal and Pulmonary Hypertensive Chickens Subjected to Chronic Hypobaric Hypoxia

Abstract SUMMARY. To determine whether or not exposure to chronic hypoxia and subsequent development of pulmonary hypertension syndrome (PHS) induce alterations in endothelial nitric oxide (NO) production in broiler's pulmonary vascular bed of broilers, we studied the expression of nitric oxide synthase enzyme in pulmonary endothelial cells by a nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH)-diaphorase histochemical staining reaction. For this purpose, 60 broilers of three different ages (17, 30, and 42 days) were used. The animals were distributed in two groups: a) 30 healthy (nonhypertensive) broilers and b) 30 chicks with PHS. All broilers in group b had fewer NADPH-diaphorase-positive endothelial cells in arterioles than did the nonhypertensive broilers. These differences were highly significant (P < 0.01). These results demonstrate for, the first time in broilers, that hypoxia-induced pulmonary hypertension is associated with a decrease of endothelial-derived NO expression in pulmonary vessels.
Laser Doppler flowmetry is valid for measurement of cerebral blood flow autoregulation lower limit in rats

Laser Doppler flowmetry (LDF) is a recent technique that is increasingly being used to monitor relative changes in cerebral blood flow whereas the intra‐arterial 133xenon injection technique is a well‐established method for repeated absolute measurements of cerebral blood flow. The aim of this study was to validate LDF for assessment of cerebral autoregulation and CO2 reactivity with the 133xenon injection technique as the gold standard. Simultaneous measurements of cerebral blood flow (CBF) were collected by LDF (CBFLDF) and the 133xenon method (CBFXe) while (1) cerebral autoregulation was challenged by controlled systemic haemorrhage, or (2) cerebral blood flow was varied by manipulating the arterial partial pressure of CO2 (Pa,CO2). LDF slightly overestimated CBF under conditions of haemorrhagic shock and haemodilution caused by controlled haemorrhage (paired t test, P < 0.05). However for pooled data, the autoregulation lower limit was similar when determined with the 133xenon and the LDF techniques: 65 ± 3.9 mmHg and 60 ± 5.6 mmHg, respectively. Linear regression analysis yielded CBFXe= (1.02 × CBFLDF) + 9.1 and r= 0.90. Even for substantial changes in Pa,CO2, the two methods resulted in similar results. We conclude that even though LDF overestimated CBF during haemorrhagic shock caused by controlled haemorrhage, the lower limit autoregulation was correctly identified. The laser Doppler technique provides a reliable method for detection of a wide range of cerebral blood flow changes under CO2 challenge. Haemodilution influences the two methods differently causing relative overestimation of blood flow by the laser Doppler technique compared to the 133xenon method.
Outward FDI and Institutional Factors: Malaysian Experience

This paper aims to investigate the role of home country institution in affecting outward FDI from Malaysia using data spans from 1980 to 2012. The model specification is examined in autoregressive distributed lag (ARDL) bounds testing framework. The empirical evidence reveals that GDP, exchange rate, openness to trade, and corporate tax rate are the key drivers of outward FDI from Malaysia. This portrays that internationalization strategy of firms is not only relied on home macroeconomic environment, but also home institution. More importantly, corporate tax rate, as one of the institution factors, is positively related to outward FDI which signifies that high tax rate would prompt local firms to engage in investment abroad as a sign of escape response. This reflects that international expansion appears to be exit strategy from home country instead of entry strategy into foreign markets. The findings have some important implications on internationalization strategy of firms.
Quantitative analysis of the velocity characteristics of optokinetic nystagmus and optokinetic after‐nystagmus

1. Velocity characteristics of optokinetic nystagmus (OKN) and optokinetic after‐nystagmus (OKAN) induced by constant velocity full field rotation were studied in rhesus monkeys. A technique is described for estimating the dominant time constant of slow phase velocity curves and of monotonically changing data. Time constants obtained by this technique were used in formulating a model of the mechanism responsible for producing OKN and OKAN.
TESTING WEAK-FORM EFFICIENCY OF THE CHINESE STOCK MARKET

Author: Hin Yu Chung Title: Testing Weak-Form Efficiency of the Chinese Stock Market Department: Department of Business Administration Year: 2006 Master’s Thesis. Lappeenranta University of Technology. 115 pages, 4 figures, 11 tables, 5 appendices Examiners: Professor Mika Vaihekoski Professor Minna Martikainen
Phase-noise effects on turbo trellis-coded over M-ary coherent channels

The effect of the phase noise on the performance of bandwidth-efficient coded modulation is studied. To this end, the average mutual information (AMI) for specific constellations such as 8-phase-shift keying and 16-quadrature amplitude modulation is calculated in the presence of carrier phase error caused by imperfect carrier tracking over an additive white Gaussian noise channel. The AMI not only quantifies the effect of the phase noise from an information-theoretic viewpoint, but also serves as an estimate for a permissible amount of the phase noise for a given signal-to-noise ratio. The bit-error rate (BER) performance of a near-optimal turbo trellis-coded modulation scheme is then investigated over such a channel. For this purpose, an optimal branch metric which best fits the channel characteristics is derived. Furthermore, simple branch metrics (referred to as suboptimal, simplified, and Gaussian metrics) are derived, which may offer the tradeoff between BER performance and computational complexity. Numerical analysis shows that a near-optimal coded-modulation scheme renders a transmission system more robust against phase noise than is the case with a conventional trellis-coded modulation scheme.
Molecular events by which dendritic cells promote Th2 immune protection in helmith infection

Abstract Helminth parasites are a major cause of global infectious diseases, affecting nearly one quarter of the world's population. The common feature of helminth infections is to skew the immune system towards a T-helper 2 (Th2) response that helps to control disease. Dendritic cells (DCs), which are professional antigen-presenting cells, play a critical role for Th2 skewing against helminth parasites. However, the molecular mechanisms by which helminth antigens activate DCs for Th2 polarization have not yet been clearly defined. This review provides a focused update on the major role of DCs for inducing and/or enhancing Th2 immune responses in helminthic infection and will discuss the main signalling-dependent and independent mechanisms by which helminth antigens activate DCs for Th2 skewing.
Analisis Pengaruh Kinerja Keuangan terhadap Profitabilitas Bank Syariah di Indonesia

This study aimed to analyze the factors affecting the amount of profitability (ROA) provided by Islamic banking in Indonesia. The data which is used is taken from the financial report of the Shari’a Bank during the 2011-2016 periods by using montly financial statement This study uses a Vector Error Correction Model (VECM) to see the long-term effect and response to shock that occur in the studied variables. The result shows that in the long run, the percentage Financing (FIN) and BOPO give a positive siqnifikant effect on the ROA, while third party funds (DPK), percentage profit and loss sharing (TBH), financial to deposit ratio (FDR) has negative and siqnificant effect on the ROA. Sertifikat Bank Indonesia Syariah (SBIS) and non performing finance (NPF) have no significant effect on the ROA. In short run, ROA give a negatif and siqnificant effect on the ROA and FDR give a positif and siqnificant effect, while DPK, FIN, SBIS, TBH, NPF and BOPO have no sinificant effect on the ROA. Therfore, shocks that occur in the ROA, FIN, FDR , NPF dan BOPO positively responded by ROA and will be stable in the long term. While the shocks that occur in the percentage of FDR, SBIS and TBH responded negatively by financing and will be stable in the long term. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk menganalisis faktor-faktor yang memengaruhi profitabilitas (ROA) perbankan syariah di Indonesia. Data yang digunakan data bulanan dari laporan keuangan bank syariah periode 2010-2015. Penelitian ini mengunakan Vector Error Correction Model (VECM) untuk melihat dampak jangka panjang dan respon terhadap dampak shock pada setiap variabel terhadap pembiayaan. Hasil olah data menunjukkan bahwa FIN dan BOPO berhubungan positif terhadap ROA, sedangkan DPK, TBH, FDR berhubungan negatif terhadap dan ROA SBIS dan NPF tidak berpengaruh terhadap tingkat ROA. Dalam jangka pendek, ROA berhubungan negatif, tetapi FDR terhadap ROA berhubungan positif. Sedangkan DPK, FIN, SBIS, TBH, NPF and BOPO tidak berhubungan dengan pembiayaan. Di lain pihak, respon pembiayan terhadap goncangan yang terjadi terjadi pada ROA, FIN, FDR, NPF dan BOPO direspon positif oleh ROA. Sedangkan respon ROA terhadap goncangan yang terjadi pada FDR, SBIS dan TBH adalah negatif.
A Qualitative Exploration of Counseling Student Development through Community Outreach

Community outreach and service learning have been shown to facilitate counseling and psychology student development. Community outreaches conducted from a liberation psychology-based perspective are particularly effective in terms of promoting multicultural competence and social justice ideals and actions among outreach participants. Using qualitative interviews of students participating in a local community outreach, the authors explore student development with a focus on multicultural and social justice practices. The authors discuss the implications for facilitating community outreaches based on the data from student participants.
Procedural learning: A developmental study of motor sequence learning and probabilistic classification learning in school-aged children

In this study, we investigated motor and cognitive procedural learning in typically developing children aged 8–12 years with a serial reaction time (SRT) task and a probabilistic classification learning (PCL) task. The aims were to replicate and extend the results of previous SRT studies, to investigate PCL in school-aged children, to explore the contribution of declarative knowledge to SRT and PCL performance, to explore the strategies used by children in the PCL task via a mathematical model, and to see whether performances obtained in motor and cognitive tasks correlated. The results showed similar learning effects in the three age groups in the SRT and in the first half of the PCL tasks. Participants did not develop explicit knowledge in the SRT task whereas declarative knowledge of the cue–outcome associations correlated with the performances in the second half of the PCL task, suggesting a participation of explicit knowledge after some time of exposure in PCL. An increasing proportion of the optimal strategy use with increasing age was observed in the PCL task. Finally, no correlation appeared between cognitive and motor performance. In conclusion, we extended the hypothesis of age invariance from motor to cognitive procedural learning, which had not been done previously. The ability to adopt more efficient learning strategies with age may rely on the maturation of the fronto-striatal loops. The lack of correlation between performance in the SRT task and the first part of the PCL task suggests dissociable developmental trajectories within the procedural memory system.
Restoration of motor function of the deep fibular (peroneal) nerve by direct nerve transfer of branches from the tibial nerve: An anatomical study

Traction injuries of the common fibular (peroneal) nerve frequently result in significant morbidity due to tibialis anterior muscle paralysis and the associated loss of ankle dorsiflexion. Because current treatment options are often unsuccessful or unsatisfactory, other treatment approaches need to be explored. In this investigation, the anatomical feasibility of an alternative option, consisting of nerve transfer of motor branches from the tibial nerve to the deep fibular nerve, was studied. In ten cadaveric limbs, the branching pattern, length, and diameter of motor branches of the tibial nerve in the proximal leg were characterized; nerve transfer of each of these motor branches was then simulated to the proximal deep fibular nerve. A consistent, reproducible pattern of tibial nerve innervation was seen with minor variability. Branches to the flexor hallucis longus and flexor digitorum longus muscles were determined to be adequate, based on their branch point, branch pattern, and length, for direct nerve transfer in all specimens. Other branches, including those to the tibialis posterior, popliteus, gastrocnemius, and soleus muscles were not consistently adequate for direct nerve transfer for injuries extending to the bifurcation of the common fibular nerve or distal to it. For neuromas of the common fibular nerve that do not extend as far distally, branches to the soleus and lateral head of the gastrocnemius may be adequate for direct transfer if the intramuscular portions of these nerves are dissected. This study confirms the anatomical feasibility of direct nerve transfer using nerves to toe‐flexor muscles as a treatment option to restore ankle dorsiflexion in cases of common fibular nerve injury. Clin. Anat. 17:201–205, 2004. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Functional Consequences of Active Hepatic Uptake on Cytochrome P450 Inhibition in Rat and Human Hepatocytes

A series of cytochrome P450 (P450) inhibition experiments were conducted with four hepatic uptake substrates (AZ3, AZ25, atorvastatin, and pitavastatin) using hepatocytes and recombinant P450s. The uptake was shown to be temperature-dependent and was inhibited by estrone sulfate, signifying an active component. At the lowest concentrations tested, the inhibitors concentrated up to 1000-fold in rat hepatocytes, but demonstrated only 5-fold greater P450 inhibition relative to recombinant rat P450s, indicating high intracellular binding. Inhibitor accumulation was considerably lower in human hepatocytes and an increase in inhibitory potency relative to recombinant human P450s was not obvious. This study highlights several technical and conceptual issues in the study of P450 inhibition mediated by compounds actively transported across the basolateral hepatocyte membrane. Primarily, the incubation medium concentration once the inhibitor has fully accumulated into the hepatocytes rather than the starting medium concentration, along with the extent of intracellular binding, must be considered as a foundation for in vitro-in vivo extrapolations. Additionally, it is suggested that if the Km value for the active uptake process is close to the P450 inhibition Ki, hepatocytes may be used only to establish the free drug accumulation ratio at a clinically relevant drug concentration, and this information, along with the (recombinant P450) Ki value, may be used to simulate the likely impact of active hepatic uptake on P450 inhibition in vivo.
Research on the Daily Volatility Measure Considering the Impact of Overnight Variance and Time Segment in Chinese Stock Market

Considering the overnight effect on the stock market, we construct a daily volatility measure that is formed by a linear combination of the three components, namely overnight volatility, morning realized volatility and afternoon realized volatility, and obtain the optimal solution in theory. An empirical work is performed for studying the daily volatility structure of Shanghai stock index and Shenzhen stock index in China’s stock market by using our daily volatility measure. The empirical results show that, the daily volatility measure considering the impact of overnight variance and time segment performs better than original volatility measure.