Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Trends in testicular cancer incidence in Vaud, Switzerland.

Upward trends in testicular cancer incidence have been reported in Europe and North America, particularly for seminomas. We considered incidence data between 1974 and 1999 from the Swiss cancer registry of Vaud, i.e. one of the highest incidence areas on a worldwide scale, including a total of 731 cases. Testicular cancer incidence was around 8.5/100 000 between the mid-1970s and the late 1980s, and increased to around 10/100 000 in the 1990s. Corresponding figures at age 15-44 were around 16/100 000 between the mid-1970s and the late 1980s, and about 19/100 000 thereafter. No evidence of persisting upward trends was evident over the last few years. The rise in testicular cancer incidence in the 1990s was apparently restricted to seminomas, whose rates increased from about 4 to 5.7/100 000 at all ages, and from 7 to over 11/100 000 at age 15-44. No consistent pattern of trends was observed for malignant teratomas and for other and unspecified histotypes. Testicular cancer in Vaud has shown no tendency to further rising over the last decade, thus re-opening the issue of a probable asymptote of testicular cancer incidence in this population.
Full-order observer design for linear systems with unknown inputs

In this article, a full-order observer without unknown inputs reconstruction is suggested in order to achieve finite-time reconstruction of the state vector for a class of linear systems with unknown inputs. The observer is a simple one, its derivation being direct and easy. It will be shown that the problem of full-order observers for linear systems with unknown inputs can be reduced in this case to a standard one (the unknown input vector will not interfere in the observer equations). The effectiveness of the suggested design algorithm is illustrated by a numerical example (aircraft longitudinal motion), and, for the same aircraft dynamics, we make a comparison between our new observer and other already existing observers from the existence conditions and dynamic characteristics’ point of view; the superiority of the new designed observer is demonstrated.
Nonhuman primates as models for the discovery and development of ebolavirus therapeutics

Introduction: Ebolaviruses are human pathogenic Category A priority pathogens for which no vaccines or therapeutics are currently licensed; however, several therapeutic agents have shown promising efficacy in nonhuman primate models of infection and are potential candidates for use in humans. Demonstration of efficacy in nonhuman primate models of ebolavirus infection will probably be central to the development and eventual licensure of ebolavirus medical countermeasures given the ethical and feasibility constraints of human efficacy assessments. Areas covered: The authors describe ebolavirus hemorrhagic fever (EHF), with an emphasis on comparing human and nonhuman primate pathophysiology. Published data examining human and animal clinical disease parameters, histopathological findings, and immune responses in fatal and nonfatal cases are synthesized and evaluated. Importantly, the authors also introduce and describe the FDA Animal Efficacy Rule as well as recent advances in antiviral drug development strategies for the treatment of EHF. Expert opinion: Well-characterized models of ebolavirus infection are currently under development and scrutiny as to their accuracy and utility for modeling fatal infection in humans. The advanced development and eventual licensure of therapeutic agents will require demonstration that mechanisms conferring protection in nonhuman primate models of infection are predictive of protective responses in humans.
Corporate Insolvency Proceedings: A Case of Visegrad Four

Insolvency proceeding and liquidation of bankrupt companies are important topics in days of economic slowdown which affected all economies after financial crisis. This paper aims to find main differences between insolvency proceedings in the countries of Visegrad four. The main goal is to describe insolvency law in member countries and then to compare it from the poin of view of main actors. This comparison can help to find which changes and ideas could be applied to improve and make more effective the Czech insolvency system. The countries of Visegrad four was selected because of their common history and similar economic development. First of all, the legal background of insolvency proceedings which is possible for legal entities in these countries is examined. Then this paper deals with insolvency proceedings from the point of view of their participants – creditors, debtors and insolvency administrator. We have found that insolvency proceedings in these countries are very similar but there is still some inspiration for the Czech insolvency system.
Immunologic Response to Oral Polio Vaccine in Human Immunodeficiency Virus–infected and Uninfected Zimbabwean Children

Background: Poliovirus eradication is dependent on maintaining adequate community-wide levels of serologic protection. Many African countries with conditions that favor continued wild poliovirus propagation also have a high prevalence of pediatric human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. Data are limited regarding the degree of serologic immunity conferred on HIV-infected children after immunization with oral polio vaccine (OPV). Methods: This was a cross-sectional study correlating HIV infection and neutralizing antibodies against poliovirus serotypes 1, 2, and 3 in 95 Zimbabwean children 2 months to 2 years of age, born to HIV-infected mothers, who received OPV according to the national schedule. Results: HIV-infected children had significantly lower rates of seroconversion to all 3 poliovirus serotypes than HIV-uninfected children (60%, 67%, and 47% vs. 96%, 100%, and 82%, P = 0.001, 0.0003, and 0.015 for serotypes 1, 2, and 3 in HIV-infected and uninfected children, respectively, after ≥3 OPV doses). Among poliovirus seroconverters, HIV-infected children also had significantly lower geometric mean titers against serotypes 1 and 2 than HIV-uninfected children (geometric mean titers: 198 and 317 vs. 1193 and 1056, P = 0.032 and 0.050, for serotypes 1 and 2, respectively, after ≥3 OPV doses). In addition, HIV-infected children had significantly higher levels of total IgG and significantly lower CD4% and mean weight than HIV-uninfected children. Of note, none of the HIV-infected children were receiving antiretroviral therapy, and 71% had a CD4% indicating severe immunodeficiency. Conclusions: Pediatric HIV infection is associated with a poor serologic response to OPV, which could pose an obstacle to global polio eradication.
Paraneoplastic necrotizing myopathy

Objective: To characterize the clinical features and muscle pathology of paraneoplastic necrotizing myopathy. Background: Paraneoplastic syndromes involving many levels of the nervous system are well described, but there are only rare case reports of a necrotizing myopathy associated with cancer. Design: Case series. Results: We identified four patients with paraneoplastic necrotizing myopathy from muscle biopsies done at Washington University over a 10-year period. The patients (aged 38 to 76 years) presented with subacutely evolving, symmetric, proximal weakness. Tumor types included gastrointestinal adenocarcinoma (2 of 4), transitional cell carcinoma, prostatic carcinoma, and non-small cell lung carcinoma. Two patients died. Two others improved after treatment that included corticosteroids and tumor resection. Muscle pathology showed numerous necrotic fibers (8 to 100%) and intense alkaline phosphatase staining of the muscle connective tissue, but little inflammation. Conclusions: Paraneoplastic necrotizing myopathy is characterized by a rapidly progressive, symmetric, predominantly proximal weakness that produces severe disability. Muscle pathology demonstrates prominent necrosis with alkaline phosphatase staining of connective tissue and little inflammation. Evaluation for cancer is indicated in patients with these clinical and pathologic findings.
Oczekiwania studentów kierunków ekonomicznych wobec rynku pracy

Problematyka niniejszego opracowania dotyczy oczekiwan wobec przyszlego zatrudnienia studentow kierunkow ekonomii i zarządzania. Zainteresowania autorki skoncentrowaly sie w szczegolności na oczekiwaniach odnośnie miejsca pracy oraz zarobkow. Material empiryczny zgromadzono na podstawie badan przeprowadzonych w latach 2009/2010, z wykorzystaniem metody sondazu diagnostycznego. Badaniami objeto studentow pierwszego roku studiow stacjonarnych trzech lubelskich wyzszych uczelni panstwowych, tj. Katolickiego Uniwersytetu Lubelskiego Jana Pawla II, Uniwersytetu Marii Curie-Sklodowskiej oraz Politechniki Lubelskiej.
Transient elevation of neutrophil proteinases in induced sputum during COPD exacerbation

Objective. Patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are prone to acute exacerbations associated with increased morbidity and mortality. One potential group of enzymes causing tissue destruction in this disease includes neutrophil proteinase elastase (NE), collagenase‐2 (matrix metalloproteinase‐8 (MMP‐8)) and gelatinase B (MMP‐9). We investigated the activity of NE and the levels of MMP‐8 and MMP‐9 in a longitudinal setting at and after COPD exacerbation using a non‐invasive technique, i.e. induced sputum, to ascertain whether these proteinases play a role in COPD exacerbation. Material and methods. The study included healthy non‐smokers (n = 32), healthy smokers (n = 28), patients with stable COPD (n = 15), COPD patients with acute exacerbations (exa) (n = 10) and their recovery (n = 8) after 4 weeks. NE activity by synthetic peptide substrate and spectrophotometry, MMP‐8 levels by immunofluorometry and MMP‐9 levels by ELISA were analysed from induced sputum supernatants. Results. NE activity and the level of MMP‐8 increased highly significantly in patients with COPD exacerbation compared to stable COPD and controls (NE: p = 0.001 and p<0.0001; MMP‐8: p<0.001 and p<0.0001). Paired samples showed a decrease of these proteinases during the recovery period after exacerbation (p = 0.03, p = 0.04). The proteinase levels correlated not only with the percentage and number of neutrophils but also with the lung function parameters (FEV1/FVC and diffusion capacity). Conclusions. COPD exacerbations are associated with neutrophil recruitment into the airways but also transient activation and/or elevation of tissue destruction proteinases, such as NE and MMP‐8, which can be detected from the induced sputum supernatants of these COPD patients.
The interplay of human and social capital in shaping entrepreneurial performance: the case of Vietnam

This study investigates the effects of human capital, social capital and their interaction on the performance of 1,398 Vietnamese new-born firms. Operating profit is used as the measure of success. Human capital is captured by individual-level professional education, start-up experience, and learning. Whereas the first two dimensions of human capital are measured with traditional indicators, we define learning as the ability to accumulate knowledge to conduct innovation activities (new product introduction, product innovation and process innovation). Social capital is measured as benefits obtained from personal strong-tie and weak-tie networks. Key findings are threefold: (i) human capital strongly predicts firm success, with learning exhibiting a statistically significant positive association with operating profit, (ii) benefits from weak ties outweigh those from strong ties, (iii) interaction of human capital and social capital displays a statistically significant positive effect on new-firm performance.
2-D-CFD Analysis of the Effect of Trailing Edge Shape on the Performance of a Straight-Blade Vertical Axis Wind Turbine

This paper numerically investigates the effect of the trailing edge profile on the performance of the straight-blade vertical axis wind turbine (SB-VAWT). In a 2-D cross-section of the SB-VAWT model, four trailing edge profiles are investigated, namely sharp, rounded, S-blunt, and R-blunt. The numerical investigation is based on the unsteady Reynolds averaged Navier-Stokes (URANS) equations combined with the transition shear stress transport (SST) model in order to account for the transition in the boundary layer in the vicinity of the airfoils. It has been found that the trailing edge profile may play a significant role in improving the turbine performance and should be accurately accounted for in the design process of the SB-VAWT.
Development and regulation of osteophyte formation during experimental osteoarthritis.

OBJECTIVES Osteophytes represent areas of new cartilage and bone formation in human and experimentally induced osteoarthritis (OA). The present study addressed the production of nitric oxide (NO), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and the occurrence of apoptosis during osteophyte formation. DESIGN Osteophytes in the knee joint of rabbits that developed OA-like lesions following anterior cruciate ligament transection (ACLT) were analysed by histology and immunohistochemistry for NO production, and the presence of VEGF. TUNEL was used to detect DNA fragmentation. RESULTS At the joint margins in the interface between cortical bone marrow and periosteal lining growth plate-like formations were detectable as early as 4 weeks after ACLT. By 12 weeks after ACLT osteophytes were visible in 100% of femoral condyles and tibial plateaus. Discrete areas with proliferating chondrocytes, hypertrophic chondrocytes, calcified matrix and vascular invasion were observed. VEGF immunoreactivity was most prominent in hypertrophic chondrocytes 9 weeks after ACLT. Nitrotyrosine immunoreactivity was detected in endothelial cells and in some hypertrophic chondrocytes in the calcified zone 4 weeks after ACLT. After 8 and 12 weeks, positive cells were detected in the hypertrophic and calcified zone. TUNEL-positive cells were seen in blood vessels, and among hypertrophic chondrocytes adjacent to the blood vessels 4 weeks after ACLT. The proliferative zone, pre-hypertrophic zone and hypertrophic zone showed only a few TUNEL positive cells. In contrast, 8 weeks and 12 weeks after ACLT, most hypertrophic chondrocytes, but few proliferative chondrocytes showed DNA fragmentation. CONCLUSIONS Hypertrophic chondrocytes in osteophytes express VEGF and this can promote vascular invasion of cartilage. The presence of TUNEL-positive cells shows a similar distribution as nitrotyrosine immunoreactivity during all phases of osteophyte development, suggesting that NO production and chondrocyte death are related events in osteophyte formation.
Optimization of image acquisition parameters in chest tomosynthesis - Experimental studies on pulmonary nodule assessment and perceived image quality

Chest tomosynthesis refers to the technique of acquiring a number of discrete projection images within a limited angular range around the patient. These projection images are then used to reconstruct section images of the chest. Chest tomosynthesis might be a suitable alternative to CT in follow up of pulmonary nodules, which involves nodule size characterization and detection of nodule growth over time. Tomosynthesis section images will contain artifacts due to the limited angular interval of the scan. For example, an in-plane artifact appears as darker areas around nodule borders. There is a need for evaluating the influence of different parameters of a tomosynthesis examination on the resulting section images. The overall aim of this thesis was to find optimal image acquisition parameters in chest tomosynthesis, both in terms of perceived image quality and pulmonary nodule size assessment. In addition, it aims at contributing to a general evaluation of chest tomosynthesis in the task of follow up of nodules, and it includes an evaluation of the effect of the in-plane artifact on nodule size assessment. Methods including participation of radiologists were used. A visual grading study was performed using an anthropomorphic phantom in order to find the optimal image acquisition parameters regarding perceived image quality. In order to evaluate the quality of the images in terms of nodule measurement accuracy and precision, as well as to evaluate the possibility to detect nodule size change over time, the radiologists measured and visually evaluated the size of simulated pulmonary nodules inserted into clinical chest tomosynthesis images. With the specific imaging system used, and at the standard dose level, potential benefits for perceived image quality of increasing the dose per projection image do not fully compensate for the negative effects of an accompanying reduction in the number of acquired projection images. Regarding nodule size measurements, the results suggest high measurement accuracy and precision with chest tomosynthesis, and that a reduction of up to 50% of the standard dose level for the imaging system used may be possible without reducing the measurement accuracy and precision. A minor negative effect on nodule measurement accuracy due to the presence of the in-plane artifact was found. Results suggest that chest tomosynthesis is a promising imaging modality for detection of pulmonary nodule growth. However, the possibility to detect growth may decrease with decreasing nodule sizes and dose level. Mismatch in nodule position relative to the reconstructed image planes between two consecutive chest tomosynthesis examinations can also hamper the detection. In a future perspective, the results presented in this thesis should be confirmed using clinical chest tomosynthesis images including real pulmonary nodules.
The value of quantitative analysis of glucose utilization in detection of myocardial viability by PET.

To study whether absolute quantitation of regional myocardial glucose utilization (rMGU) enhances detection of myocardial viability, 70 nondiabetic patients with prior myocardial infarction and angiographically confirmed coronary artery disease were studied with [18F]FDG PET after oral glucose loading. Forty-eight patients were also revascularized and underwent echocardiography after revascularization to detect wall motion recovery. The rMGU was calculated in eight myocardial segments in each patient and the results were compared to normalized (relative) [18F]FDG uptake values. In normal segments (n = 225), rMGU was 56 +/- 18 mumole/min/100 g (mean +/- s.d.) and relative [18F]FDG uptake 97% +/- 12%. The interindividual variation of rMGU in normal myocardium was greater than the intraindividual variation (s.d. 31% versus 11%). The respective values for relative [18F]FDG uptake were 9% and 10%. Both rMGU and [18F]FDG uptake were significantly reduced in segments with scarring observed visually during bypass surgery (29 +/- 19 mumole/min/100 g and 45% +/- 22%, n = 26). The rMGU and [18F]FDG uptake were higher in segments that recovered after revascularization (53 +/- 17 mumole/min/100/g and 110% +/- 21%, n = 27) than in those that did not (37 +/- 20 mumole/min/100 g and 65% +/- 24%, n = 63). However, due to larger variability of rMGU values, normalized [18F]FDG uptake was superior to rMGU in separating normal and scar segments as well as in predicting wall motion recovery. We conclude that rMGU variability is notable and is caused mainly by variations between patients. Interindividual variation is reduced by normalization, which results in more accurate assessment of myocardial viability. Thus, static imaging and semiquantitative analysis are sufficient for the clinical assessment of myocardial viability.
Effects of inhibitors of the lipo‐oxygenase family of enzymes on the store‐operated calcium current ICRAC in rat basophilic leukaemia cells

In non‐excitable cells, the major Ca2+ entry pathway is the store‐operated pathway in which emptying of intracellular Ca2+ stores activates Ca2+ channels in the plasma membrane. In many cell types, store‐operated influx gives rise to a Ca2+‐selective current called ICRAC (Ca2+ release‐activated Ca2+ current). Using both the whole‐cell patch clamp technique to measure ICRAC directly and fluorescent Ca2+ imaging, we have examined the role of the lipo‐oxygenase pathway in the activation of store‐operated Ca2+ entry in the RBL‐1 rat basophilic leukaemia cell‐line. Pretreatment with a variety of structurally distinct lipo‐oxygenase inhibitors all reduced the extent of ICRAC, whereas inhibition of the cyclo‐oxygenase enzymes was without effect. The inhibition was still seen in the presence of the broad protein kinase blocker staurosporine, or when Na+ was used as the charge carrier through CRAC channels. The lipo‐oxygenase blockers released Ca2+ from intracellular stores but this was not associated with subsequent Ca2+ entry. Lipo‐oxygenase blockers also reduced both the amount of Ca2+ that could subsequently be released by the combination of thapsigargin and ionomycin in Ca2+‐free solution and the Ca2+ influx component that occurred when external Ca2+ was re‐admitted. The inhibitors were much less effective if applied after ICRAC had been activated. This inhibition of ICRAC could not be rescued by dialysis with 5(S)‐hydroxyperoxyeicosa‐6E,8Z,11Z,14Z, tetraenoic acid (5‐HPETE), the first product of the 5‐lipo‐oxygenase pathway. Our findings indicate that exposure to pharmacological tools that inhibit the lipo‐oxygenase enzymes all decrease the extent of activation of the current. Our results raise the possibility that a lipo‐oxygenase might be involved in the activation of ICRAC. Alternative explanations are also discussed.
Stoichiometric tracking of soil nutrients by a desert insect herbivore

Biogeochemistry and population biology have developed independently, with few attempts at linkage, almost none of which were mechanistically based. We hypothesize that biogeochemical cycling is linked to herbivore population dynamics through the influence of soil nutrient availability on foliar nutrient content, which constrains herbivore investment in phosphorus (P)-rich molecules necessary for growth. We show that variation in desert soil P availability is linked to abundance of an insect herbivore (Sabinia setosa) through the influence of soil P on the C:P ratio of the host plant (Prosopis velutina). Low P availability increases C:P ratio of Prosopis leaves, leading to a decline in body %P, %RNA and abundance of Sabinia. Tight association between soil, plant and herbivore P provides the first evidence of a mechanistic pathway linking P biogeochemistry to terrestrial food webs by altering the supply of dietary P to herbivores, thus limiting their capacity for growth by constraining the production of P-rich cellular ribosomal RNA (rRNA).
A dual band 915MHz/2.44GHz RF energy harvester

This paper presents the development of a dual-band rectenna optimized to convert far-field RF energy to DC voltage at very low received power. Implemented on a standard FR4 substrate with commercially off-the-shelf (COTS) devices, the RF harvester provides a rectified voltage of 1V for a combined power of -19.5dBm at 915MHz and -25dBm at 2.44GHz. The remote powering of a clock is demonstrated, and the rectenna yields a power efficiency of 27%.
Subanta pada analyzer for Sanskrit

Natural language processing has wide coverage in application areas like machine translation , text to speech conversion , semantic analysis , semantic role labeling and knowledge representation . Morphological and syntactic processing are components of NLP which process each word to produce the syntactic structure of the sentence, with respect to its grammar . Semantic analysis follows syntactic analysis. One of the key task in morphological analysis is identifying the correct root word from its inflected form.In Sanskrit language, these inflected word follow the rules which are used to separate the root word from its suffix.These extracted suffix carry sufficient amount of syntactic and semantic information with them . To develop such word splitter, rules called sandhi rules given in the grammar of the Sanskrit language has been used.The challenge in the problem lies is in identifying the junction point or breaking point of the word as multiple junction can be obtained within the word . Developed