Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Anatomical Reconstruction from Endoscopic Images: Toward Quantitative Endoscopy

Background Recent advances in computational image processing have made it possible to reconstruct camera motion and scene geometry from a series of monocular images. By applying these methods to endoscopic image sequences, it is possible to create detailed, quantitative anatomic reconstructions. Such anatomic reconstructions have many potential clinical uses. Our objectives in this study are to (1) develop a process flow for reconstruction from endoscopic image sequences and (2) present results supporting the hypothesis that such reconstructions can be computed. Methods We first outline the overall process flow for endoscopic reconstruction. Then, we present an instantiation of this process flow using recently developed methods in computational vision. We apply these methods to cadaverous specimens for which ground truth endoscopic motion is known. Results We are able to produce consistent estimates of endoscopic motion and dense reconstructions of the surrounding anatomy for >65% of 1373 image pairs. Conclusion Our study indicates that processing endoscopic images to produce anatomic structure is feasible. Such reconstructions have high potential clinical value for intraoperative navigation, diagnosis, and treatment planning.
Rapeseed and sunflower oilcake as supplements for dairy sheep: animal performance and milk fatty acid concentrations

The influence of different amounts of oilseed cake (rapeseed and sunflower) on animal production parameters and fatty acid (FA) concentrations of the milk was studied in a Latxa dairy sheep experimental flock, both in winter (50% oilcakes; indoor feeding) and in spring (30% oilcakes; part-time grazing). The two different levels of the oilcakes tested did not affect animal production parameters or milk yield. Milk fat content and the fat/protein ratio decreased significantly with 30 and 50% sunflower cake. Yet, fat/protein ratio values were within the range for cheesemaking. Both levels of either type of oilcake tested significantly increased the concentrations of nutritionally interesting FA (CLA isomer C18:2cis-9, trans-11, vaccenic, oleic, and total unsaturated FA), while simultaneously decreasing the concentration of atherogenic FA. The atherogenicity indexes of milks from ewes fed 50 or 30% of either oilcake were significantly lower than those of their corresponding control. The use of cakes in winter increased the concentration of nutritionally interesting FA to the values obtained with part-time grazing.
Antigenic Differences Between Strains of Scrub Typhus as Demonstrated by Cross-Neutralization Tests

Summary and Conclusions The antigenic relationship of 3 strains of R. orientalis was studied by means of cross-neutralization tests. Antiserum produced in rabbits to the Kostival or Seerangayee strains neutralized the homologous strain only. However, antiserum produced in guinea pigs to the Host 21 strain showed a broader coverage.
Performance of Leak Compensation in All-Age ICU Ventilators During Volume-Targeted Neonatal Ventilation: A Lung Model Study

BACKGROUND: Volume-targeted ventilation is increasingly used in low birthweight infants because of the potential for reducing volutrauma and avoiding hypocapnea. However, it is not known what level of air leak is acceptable during neonatal volume-targeted ventilation when leak compensation is activated concurrently. METHODS: Four ICU ventilators (Servo-i, PB980, V500, and Avea) were compared in available invasive volume-targeted ventilation modes (pressure control continuous spontaneous ventilation [PC-CSV] and pressure control continuous mandatory ventilation [PC-CMV]). The Servo-i and PB980 were tested with (+) and without (−) their proximal flow sensor. The V500 and Avea were tested with their proximal flow sensor as indicated by their manufacturers. An ASL 5000 lung model was used to simulate 4 neonatal scenarios (body weight 0.5, 1, 2, and 4 kg). The ASL 5000 was ventilated via an endotracheal tube with 3 different leaks. Two minutes of data were collected after each change in leak level, and the asynchrony index was calculated. Tidal volume (VT) before and after the change in leak was assessed. RESULTS: The differences in delivered VT between before and after the change in leak were within ±5% in all scenarios with the PB980 (−/+) and V500. With the Servo-i (−/+), baseline VT was ≥10% greater than set VT during PC-CSV, and delivered VT markedly changed with leak. The Avea demonstrated persistent high VT in all leak scenarios. Across all ventilators, the median asynchrony index was 1% (interquartile range 0–27%) in PC-CSV and 1.8% (0–45%) in PC-CMV. The median asynchrony index was significantly higher in the Servo-i (−/+) than in the PB980 (−/+) and V500 in 1 and 2 kg scenarios during PC-CSV and PC-CMV. CONCLUSIONS: The PB980 and V500 were the only ventilators to acclimate to all leak scenarios and achieve targeted VT. Further clinical investigation is needed to validate the use of leak compensation during neonatal volume-targeted ventilation.
1 Symbiosis of Thioautotrophic Bacteria with Riftia pachyptila

The symbiosis between the giant vestimentiferan tubeworm Riftia pachyptila and an intracellular sulfur-oxidizing bacterium still fascinates researchers over 20 years after its discovery. This association, the first between a marine invertebrate and a chemoautotroph to be described, remains the best studied of the symbioses found at sulfide-rich hydrothermal vents. In the decade following the initial description of this symbiosis in 1981 (Cavanaugh et al. 1981; Felbeck 1981), many important studies have helped to characterize the physiological, biochemical, and anatomical adaptations that sustain this association (for other reviews see Fisher 1995; Nelson and Fisher 1995; van
Thailand as a tourist destination: Perceptions of international visitors and Thai residents

In the tourism industry, the perceptions of a tourist destination are critical to its image. Image can be either a mental image of a product created by a marketing department or an associative image of a product that is developed by the consumer. Tourism destinations must be careful about their image so the perception that they have is not different from the way that they are perceived by potential travelers. This study examines the perceptions of international visitors and Thai residents on the image of Thailand as a tourist destination. International visitors and Thai residents were both surveyed to determine their perceptions of the image of Thailand. Some results of the study found that Thai residents and international visitors felt cultural sightseeing, friendly people and food were significantly important when thinking of Thailand as a tourist destination, while international visitors felt that nightlife and entertainment were significantly more important than that of Thai residents.
EXPERIMENTAL PRIMARY CUTANEOUS COCCIDIOIDOMYCOSIS IN THE MONKEY

Converse, John L. (U.S. Army Biological Laboratories, Fort Detrick, Frederick, Md.), Steven P. Pakes, Ernest M. Snyder, and Merida W. Castleberry. Experimental primary cutaneous coccidioidomycosis in the monkey. J. Bacteriol. 87:81–85. 1964. —Primary cutaneous coccidioidomycosis was studied in the monkey (Macaca mulatta) to find a suitable strain of Coccidioides immitis for use as a viable vaccine. Intradermal inoculation (medial surface of the right forearm) produced more severe vaccination reactions (draining vaccination site and axillary lymph node hypertrophy) than did subcutaneous injection. A subcutaneous vaccine dose of 10 arthrospores resulted in less reaction than a 100-spore dose. Moreover, dissemination beyond the regional lymph nodes did not occur after injection of ten spores of even the most virulent strains of C. immitis. Two of the five strains tested (Silveira, M-11, D-76, Cash, and a colonial isolate from Cash designated CW1) exhibited very mild vaccination reactions and appeared to have been cleared from the tissues upon necropsy at 10 months postvaccination. These two strains (Cash and CW1) appear promising for further immunological studies with a viable vaccine.
Dermal fibroblasts from different layers of human skin are heterogeneous in expression of collagenase and types I and III procollagen mRNA

We have previously shown that the expression of collagenase mRNA and activity are suppressed in fibroblasts derived from postburn hypertrophic scar. Although it is known that differential synthesis of collagen and collagenase in postburn hypertrophic scar is one of the main reasons for the excessive accumulation of collagen, it is not clear why the expression of collagenase in hypertrophic scar fibroblasts is suppressed relative to that in normal fibroblasts. In this study, we hypothesized that dermal fibroblasts from deeper layers of skin, which normally migrate toward the wound site, have a different capacity to express key extracellular matrix proteins such as collagenase and types I and III procollagen. To test this hypothesis, we established four different pairs of hypertrophic and site‐matched normal cell strains from four different patients with postburn hypertrophic scarring. In another set of experiments, ten different cell strains from two normal human skin samples that were horizontally sectioned into five different layers (layers 1–5 correspond to upper to deeper layers, respectively) were established in culture. Cells at the same passages were harvested, total RNA was extracted, and Northern analysis was conducted to determine the level of collagenase and types I and III procollagen mRNA expression in each cell strain. The results of Northern blot analysis showed two transcripts each for the pro α1(I) collagen chain (5.8 and 4.8 kb) and for the pro α1(III) collagen chain (5.4 and 4.8 kb) in all cell strains examined. The intensity of the pro α1(I) chain of type I procollagen mRNA varied, ranging from 50.8 to 137.1 and 44.4 to 131.5 densitometry units among either normal or hypertrophic scar cells examined, respectively. Similarly, the relative quantity of type III procollagen transcript also varied, ranging from 10.4 to 91.1 and 28.7 to 116.1 among normal and hypertrophic scar cells, respectively. When five different skin layers from each tissue sample were evaluated for functional cell heterogeneity, the results showed a marked variation in expression of mRNA for type I and III procollagen. Although the level of collagenase mRNA also varied among different cell strains examined, the expression of collagenase mRNA was lower in fibroblasts derived from deeper layers of each skin sample. In conclusion, cells from different layers of normal skin samples are heterogeneous in their constitutive expression of some key extracellular matrix components such as collagenase and types I and III procollagen.
Integrating Knowledge through Information Trading: Examining the Relationship between Boundary Spanning Communication and Individual Performance

With the global penetration of internet technologies, individuals may now cross organizational boundaries to communicate efficiently with others in various networks of practice regardless of time and space. Thus, when looking for help in solving work tasks, knowledge workers may just as easily contact individuals in rival firms across the globe as a coworker sitting at the next desk. As a result, management faces questions such as 1) how should firms manage employees' knowledge-sourcing activities when they span both intraorganizational and extra-organizational boundaries, and 2) what is the relationship between different knowledge-sourcing activities and individual performance? Grounded in the knowledge-based view of the firm, we investigate these questions using data from Europe's largest IT services and management consulting company. Our results provide evidence that organizations should support boundary spanning and participation in both internal and external networks of practice. Results suggest I) a positive relationship between boundary spanning communication and creativity and general performance and 2) a negative relationship between a reliance on colocated coworkers as knowledge sources and creativity.
Efficient Pollution Regulation: Getting the Prices Right

This paper argues for efficient environmental regulations that equate the marginal damage of pollution to marginal abatement costs across space. The paper estimates the source-specific marginal damages of air pollution and calculates the welfare gain from making the current sulfur dioxide allowance trading program for power plants more efficient. The savings from using trading ratios based on marginal damages are between $310 and $940 million per year. The potential savings from setting aggregate emissions efficiently and from including more sources of air pollution are many times higher. (JEL H23, Q53, Q58)
Retinal nerve fiber layer thickness in normal Chinese students aged 6 to 17 years.

PURPOSE We obtained retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness measurements in normal Chinese students aged 6 to 17 years, and investigated the relationship between RNFL thickness and sex, eye laterality, age, axial length, and refractive error. METHODS A total of 4648 eyes in 2324 normal, randomly-selected Chinese students aged 6 to 17 years was examined in this study. The RNFL thickness was measured by optical coherence tomography. The effects of sex, eye laterality (left or right), age, refractive error, and axial length on RNFL thickness were assessed. RESULTS The average age of the subjects was 12.82 ± 3.11 years. The global average RNFL thickness (±SD) was 106.89 ± 12.84 μm. The thickest RNFL measurements were found at the superior (133.22 ± 19.48 μm) and inferior (129.23 ± 20.30 μm) quadrants of the retina, followed by the temporal (93.58 ± 29.15 μm) and nasal (77.10 ± 14.89 μm) quadrants. In the 1529 participants aged 12 to 17, there were no significant differences in RNFL thickness values between the right and left eyes (P > 0.05); significant differences in RNFL were found only in the inferior and temporal quadrants of the retina in different sex groups (P < 0.05). Linear regression analysis revealed that the RNFL thickness values were correlated independently with axial length and refractive error (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS For clinical assessment of RNFL thickness, the influence of refractive error and axial length should be taken into account.
Online value creation in small service businesses: the importance of experience valence and personal values

Perceived value is of great interest in current marketing research. However, in the area of Internet as a shopping channel of small businesses, there has been little analysis of customer perceived value and its determinants. This paper examines two little analysed aspects of value creation, experience valence and personal values. The analysis of data from a survey of tourism service purchase shows that experience valence, in terms of relevant information, ease of use and customer service, clearly influences perceived value after the online shopping experience. In contrast, only personal values of sense of security and sense of accomplishment influence perceived value.
Forecasting the Forecasts of Others in the Frequency Domain

This paper studies a class of models developed by Townsend (1983) and Sargent (1991). These models feature dynamic signal extraction problems and an infinite regress in expectations. This paper uses frequency domain methods to compute an analytical solution to the fixed point problem posed by the infinite regress in expectations. The advantage of a frequency domain approach vis-a-vis a time domain approach derives for the fact that these models produce equilibrium with non-fundamental moving average representations, in which market observations do not reveal the underlying shocks to agents' information sets. As a result, decision rules contain moving average components that are more easily handled in the frequency domain than in the time domain. (Copyright: Elsevier)
Essays in exchange rates and international finance

I DEDICATION III ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS IV DECLARATION VI PUBLICATIONS AND CONFERENCES VII LIST OF TABLES XII LIST OF FIGURES XIV CHAPTER ONE INRODUCTION 1 CHAPTER TWO THE MONETARY MODELS OF THE US DOLLARJAPANESE YEN EXCHANGE RATE: AN EMPIRICAL INVESTIGATION 2.
A Soft Approach to Encapsulate Sulfur: Polyaniline Nanotubes for Lithium‐Sulfur Batteries with Long Cycle Life

A novel vulcanized polyaniline nanotube/sulfur composite was prepared successfully via an in situ vulcanization process by heating a mixture of polyaniline nanotube and sulfur at 280 °C. The electrode could retain a discharge capacity of 837 mAh g(-1) after 100 cycles at a 0.1 C rate and manifested 76% capacity retention up to 500 cycles at a 1 C rate.
Do Health Insurers Possess Market Power?

During the 2009–2010 health care reform debates, many policy makers presumed that a lack of competition in the U.S. health insurance industry had resulted in greater levels of uninsurance. However, such a presumption has no basis in current research. This study, with a panel data set of the 50 states and the District of Columbia over the years 2001–2007, examines how health-insurer market concentration at the state level influences the percentage of the population with either individually purchased or employer-sponsored private health insurance. Two-stage least squares estimates are derived using a lagged measure of health-insurer concentration as an instrument. Results suggest that health insurers exercise market power on the seller side of the health insurance marketplace, but the restriction of output is limited to the individually purchased insurance market segment.
Enhancement of lymphoma cell immunogenicity by infection with nononcogenic virus.

Summary For preparation of antigen, cells from an ascites lymphoma, induced by the Gross virus and transplanted in syngeneic C3H/Bi mice, were infected with parainfluenza I or Newcastle disease virus. After 48 hr of incubation to permit growth of virus, cells were extracted by freezing and thawing in 0.03% NaCl solution. Extracts representing about 10 7 tumor cells were injected repeatedly at intervals of 3 to 4 weeks. Survival after i.p. challenge with uninfected lymphoma cells was demonstrated. Immunized allogeneic C3H/HeJ mice survived larger challenge doses than did the syngeneic C3H/Bi strain. Control mice of either strain given injections of extracts of uninfected lymphoma cells did not develop significant immunity. The two viral species seemed equally effective in enhancing immunogenicity. Preliminary results indicate that growth of virus in the tumor cells may be essential to immunogenicity of these preparations. Complete Freund9s adjuvant improved the immune response by making it possible to induce immunity with fewer injections of virus-cell antigen. Tests of cell fractions in syngeneic mice indicate that a major portion of the antigen is in the membrane fraction, less is in other fractions, and none is in the 20,000 × g supernatant. Virus and other small particles concentrated from the tissue culture supernatants by ultracentrifugation were less effective than membranes.
Conceptualizing supports and the support needs of people with intellectual disability.

This is the third in a series of perspective articles (Schalock et al., 2007; Wehmeyer et al., 2008) from the Terminology and Classification Committee of the American Association on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (AAIDD). The purpose of these articles is to share our thoughts on critical issues associated with terminology, definition, and classification in the field of intellectual disability and to seek input from the field as we prepare the 11th edition of AAIDD’s Diagnosis, Classification, and System of Supports Manual (the working title). In the first article (Schalock et al., 2007), we explained the reasons for shifting from the term mental retardation to intellectual disability. Although the two terms cover the same population of individuals, we concluded that intellectual disability was the better term because it
Estrogen and Progestin Bioactivity of Foods, Herbs, and Spices

Abstract In this study we report on the content and bioactivity of plant (phyto) estrogens and progestins in various foods, herbs, and spices, before and after human consumption. Over 150 herbs traditionally used by herbalists for treating a variety of health problems were extracted and tested for their relative capacity to compete with estradiol and progesterone binding to intracellular receptors for progesterone (PR) and estradiol (ER) in intact human breast cancer cells. The six highest ER-binding herbs that are commonly consumed were soy, licorice, red clover, thyme, tumeric, hops, and verbena. The six highest PR-binding herbs and spices commonly consumed were oregano, verbena, tumeric, thyme, red clover and damiana. Some of the herbs and spices found to contain high phytoestrogens and phytoprogestins were further tested for bioactivity based on their ability to regulate cell growth rate in ER (+) and ER (–) breast cancer cell lines and to induce or inhibit the synthesis of alkaline phosphatase, an end product of progesterone action, in PR (+) cells. In general, we found that ER-binding herbal extracts were agonists, much like estradiol, whereas PR-binding extracts, were neutral or antagonists. The bioavailability of phytoestrogens and phytoprogestins in vivo were studied by quantitating the ER-binding and PR-binding capacity of saliva following consumption of soy milk, exogenous progesterone, medroxyprogesterone acetate, or wild mexican yam products containing diosgenin. Soy milk caused a dramatic increase in saliva ER-binding components without a concommitant rise in estradiol. Consumption of PR-binding herbs increased the progestin activity of saliva, but there were marked differences in bioactivity. In summary, we have demonstrated that many of the commonly consumed foods, herbs, and spices contain phytoestrogens and phytoprogestins that act as agonists and antagonists in Vivo.
Benign Neonatal Seizures

Benign neonatal seizures is a rare but increasingly recognized syndrome characterized by seizures in the neonatal or infantile period. Two forms are recognized: familial and nonfamilial. In both instances, the seizures may be quite severe, and status epilepticus is common. The nonfamilial form is characterized by idiopathic, self-limited seizures occurring in previously normal neonates. The seizures most commonly occur at day 5 and have been called “fifth-day fits” by some authors. Familial seizures most frequently have their onset during the first week of life, but onset may occur as late as early infancy. These seizures may recur for several months before resolving. No cause is found for the seizures, and the patient appears healthy during the interictal period. The family history reveals benign neonatal seizures in other family members. Although the prognosis is favorable in both syndromes, seizures may occasionally occur later in life in the familial form. The familial form of benign neonatal seizures is autosomal dominant, and the gene has been localized to chromosome 20.
Differential vestibular dysfunction in sudden unilateral hearing loss

Auditory and vestibular function was examined in 29 patients with unilateral sensorineural hearing loss to identify characteristic vestibulocochlear lesion patterns. In 45%, a vestibular lesion was found, of which 53% had a combined impairment of the cochlea and the ipsilateral posterior semicircular canal, possibly reflecting vascular disease in the common cochlear artery.
Colistin Heteroresistance in Acinetobacter and Its Association with Previous Colistin Therapy

ABSTRACT Colistin heteroresistance has been reported among Acinetobacter isolates; however, its association with prior colistin therapy has not been not described. A population analysis profile identified resistant Acinetobacter subpopulations from colistin-susceptible clinical isolates. The proportion of cells exhibiting heteroresistance was significantly higher among isolates recovered from patients treated with colistin.