Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
MRI-Based Individual 3D Region-of-Interest Atlases of the Human Brain

Summary Objectives: Introduction of a new atlas-based method for analyzing functional data which takes into account the variability of individual human brains and the partial volume effects of functional emission computed tomography images in complex anatomical 3D regions, as well as describing the underlying multi-modal image processing principles. Methods: 3D atlas extraction is done directly by automated segmentation of individual magnetic resonance images of the patient’s head. This is done in two steps: voxel-based classification of T1-weighted images for tissue differentiation (low-level processing) is followed by knowledge-based analysis of the classified images for extraction of 3D anatomical regions (high-level processing). For atlas-based quantification of co-registered functional images, 3D anatomical regions can be convoluted with an idealized point spread function of the emission computed tomography system, after which a partial volume-dependent threshold can be determined. Results: Quantitative evaluation studies, based on 50 realistic software head phantoms and 24 image data sets obtained from healthy subjects and patients, show low misclassification rates and stable results for the neural network-based classification approach (mean ± SD 3.587 ± 0.466%, range 2.726-4.927%) as well as for the adjustable parameters of the knowledge-based approach. Computation time is <5 min for classification, <1 min for most of the extraction algorithms. The influence of the partial volume-dependent threshold is shown for an activation study. Conclusions: This new method allows 3D atlas generation without the need to warp individual image data to an anatomical or statistical brain atlas. Going beyond the purely tissue-oriented approach, partial volume effects of emission computed tomography images can be analyzed in complex anatomical 3D regions.
Liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry in anabolic steroid analysis--optimization and comparison of three ionization techniques: electrospray ionization, atmospheric pressure chemical ionization and atmospheric pressure photoionization.

The applicability of liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry (LC/MS/MS) for the detection of the free anabolic steroid fraction in human urine was examined. Electrospray ionization (ESI), atmospheric pressure chemical ionization and atmospheric pressure photoionization methods were optimized regarding eluent composition, ion source parameters and fragmentation. The methods were compared with respect to specificity and detection limit. Although all methods proved suitable, LC/ESI-MS/MS with a methanol-water gradient including 5 mM ammonium acetate and 0.01% acetic acid was found best for the purpose. Multiple reaction monitoring allowed the determination of steroids in urine at low nanogram per milliliter levels. LC/MS/MS exhibited high sensitivity and specificity for the detection of free steroids and may be a suitable technique for screening for the abuse of anabolic steroids in sports.
Sub‐lethal concentrations of antibiotics increase mutation frequency in the cystic fibrosis pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa

Approximately 80% of adult patients with cystic fibrosis (CF) become chronically infected with Pseudomonas aeruginosa and consequently require antibiotic therapy at intervals throughout their lives. Achieving lethal concentrations of antibiotics in the lung remains a challenge. Recent evidence from Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus suggests that the generation of hydroxyl radicals by sublethal concentrations of antibiotics may induce mutagenesis and confer bacteria with resistance to a wide range of antimicrobials. As Ps. aeruginosa can persist for many years following colonization of the airways and during this time it is repeatedly exposed to bactericidal antibiotics, we tested whether its exposure to sublethal levels increases mutation frequency. We demonstrate that sublethal levels of three classes of bactericidal antibiotics commonly used against Ps. aeruginosa infections, β‐lactams, aminoglycosides and quinolones lead to an increase in mutation frequency, varying between c. threefold increase with aminoglycosides and a c. 14‐fold increase in mutation frequency with β‐lactam antibiotics. These findings could be clinically significant because exposure to sublethal concentrations of antibiotics during chronic infection leading to increased mutation frequency may facilitate adaptive radiation of pathogenic bacteria in the heterogeneous environment of the CF lung.
Fast temperature programmed sensing for micro-hotplate gas sensors

We describe an operating mode of a gas sensor that greatly enhances the capability of the device to determine the composition of a sensed gas. The device consists of a micromachined hotplate with integrated heater, heat distribution plate, electrical contact pads, and sensing film. The temperature programmed sensing (TPS) technique uses millisecond timescale temperature changes to modify the rates for adsorption, desorption, and reaction of gases on the sensing surface during sensor operation. A repetitive train of temperature pulses produces a patterned conductance response that depends on the gas composition, as well as the temperature pulse width, amplitude, and specific sequence of pulses. Results are shown for the vapors of water, ethanol, methanol, formaldehyde, and acetone.
Deficiency of matrix metalloproteinase-13 increases inflammation after acute lung injury

ABSTRACT Human and animal studies of acute lung injury (ALI) have shown that matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) play an important role in disease pathogenesis, but despite being detected during ALI, the function of the collagenase MMP-13 in ALI is unknown. To evaluate this role of MMP-13, mice deficient in MMP-13 (KO) were examined after hyperoxic lung injury, and compared to wild-type (WT) mice. There was no survival difference between KO and WT mice. There was also no difference in fibrosis between WT and KO mice, as determined by hydroxyproline content and collagen expression by real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Within the bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL), the KO mice exhibited a significant increase in inflammatory cells, when compared to the WT mice (5.51 × 105 versus 2.35 × 105 cells/mL; P = .001). Increased levels of the chemokine monocyte chemoattractant protein 1 (MCP-1) were observed in the lungs of the KO mice, confirmed via immunohistochemistry. In a subsequent in vitro experiment, MMP-13 was shown to cleave MCP-1. In ALI in the MMP-13 KO mice, MCP-1 could therefore remain active and potentially attract macrophages to the BAL. This study suggests a direct role for MMP-13 in modifying the inflammatory response in the lung after ALI.
Broadly Neutralizing Anti-HIV Antibodies Prevent HIV Infection of Mucosal Tissue Ex Vivo

ABSTRACT Broadly neutralizing monoclonal antibodies (nAbs) specific for HIV are being investigated for use in HIV prevention. Due to their ability to inhibit HIV attachment to and entry into target cells, nAbs may be suitable for use as topical HIV microbicides. As such, they would present an alternative intervention for individuals who may not benefit from using antiretroviral-based products for HIV prevention. We theorize that nAbs can inhibit viral transmission through mucosal tissue, thus reducing the incidence of HIV infection. The efficacy of the PG9, PG16, VRC01, and 4E10 antibodies was evaluated in an ex vivo human model of mucosal HIV transmission. nAbs reduced HIV transmission, causing 1.5- to 2-log10 reductions in HIV replication in ectocervical tissues and ≈3-log10 reductions in HIV replication in colonic tissues over 21 days. These antibodies demonstrated greater potency in colonic tissues, with a 50-fold higher dose being required to reduce transmission in ectocervical tissues. Importantly, nAbs retained their potency and reduced viral transmission in the presence of whole semen. No changes in tissue viability or immune activation were observed in colonic or ectocervical tissue after nAb exposure. Our data suggest that topically applied nAbs are safe and effective against HIV infection of mucosal tissue and support further development of nAbs as a topical microbicide that could be used for anal as well as vaginal protection.
Effect of Hua Yu Xiao Zheng decoction on the expression levels of vascular endothelial growth factor and angiopoietin-2 in rats with endometriosis

The aims of the present study were to investigate the effects of a traditional Chinese medicine, Hua Yu Xiao Zheng (HYXZ) decoction, on surgically induced endometriosis in a rat model and to determine the possible underlying regulatory mechanisms. A total of 108 female Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into the control group (n=12) and endometriosis group (EM group; n=96), in which endometriosis was surgically induced in model rats by autotransplantation of endometrial tissues and 72 rats survived. After 3 weeks, the EM model rats were randomly divided into four subgroups (n=18), including the untreated model group, and three groups administered 7, 14 or 21 g/kg HYXZ decoction. Following 28 days of treatment, the associated proteins and genes of ectopic endometrial tissues were analyzed using immunohistochemistry, western blotting and quantitative polymerase chain reaction to investigate the underlying mechanisms. Compared with the model group, the size of the endometriotic implants decreased significantly in the HYXZ-treated groups. Furthermore, the expression levels of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and angiopoietin-2 (Ang-2) were significantly decreased in HYXZ-treated groups compared with the model group. These results indicate that HYXZ affected the inhibition of angiogenesis and decreased the endometriotic implant volumes and histopathological scores. The effectiveness of HYXZ may be partially attributed to the decrease of VEGF and Ang-2 expression levels in the ectopic endometrium.
Hydrocalumite Thin Films for Polyphenol Biosensor Elaboration

Hybrid thin films based on Hydrocalumite (Ca<sub>2</sub>AlCl layered double hydroxide LDH) and tyrosinaseenzyme have been used for the elaboration of a high sensitive amperometric biosensor detecting polyphenols extracted from green tea. Structural properties of LDH nanomaterials were characterized by X-ray powder diffraction and Infra-Red spectroscopy, confirming its crystalline phase and chemical composition. Ca<sub>2</sub>AlCl-LDHs-thin films were deposited by spin-coating, and studied by atomic force microscopy to obtain information about the surface morphology of this host matrix before and after enzyme’s immobilization. Electrochemical study using cyclic voltammetry and chronoamperometry shows good performances of the built-in biosensor with a high sensitivity for polyphenols concentrations ranging from 24 pM to <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$2.4~\mu \text{M}$ </tex-math></inline-formula> and a limit of detection of 1.2 pM.
Fiscal Policy and the Firm

The existing literature on the political economy of taxation explores how the mobility of firms affects the ability of governments to tax capital. In this article the author tests the relationship between corporate tax rates and multinational investment decisions in advanced, industrialized economies. He utilizes a time-series cross-sectional general error correction model to explore the impact of corporate taxation rates and foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows in up to 19 Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development economies from 1980 to 2000. To mitigate potential endogeneity problems, the author’s identification strategy takes advantage of delays between the passage of tax reductions and the implementation of these policies. The author finds no relationship between corporate tax rates and flows of foreign direct investment. This finding has implications on the link between globalization and domestic politics.
A fast successive approximation calibration technique with bypass window in DACs

This paper presents a successive approximation calibration technique with bypass window used in current-steering DACs to reduce calibration numbers. It utilizes bypass window technique to select switching sequences to skip several conversion steps. A behavioral model of 14-bit (7+7) segmented DACs was implemented under 40/55/180nm CMOS process. According to the fast SAC for MSB current sources, the calibration time is reduced obviously and the DNL and INL are both smaller than 0.5LSB compared with traditional SAC.
Chronic Temporomandibular Pain Treatment Using Sodium Diclofenac

Este estudio evaluo el dolor espontaneo antes y despues de la administracion de diclofenaco sodico, aislado o asociado a carisoprodol, paracetamol y cafeina, en pacientes con trastornos temporomandibulares cronicos (TTM). Se seleccionaron dieciocho voluntarios, hombres y mujeres, entre 35-70 anos de edad (edad media 50 anos). Los criterios de inclusion fueron dolor muscular masticatorio, y los criterios diagnosticos para trastornos temporomandibulares (RDC / TMD) como diagnostico. La seleccion del tratamiento para cada individuo se llevo a cabo mediante una metodologia de cruce triple ciego completo al azar. Por lo tanto, todos los pacientes fueron sometidos a todos los tratamientos en diferentes momentos, en una secuencia no estandarizada, evitando los resultados tendenciosos. Los tratamientos fueron: A (diclofenaco sodico + carisoprodol + acetaminofen + cafeina), B (diclofenaco sodico) y C (placebo), todos asociados a una ferula oclusal. Cada periodo de tratamiento fue seguido por once dias. No se encontraron diferencias entre los valores inicial y final de los tratamientos. Sin embargo, hubo diferencias estadisticamente significativas en los grupos de evaluacion sensorial y despues del tratamiento B, y en los grupos de calificacion sensorial, afectivo, y el total despues de los tratamientos B y C. Dentro de las limitaciones de esta investigacion, se concluye que el tratamiento con diclofenaco sodico aislado en pacientes con TTM musculares promueve una mayor analgesia que el tratamiento con diclofenaco sodico mas asociaciones o placebo, cuando se asocia a una ferula oclusal.
Multi-dimensional Living Standards: A Welfare Measure Based on Preferences

We compute a distribution-adjusted welfare measure that aggregates outcomes in three dimensions of well-being, namely income, employment and longevity. Aggregation weights reflect preferences of people on these dimensions. The welfare measure is calculated for 26 OECD countries and selected emerging economies, and covers about three decades. Relying on a single theoretical model of a hypothetical representative agent, we combine life satisfaction regressions to capture the full welfare losses of unemployment with a calibration approach to capture the value of longevity. We test for robustness of results over a series of datasets and specifications and find that the resulting estimated shadow prices of (one percentage point of) unemployment and one year of longevity average 2% and 6% of income respectively. While we assume an identical utility function for all individuals, shadow prices of unemployment and longevity vary both across countries and within countries across income groups. We find that economic growth differs significantly from the growth of our welfare measure. The latter grew faster than GDP thanks to the gains that countries experienced on longevity, but was also more volatile due to changes in unemployment. Rising income inequality exerts a negative effect on our welfare measure. Gains in longevity have almost the same impact on welfare as income growth, while the long-term impact of employment was smaller.
High g-factor MEMS vibration platform for in-situ self-calibration of accelerometer

A design scheme of piezoelectric MEMS vibration platform for in-situ self-calibration of accelerometer is proposed in this paper. On the basis of theoretical deduction, the available g-factor of the vibration platform is analyzed. Taking fabrication limitations into consideration, the characteristics optimization of the vibration platform using PZT-4 is carried out by evaluating the impact on performance when the calibrated accelerometer is fixed on the top surface of platform. A few improvements are applied to to achieve the acceleration of 13g. Furthermore, a new structural improvement of the vibration platform is proposed to achieve wider bandwidth and high g-factor . As the results of calculation and simulation, a g-factor more than 15g with the bandwidth more than 1KHz can be easily reached which meet the requirements of in-situ calibration of accelerometer especially in high-g application. Under the moderate condition such as PZT-5 with higher piezoelectric coefficient, the g-factor can reach a higher value for more demanding applications.
Investigations into σB-Modulated Regulatory Pathways Governing Extracellular Virulence Determinant Production in Staphylococcus aureus

ABSTRACT The commonly used Staphylococcus aureus laboratory strain 8325-4 bears a naturally occurring 11-bp deletion in the σB-regulating phosphatase rsbU. We have previously published a report (M. J. Horsburgh, J. L. Aish, I. J. White, L. Shaw, J. K. Lithgow, and S. J. Foster, J. Bacteriol. 184:5457-5467, 2002) on restoring the rsbU deletion, producing a σB-functional 8325-4 derivative, SH1000. SH1000 is pleiotropically altered in phenotype from 8325-4, displaying enhanced pigmentation, increased growth yields, and a marked decrease in secreted exoproteins. This reduction in exoprotein secretion appears to result from a sixfold reduction in agr expression. In this study we have undertaken transposon mutagenesis of SH1000 to identify components involved in the modulation of extracellular proteases and α-hemolysin compared to 8325-4. In total, 13 genes were identified displaying increased α-hemolysin transcription and extracellular proteolysis. Phenotypic analysis revealed that each mutant also had decreased pigmentation and a general increase in protein secretion. Interestingly this phenotype was not identical in each case but was variable from mutant to mutant. None of the genes identified encoded classic regulatory proteins but were predominantly metabolic enzymes involved in amino acid biosynthesis and transport. Further analysis revealed that all of these mutations were clustered in a 35-kb region of the chromosome. By complementation and genetic manipulation we were able to demonstrate the validity of these mutations. Interestingly transcriptional analysis revealed that rather than being regulated by σB, these genes appeared to have a role in the regulation of σB activity. Thus, we propose that the loss of individual genes in this chromosomal hot spot region results in a destabilization of cellular harmony and disruption of the σB regulatory cascade.
Increased Tissue Factor Pathway Inhibitor Activity in IDDM Patients With Nephropathy

OBJECTIVE Tissue factor pathway inhibitor (TFPI) is bound to vascular endothelium (presumably to heparan sulfate) and circulates in complex with plasma lipoproteins. It directly binds and inhibits factor Xa. The purpose of the study is to investigate whether plasma TFPI activity is altered in IDDM and nephropathy and to evaluate the possible determinants of the alteration. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS We assessed plasma concentration of TFPI (total, truncated, and domain 3 TFPI) and plasma activity of factor Xa inhibition in nondiabetic control subjects (n = 22) and in IDDM patients with normoalbuminuria (urinary albumin excretion rate [UAE] < 30 mg/24h, n = 17), incipient nephropathy (UAE 30-300 mg/24 h, n = 17), clinical nephropathy (UAE > 300 mg/24h, n = 25). RESULTS Total, truncated, and domain 3 TFPI concentrations were increased in IDDm patients compared with those in control subjects and were more pronounced in IDDM patients with nephropathy. Plasma activity of factor Xa inhibition measured by HEPTEST (Haemachem, St. Louis, MO) assay was increased in IDDM patients, especially in those with nephropathy. TFPI-dependent factor Xa inhibition, obtained as the difference in clotting time with and without adding activity-neutralizing anti-TFPI antibody to samples, was increased in IDDm patients with nephropathy. This was, however, not sufficient to inhibit the biological activity of factor Xa as demonstrated by increased levels of prothrombin fragment 1 + 2. LDL cholesterol and HbA1c were independently correlated to plasma TFPI. CONCLUSIONS Inhibition of factor Xa activity is increased in IDDM patients with nephropathy, mainly because of increased plasma TFPI activity. The increased plasma TFPI activity in these patients may be associated with and regulated by LDL in plasma and metabolic control. The anticoagulant activity of TFPI may attenuate the hypercoagulable state in diabetes but does not seem to be able to normalize hemostasis.
An Insight into Swarm Intelligence for adapting to Business and Technology

For years, scientists have been studying ants, wasps and bees because pf the amazing efficiency of their collective efforts. Now corporate houses are actually putting that research to work, with impressive paybacks. Swarm intelligence is becoming a valuable tool for optimizing the operations of various business, as the field of swarm intelligence deals with systems composed of many individuals that coordinate using decentralized control and self-organization. In particular, it focuses on the collective behaviors that result from the local interactions of the individuals with each other and with their environment. It is a fast-growing field that encompasses the efforts of researchers in multiple disciplines, ranging from ethology and social science to operations research and computer engineering. The authors of this paper has tried to elaborate swarm intelligence for the purpose of improving management efficiency.