Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Research and Reports in Urology Dovepress Immunotherapy for Bladder Cancer

It is nearly 40 years since Bacillus Calmette–Guérin (BCG) was first used as an immunotherapy to treat superficial bladder cancer. Despite its limitations, to date it has not been surpassed by any other treatment. As a better understanding of its mechanism of action and the clinical response to it have evolved, some of the questions around optimal dosing and treatment protocols have been answered. However, its potential for toxicity and failure to produce the desired clinical effect in a significant cohort of patients presents an ongoing challenge to clinicians and researchers alike. This review summarizes the evidence behind the established mechanism of action of BCG in bladder cancer, highlighting the extensive array of immune molecules that have been implicated in its action. The clinical aspects of BCG are discussed, including its role in reducing recurrence and progression, the optimal treatment regime, toxicity and, in light of new evidence, whether or not there is a superior BCG strain. The problems of toxicity and non-responders to BCG have led to development of new techniques aimed at addressing these pitfalls. The progress made in the laboratory has led to the identification of novel targets for the development of new immunotherapies. This includes the potential augmentation of BCG with various immune factors through to techniques avoiding the use of BCG altogether; for example, using interferon-activated mononuclear cells, BCG cell wall, or BCG cell wall skeleton. The potential role of gene, virus, or photodynamic therapy as an alternative to BCG is also reviewed. Recent interest in the immune check point system has led to the development of monoclonal antibodies against proteins involved in this pathway. Early findings suggest benefit in metastatic disease, although the role in superficial bladder cancer remains unclear.
The Kinesin Superfamily Motor Protein KIF4 Is Associated With Immune Cell Activation in Idiopathic Inflammatory Myopathies

The idiopathic inflammatory myopathies (IIMs) dermatomyositis, polymyositis, and inclusion body myositis are characterized by myofiber degeneration and inflammation. The triggering factors of muscle autoaggression in these disorders are unknown, but infiltrating T cells may be activated locally and proliferate in situ. T-cell polarization involving reorientation of cytoskeleton and microtubule-organizing centers mediated by motor proteins may occur within inflammatory cells in the muscle. We therefore analyzed ubiquitous and neuronal kinesin superfamily (KIF) members KIF-5, dynein, and KIF4 in IIM muscle biopsies and in activated peripheral blood lymphocytes from healthy donors. Only KIF-4 was altered. Transcript levels were significantly higher in IIM muscle than in controls, and KIF4+ inflammatory cells were found in IIM muscles. In polymyositis and inclusion body myositis, KIF4+ cells were mainly located around individual muscle fibers, whereas in dermatomyositis, they were also near blood vessels. KIF4+ cells were not specific to any immune lineage, and some were Ki67+. In peripheral blood lymphocytes stimulated with mitogens, interleukin 2 or anti-CD3/CD28 antibodies, KIF4 expression was upregulated, and the protein was localized in the cytoplasm in association with lysosome-associated membrane protein 1+ and perforin+ lysosomal vesicles. These results imply that KIF4 is associated with activated T cells, irrespective of their functional phenotype, and that it is likely involved in cytoskeletal modifications associated with in situ T-cell activation in IIM.
Transcranial sonography in dopa‐responsive dystonia

Mutations in the GCH1 gene, encoding GTP cyclohydrolase 1, the enzyme critically important for dopamine production in nigrostriatal neurons, are the most common cause of dopa‐responsive dystonia (DRD), characterized predominantly by limb dystonia, although parkinsonian features may also be present. It has been suggested that DRD is a neurochemical rather than neurodegenerative disorder.
Choosing Data-Mining Methods for Multiple Classification: Representational and Performance Measurement Implications for Decision Support

Data-mining techniques are designed for classification problems in which each observation is a member of one and only one category. We formulate ten data representations that could be used to extend those methods to problems in which observations may be full members of multiple categories. We propose an audit matrix methodology for evaluating the performance of three popular data-mining techniques--linear discriminant analysis, neural networks, and decision tree induction-- using the representations that each technique can accommodate. We then empirically test our approach on an actual surgical data set. Tree induction gives the lowest rate of false positive predictions, and a version of discriminant analysis yields the lowest rate of false negatives for multiple category problems, but neural networks give the best overall results for the largest multiple classification cases. There is substantial room for improvement in overall performance for all techniques.
Activation and Reactivity of a Bispidine Analogue of Cisplatin: A Theoretical Investigation.

The reactivity of a bispidine, 3,7-diazabicyclo[3.3. 1]nonane, analogue of cisplatin, a new anticancer drug with promising properties, is theoretically investigated to clarify the in vitro reactivity and in vivo mechanism of action of this compound. Thermodynamics and kinetics of the first and second aquation steps and of the reaction of the generated mono- and diaqua species with guanine, the main target of the platinum based antitumor compounds, have been studied. In agreement with the experimental evidence, the bispidine analogue is significantly less reactive than cisplatin toward aquation but the formed aquaspecies show a good reactivity with guanine, consistently with the promising anticancer properties of these new compounds.
CHS 828 Inhibits Neuroblastoma Growth in Mice Alone and in Combination with Antiangiogenic Drugs

CHS 828 is a new chemotherapeutic drug, a pyridyl cyanoguanidine. CHS 828 has low toxicity and lacks known patterns of multidrug resistance. Here we report that oral, daily treatment with CHS 828 reduced the growth of SH-SY5Y human neuroblastoma tumors in male NMRI nu/nu mice by 82% without apparent toxicity. CHS 828 induced complete tumor regression for at least 5 weeks in four of nine animals (44%). Combination therapy with CHS 828 and the antiangiogenic drugs TNP-470 or SU5416 decreased neuroblastoma growth by a further 10 and 3%, respectively. Combination therapy induced tumor regression at d 4 with CHS plus TNP and d 6 with CHS plus SU5416, compared with d 14 with CHS 828 alone (p < 0.05), and complete tumor regression was seen in nine of 19 animals (47%). Combination treatment of CHS 828 and TNP-470 decreased the total viable tumor volume by 71% compared with treatment with CHS 828 alone. Our findings support CHS 828 as a promising new drug in treatment of childhood cancers. Furthermore, they imply efficiency of daily administration of nontoxic doses of chemotherapy, and a possible additive effect when chemotherapy is combined with angiogenesis inhibitors.
Bare-finger Projector-Camera-Touchpad (PCT) HCI system using color structured light

This paper proposes a method to build a bare-finger Projector-Camera-Touchpad (PCT) using only one projector and one camera to make any plane become a touchpad. A finger model composed of an elliptic cylinder representing finger pulp, and a quarter ball as the fingertip, is introduced to help fit the finger's pose and size for accurate touch detection and motion tracking. We adopted the color structured light composed of just two kinds of colors, i.e., cyan and magenta, to get depth information of the points on projection pattern for the PCT application. Experiment results show that the accuracy of the touch detection is almost 99% when the finger is under 3mm away from the projection plane and the motion tracking accuracy is under 1 pixel per centimeter, which can satisfy most customers demand. The PCT works just like a real touchpad.
Multiecho reconstruction for simultaneous water‐fat decomposition and T2* estimation

To describe and demonstrate the feasibility of a novel multiecho reconstruction technique that achieves simultaneous water‐fat decomposition and T2* estimation. The method removes interference of water‐fat separation with iron‐induced T2* effects and therefore has potential for the simultaneous characterization of hepatic steatosis (fatty infiltration) and iron overload.
Influence of the Ion Nitriding Process on the Electrochemical Properties of X39Cr13 Steel Used for Surgical Instruments

The main aim of this work was to determine the effect of nitriding process on the electrochemical properties of martensitic steel X39Cr13 used for surgical instruments treatments. The research was conducted on the samples of diameter d = 14 mm made of X39Cr13 martensitic steel in the annealed condition. The samples were subjected to heat-treatment: hardening and tempering processes. The way of surface preparation of the samples contained mechanical processing: barrel finishing, chemical passivation and nitriding using fluorescent methods. The nitriding process was carried out in an apparatus for machining a cooled anode glow type JON-600. Nitriding process was carried out at a temperature T = 470 °C. To evaluate the electrochemical properties the pitting corrosion resistance were studied. The corrosion resistance tests of samples were carried out by means of potentiodynamic method (registering anodic polarization curves). The measurements were conducted in physiological Tyrodes solution. On the basis of the results it was affirmed diverse corrosion resistance of the samples for different variants of the surface preparation. The highest corrosion resistance was observed for the barrel finished and nitriding process of the samples. The research revealed that the suggested variants of surface treatment influence the corrosion resistance of the X39Cr13 steel intended for surgical tools.
Alternative Splicing of a Short Cassette Exon in α1B Generates Functionally Distinct N-Type Calcium Channels in Central and Peripheral Neurons

The N-type Ca channel α1B subunit is localized to synapses throughout the nervous system and couples excitation to release of neurotransmitters. In a previous study, two functionally distinct variants of the α1B subunit were identified, rnα1B-b and rnα1B-d, that differ at two loci;four amino acids [SerPheMetGly (SFMG)] in IIIS3–S4 and two amino acids [GluThr (ET)] in IVS3–S4. These variants are reciprocally expressed in rat brain and sympathetic ganglia (Lin et al., 1997a). We now show that the slower activation kinetics of rnα1B-b (ΔSFMG/+ET) compared with rnα1B-d(+SFMG/ΔET) channels are fully accounted for by the insertion of ET in IVS3–S4 and not by the lack of SFMG in IIIS3–S4. We also show that the inactivation kinetics of these two variants are indistinguishable. Through genomic analysis we identify a six-base cassette exon that encodes the ET site and with ribonuclease protection assays demonstrate that the expression of this mini-exon is essentially restricted to α1B RNAs of peripheral neurons. We also show evidence for regulated alternative splicing of a six-base exon encoding NP in the IVS3–S4 linker of the closely related α1A gene and establish that residues NP can functionally substitute for ET in domain IVS3–S4 of α1B. The selective expression of functionally distinct Ca channel splice variants of α1B and α1A subunits in different regions of the nervous system adds a new dimension of diversity to voltage-dependent Ca signaling in neurons that may be important for optimizing action potential-dependent transmitter release at different synapses.
Ionotropic glutamate receptor modulation preferentially affects NMDA receptor expression in rat hippocampus

Electrophysiological data suggest that alterations in the function of one glutamate receptor subtype may affect the function of other subtypes. Further, previous studies have demonstrated that NMDA receptor antagonists affect NMDA and kainate receptor expression in rat hippocampus. In order to address the mutual regulation of NMDA, AMPA, and kainate receptor expression in rat hippocampus, we conducted two experiments examining the effects of NMDA and non‐NMDA glutamate receptor modulators on NMDA, AMPA, and kainate receptor expression using in situ hybridization and receptor autoradiography. NMDA receptor expression was preferentially affected by systemic treatments, as all drugs significantly altered [3H]MK‐801 binding, and several drugs increased [3H]ifenprodil binding. GYKI52466 and aniracetam treatments resulted in changes in both [3H]ifenprodil binding and NR2B mRNA levels, consistent with the association of this subunit and binding site in vitro. There were more modest effects on AMPA and kainate receptor expression, even by direct antagonists. Together, these data suggest that ionotropic glutamate receptors interact at the level of expression. These data also suggest that drug regimens targeting one ionotropic glutamate receptor subtype may indirectly affect other subtypes, potentially producing unwanted side effects. Synapse 38:294–304, 2000. © 2000 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
A CMOS 8×8 SPAD array for Time-of-Flight measurement and light-spot statistics

The design and simulation of a CMOS 8 × 8 single photon avalanche diode (SPAD) array is presented. The chip has been fabricated in a 0. 18μm standard CMOS technology and implements a double functionality: measuring the Time-of-Flight with the help of a pulsed light source; or computing focal-plane statistics in biomedical imaging applications based on a concentrated light-spot. The incorporation of on-chip processing simplifies the interfacing of the array with the host system. The pixel pitch is 32μm, while the diameter of the quasi-circular active area of the SPADs is 12μm. The 113μm2 active area is surrounded by a T-well guard ring. The resulting breakdown voltage is 10V with a maximum excess voltage of 1.8V. The pixel incorporates a novel active quenching/reset circuit. The array has been designed to operate with a laser pulsed at 20Mhz. The overall time resolution is 115ps. Focal-plane statistics are obtained in digital format. The maximum throughput of the digital output buffers is 200Mbps.
Top Down Approach to Detect Multiple Planes from Pair of Images

Detecting multiple planes in images is a challenging problem, but one with many applications. Recent work such as J-Linkage and Ordered Residual Kernels have focussed on developing a domain independent approach to detect multiple structures. These multiple structure detection methods are then used for estimating multiple homographies given feature matches between two images. Features participating in the multiple homographies detected, provide us the multiple scene planes. We show that these methods provide locally optimal results and fail to merge detected planar patches to the true scene planes. These methods use only residues obtained on applying homography of one plane to another as cue for merging. In this paper, we develop additional cues such as local consistency of planes, local normals, texture etc. to perform better classification and merging. We formulate the classification as an MRF problem and use TRWS message passing algorithm to solve non metric energy terms and complex sparse graph structure. We show results on Michigan Indoor Corridor Dataset and our challenging dataset, common in robotics navigation scenarios. Experiments on the datasets demonstrate the accuracy of our plane detection relative to ground truth, with detailed comparisons to prior art.
Advanced Icephobic Coatings

Adhesion and excessive accumulation of atmospheric ice on the surface of exposed objects such as conductors of overhead power lines, cables and conductors in aluminum can have devastating economical and safety consequences as it was the case during the 1998 and 2007 ice storms in Canada and USA. Recent advances in the understanding of ice adhesion on various substrates and in materials science have spurred interest in developing new intrinsic icephobic materials. The aim of this paper is to review the most relevant research activities related to ice adhesion mechanisms and icephobic coating development during the recent years. This will allow a better comprehension of ice adhesion, and help determine more reliable and cost effective ways to develop icephobic coatings, In order to develop icephobic coatings three main groups of materials or surface treatment can be considered: (i) self-assembled monolayers with –CH3 or –CF3 groups oriented outward to the ice surface, (ii) coatings with a heterogeneous chemical composition of at least two highly hydrophobic components to disrupt the structure of the liquid-like layer, and finally (iii) a porous or superhydrophobic deposits to promote the presence of tiny air pockets at the ice/solid interface to disrupt bonding by creating stress concentrations.
Inter-datacenter bulk transfers with netstitcher

Large datacenter operators with sites at multiple locations dimension their key resources according to the peak demand of the geographic area that each site covers. The demand of specific areas follows strong diurnal patterns with high peak to valley ratios that result in poor average utilization across a day. In this paper, we show how to rescue unutilized bandwidth across multiple datacenters and backbone networks and use it for non-real-time applications, such as backups, propagation of bulky updates, and migration of data. Achieving the above is non-trivial since leftover bandwidth appears at different times, for different durations, and at different places in the world. For this purpose, we have designed, implemented, and validated NetStitcher, a system that employs a network of storage nodes to stitch together unutilized bandwidth, whenever and wherever it exists. It gathers information about leftover resources, uses a store-and-forward algorithm to schedule data transfers, and adapts to resource fluctuations. We have compared NetStitcher with other bulk transfer mechanisms using both a testbed and a live deployment on a real CDN. Our testbed evaluation shows that NetStitcher outperforms all other mechanisms and can rescue up to five times additional datacenter bandwidth thus making it a valuable tool for datacenter providers. Our live CDN deployment demonstrates that our solution can perform large data transfers at a much lower cost than naive end-to-end or store-and-forward schemes.
Some calculations of the Riemann zeta-function Universal Turing Machine

“Fuzzy” models and 802.11 mesh networks have garnered improbable interest from both computational biologists and experts in the last several years. Given the current status of real-time epistemologies, futurists daringly de sire the construction of DHCP, which embodies the practical principles of networking. In order to accomplish this ambition, we introduce new concurrent methodologies (Krang), which we use to validate that the famous event-driven algorithm for the simulation of DNS by H. Wang et al. runs inΩ(log(n+ n)) time.
Doping Density in Silicon and Solar Cells Analyzed With Micrometer Resolution

A quantitative doping density mapping technique for silicon samples with micrometer spatial resolution is presented. Being based on confocal microphotoluminescence spectroscopy, the technique allows for detailed quantitative analyses on the doping concentration of microscopic technological structures in silicon solar cells. The confocal microscope setup enables laser illumination with micrometer-sized focus and fast low-noise detection of the emitted luminescent radiation which depends on doping and free excess carrier density. The doping density is determined by calibrating the depth-dependent luminescent radiation with results from 2-D simulations of the carrier density. The high-resolution method is demonstrated on a state-of-the-art doping structure for back contact solar cells, where small deviations in the doping homogeneity can be detected. This proves the potential of the proposed technique to enhance the processing of doping microstructures and to strengthen the understanding of their physical properties.
Heuristically Accelerated Reinforcement Learning for Dynamic Secondary Spectrum Sharing

This paper examines how flexible cellular system architectures and efficient spectrum management techniques can be used to play a key role in accommodating the exponentially increasing demand for mobile data capacity in the near future. The efficiency of the use of radio spectrum for wireless communications can be dramatically increased by dynamic secondary spectrum sharing; an intelligent approach that allows unlicensed devices access to those parts of the spectrum that are otherwise underutilized by the incumbent users. In this paper, we propose a heuristically accelerated reinforcement learning (HARL)-based framework, designed for dynamic secondary spectrum sharing in Long Term Evolution cellular systems. It utilizes a radio environment map as external information for guiding the learning process of cognitive cellular systems. System level simulations of a stadium temporary event scenario show that the schemes based on the proposed HARL framework achieve high controllability of spectrum sharing patterns in a fully autonomous way. This results in a significant decrease in the primary system quality of service degradation due to interference from the secondary cognitive systems, compared with a state-of-the-art reinforcement learning solution and a purely heuristic typical LTE solution. The spectrum sharing patterns that emerge by using the proposed schemes also result in remarkable reliability of the cognitive eNodeB on the aerial platform. Furthermore, the novel principle and the general structure of heuristic functions proposed in the context of HARL are applicable to a wide range of self-organization problems beyond the wireless communications domain.
Dynamic Updating for  $\ell_{1}$ Minimization

The theory of compressive sensing (CS) has shown us that under certain conditions, a sparse signal can be recovered from a small number of linear incoherent measurements. An effective class of reconstruction algorithms involve solving a convex optimization program that balances the l1 norm of the solution against a data fidelity term. Tremendous progress has been made in recent years on algorithms for solving these l1 minimization programs. These algorithms, however, are for the most part static: they focus on finding the solution for a fixed set of measurements. In this paper, we present a suite of dynamic algorithms for solving l1 minimization programs for streaming sets of measurements. We consider cases where the underlying signal changes slightly between measurements, and where new measurements of a fixed signal are sequentially added to the system. We develop algorithms to quickly update the solution of several different types of l1 optimization problems whenever these changes occur, thus avoiding having to solve a new optimization problem from scratch. Our proposed schemes are based on homotopy continuation, which breaks down the solution update in a systematic and efficient way into a small number of linear steps. Each step consists of a low-rank update and a small number of matrix-vector multiplications - very much like recursive least squares. Our investigation also includes dynamic updating schemes for l1 decoding problems, where an arbitrary signal is to be recovered from redundant coded measurements which have been corrupted by sparse errors.