Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Registration Algorithm for Statistical Bone Shape Reconstruction from Radiographs - An Accuracy Study

Medical diagnoses relying on 3D data has become a procedure in clinical practice, increasing the valuable diagnostic information. However, high costs are associated with common 3D imaging modalities and therefore posing the demand for alternative approaches. Correspondingly, 2D-3D registration in terms of deforming a surface model of the anatomy of interest under the constraint of statistical plausibility has become an active field of research. In this context a quantitative analysis of the accuracy of the resulting 3D shape related to a prior established gold standard is necessary, especially since registration is based on sparse information about the patient's true anatomy. The present study discusses validation methods and results. Furthermore approaches for further improvement are provided.
Protein Contribution to Plant Salinity Response and Tolerance Acquisition

The review is focused on plant proteome response to salinity with respect to physiological aspects of plant salt stress response. The attention is paid to both osmotic and ionic effects of salinity stress on plants with respect to several protein functional groups. Therefore, the role of individual proteins involved in signalling, changes in gene expression, protein biosynthesis and degradation and the resulting changes in protein relative abundance in proteins involved in energy metabolism, redox metabolism, stressand defence-related proteins, osmolyte metabolism, phytohormone, lipid and secondary metabolism, mechanical stress-related proteins as well as protein posttranslational modifications are discussed. Differences between salt-sensitive (glycophytes) and salt-tolerant (halophytes) plants are analysed with respect to differential salinity tolerance. In conclusion, contribution of proteomic studies to understanding plant salinity tolerance is summarised and discussed.
Delineation of Criteria for Admission to Step down in the Mild Traumatic Brain Injury Patient

Patients that suffer a mild traumatic brain injury (TBI) with intracranial hemorrhage are commonly admitted to an intensive care unit with repeat imaging in 12 to 24 hours. This is costly to the health-care system. This study aimed to evaluate this practice and to identify criteria to triage patients to lower levels of monitored care. A retrospective review was performed at a university-based Level I trauma center. Patients with mild TBI were included. Data were collected on demographics, neurological status at 6, 12, and 24 hours, CT scan results, and medical or surgical interventions were required. A total of 389 patients were evaluated, 53 had a documented neurological decline while being admitted. Factors found to be associated with a neurological decline included Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) < 15 (P = 0.002), age greater than 55 (P < 0.001), and warfarin use (P = 0.039). Aspirin and Plavix were not associated with neurological decline. No patient age <55 with a GCS of 15 had a documented decline. Several risk factors were found to be associated with neurological decline after mild TBI. These include age, GCS < 15, and warfarin use. Patients aged <55 with GCS 15, posed minimal risk for deterioration. Patients aged <55 and with a GCS of 15 can be admitted to a monitored step-down bed with less frequent neurological checks.
PARATHORMON, CALCIUM, PHOSPHORUS, AND LEFT VENTRICULAR STRUCTURE AND FUNCTION IN NORMOTENSIVE HEMODIALYSIS PATIENTS

Clinical and experimental data suggest that Parathormon (PTH), calcium, and phosphorus participate in left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) and affect myocardial contractility in end-stage renal disease. Cellular calcium overload and interstitial fibrosis induced by PTH may lead to impairment of left ventricular diastolic function. Hyperphosphatemia is an independent risk of cardiovascular mortality in dialysis patients. The aim of the study was to estimate the influence of PTH and calcium-phosphorus metabolism on left ventricular structure and function in hemodialysis patients, without hypertension and antihypertensive drug therapy (SBP = 126.2 ± 11.1 DBP = 75.8 ± 6.5 mmHg). Echocardiographic findings in a group of 22 normotensive HD patients had been compared to 43 hypertensive HD patients. Relationships between PTH, calcium-phosphorus metabolism and echocardiography in normotensive group were then evaluated. Left ventricular mass index (LVMI) was lower in normotensive patients: 128.3 ± 46.2 versus 165.8 ± 46.7 (p < 0.01). The prevalence of LVH was 55% in normotensive HD patients compared to 86% in hypertensive group (p < 0.01). In normotensive group we found correlation between PTH and LVMI (r = 0.44; p < 0.05). There were also significant relationships between calcium and posterior wall thickness (r = −0.44; p < 0.05), phosphorus and LVMI (r = 0.47; p < 0.05). A significant correlation was observed between both phosphorus, calcium × phosphorus product and E/A ratio: r = −0.47 and r = −0.43, respectively (p < 0.05 both). Disturbances of calcium-phosphorus metabolism and secondary hyperparathyroidism contributes to left ventricular hypertrophy, and impaired left ventricular diastolic function in normotensive hemodialysis patients.
Cleavage of Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases in Human Neutrophils Undergoing Apoptosis: Role in Decreased Responsiveness to Inflammatory Cytokines1

Extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) and p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) are major signaling molecules activated in human neutrophils stimulated by cytokines. Both molecules were cleaved at the N-terminal portion in neutrophils undergoing apoptosis induced by in vitro culture alone or treatment with TNF and/or cycloheximide. The cleavage of both molecules was inhibited by G-CSF and benzyloxycarbonyl-Val-Ala-Asp-fluoromethylketone, a caspase inhibitor, both of which can inhibit neutrophil apoptosis. In a cell-free system, ERK and p38 MAPK were not cleaved by recombinant caspase-3 or caspase-8 while gelsolin was cleaved by caspase-3 under the same condition. The cleavage of both molecules appears to be specific to mature neutrophils, since it was not detected in immature cells (HL-60 and Jurkat) undergoing apoptosis, indicating that proteases responsible for the cleavage of both molecules may develop during differentiation into mature neutrophils. Concomitant with the cleavage of ERK and p38 MAPK, GM-CSF- and TNF-induced superoxide release, adherence, and phosphorylation of ERK and p38 MAPK were decreased in neutrophils undergoing apoptosis. In addition, GM-CSF- and TNF-induced superoxide release and adherence were inhibited by PD98059 MAPK/ERK kinase inhibitor) as well as SB203580 (p38 MAPK inhibitor), suggesting possible involvement of ERK and p38 MAPK in superoxide release and adherence induced by these cytokines. These findings indicate that ERK and p38 MAPK are cleaved and degraded in neutrophils undergoing apoptosis in a caspase-dependent manner and the cleavage of both molecules may be partly responsible for decreased functional responsiveness to inflammatory cytokines.
Growth Distribution during Phototropism of Arabidopsis thaliana Seedlings

The elongation rates of two opposite sides of hypocotyls of Arabidopsis thaliana seedlings were measured during phototropism by using an infrared imaging system. In first positive phototropism, second positive phototropism, and red light-enhanced first positive phototropism, curvature toward the light source was the result of an increase in the rate of elongation of the shaded side and a decrease in the rate of elongation of the lighted side of the seedlings. The phase of straightening that followed maximum curvature resulted from a decrease in the elongation rate of the shaded side and an increase in the elongation rate of the lighted side. These data for the three types of blue light-induced phototropism tested in this study and for the phase of straightening are all clearly consistent with the growth rate changes predicted by the Cholodny-Went theory.
Design of an FBG based-on sensor device for large displacement deformation

This article deals with the modeling of a strain-displacement transducer conceived for extending the FBG measurement range. The intrinsic fragility of the optical fiber limits their application to cases characterized by relatively small deformations. To extend the employ to the large displacement field (i.e. morphing applications), a dedicated device was conceived, constituted by a circular ring connected to the structure and laterally integrated with a FBG sensor. This device was mathematically modeled minimizing the potential energy this way arriving at a description of the displacement and deformation field along the curvilinear abscissa. The theoretical predictions were then validated through the FE approach, arriving to precious design and operative considerations on the use of the device itself.
Monolithic 3D integration of SRAM and image sensor using two layers of single grain silicon

In this paper we report the monolithic integration of two single grain silicon layers for SRAM and image sensor applications. A 12 × 28 silicon lateral photodiode array with a 25_μm pixel size prepared on top of a three transistor readout circuit with individual outputs for every pixel is demonstrated. 6T SRAM cells with two layers of stacked transistors were prepared to compare the performance and area of each cell in different configurations.
Panmixia: an example from Dawson's burrowing bee (Amegilla dawsoni) (Hymenoptera: Anthophorini)

Dawson's burrowing bee is a large, fast‐flying solitary nesting bee endemic to the arid zone of Western Australia. In this study the population structure of the species was examined with molecular markers. Using eight microsatellite loci, we genotyped 531 adult female bees collected from 13 populations of Dawson's burrowing bee, Amegilla dawsoni, across the species range. The mean number of alleles per locus ranged from 4 to 38 and expected heterozygosity was uniformly high with a mean of 0.602. Pairwise comparisons of FST among all 13 populations ranged from 0.0071 to 0.0122 with only one significant estimate and an overall FST of 0.001. The entire sample collection was in Hardy–Weinberg equilibrium and there was no evidence of inbreeding with a mean FIS of 0.010. The mating and nesting behaviour of this bee suggests that gene flow would be limited by monandry and the fact that almost 90% of females mate immediately on emergence. Nevertheless there is obviously sufficient gene flow to maintain panmixia, and we suggest that this results from infrequent and unreliable rainfall in the species range, which causes the bees to congregate at limited food resources, allowing a small number of unmated females from one emergence site to come into contact with males from another population. In addition, when drought eliminates food resources near an emergence site, the whole population may move elsewhere, increasing gene flow across the species range.
Correlation of 133Xe clearance, blood flow and histology in the rat sponge model for angiogenesis. Further studies with angiogenic modifiers.

BACKGROUND We have previously described a method of quantitating angiogenesis by using a simple 133Xe clearance technique for repeated measurement of relative blood flow changes through s.c. sponge implants over a period of 14 days. The quantitative requirement of this bioassay is that the measurements of 6-minute 133Xe clearance should provide a fast and reliable means to detect relative blood flow changes in the neovasculature, so a more vigorous validation of the use of the 133Xe clearance technique as an indicator of angiogenesis is needed. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN Four different techniques were used: (a) to measure absolute blood flow in the sponges using 113Sn microspheres; (b) to quantitate the levels of hemoglobin and total protein in the implants; (c) to determine the amount of neovasculature in the sponges by the carmine dye method; and (d) to carry out histologic and morphometric analysis of sponge implants. To confirm parallel changes in 133Xe clearance and in the other techniques, the effects of selected angiogenic promoters and inhibitors were also investigated. RESULTS There was a good correlation between 133Xe clearance from the sponges and absolute blood flow (r = 0.952, p < 0.01); the levels of hemoglobin (r = 0.982, p < 0.01) and total protein (r = 0.962, p < 0.01); the amount of carmine dye (r = 0.974, p < 0.01); the fibrovascular growth areas (r = 0.992, p < 0.01); and the vascular density (r = 0.997, p < 0.01) in the implants. Daily administration of 3 pmol of IL-1 alpha or IL-8 caused intense neovascularization. When given alone, lower doses of IL-1 alpha (0.3 pmol) or bradykinin (10 pmol) produced no apparent effect. However, co-administration of these doses to a single sponge together caused an increase in the rate of angiogenesis similar to that seen with a higher dose of IL-1 alpha (3 pmol) acting alone. In contrast, daily co-administration of a potent and selective protein kinase C inhibitor, calphostin C (4 micrograms), inhibited the neovascular response elicited by 3 pmol of IL-1 alpha. Furthermore, daily doses of 5 micrograms of dexamethasone for 14 days inhibited sponge-induced angiogenesis. CONCLUSIONS The results clearly show that the 133Xe clearance technique not only gives an indication of the rate of perfusion of the sponges with blood but also gives a good estimate of its functional vascularity. Thus, the measurement of 133Xe clearance in the sponge implant provides a simple and objective method for routine studies of modifiers of angiogenesis.
Representation of Sound Onsets in the Auditory System

Sound onsets constitute particularly salient and behaviorally relevant transients and elicit vigorous responses from most auditory neurons. Here I show that response latency, precision of response timing, and response magnitude depend on dynamic properties of the stimulus envelope at onset. The joint consideration of these response parameters, and of the stimulus and neuronal properties on which they depend, suggests a point-by-point sampling, or tracking, mechanism for the onset envelope. This mechanism is characterized by an automatically adjusted sampling rate and precision of spike timing, so that it should be rather robust against changes in the dynamics of the envelope, brought about for example by changes in a signal’s sound pressure level. There will be a one-to-one relationship between stimulus onset and the evoked spatiotemporal response pattern. That pattern involves both the tonotopic and the isofrequency axes of cortical maps. Such a mechanism could provide a temporal resolution of the time course of the onset envelope which is likely orders of magnitude higher than that inferred from the phase-locking capabilities of neurons in cortical fields to periodic signals and could contribute to the instantaneous coding of transients.
Quantitative detection of substitute voice generator during phonation in patients undergoing laryngectomy.

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the vibration pattern of the substitute voice generator of patients who have undergone laryngectomy. For automatic quantification of the oscillations of the pharyngoesophageal (PE) segments, image processing of digital high-speed video sequences is applied. DESIGN Physiologic analysis. SETTING An acute care hospital. PATIENTS Endoscopic recordings were taken of 10 men who underwent laryngectomy (mean +/- SD age, 61.5 +/- 5.2 years) during sustained phonation of a vowel using a 90 degree endoscope coupled to a high-speed camera. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES An image-processing algorithm was developed to automatically define the pseudoglottis in each recording and track its movements. RESULTS The clinical assessment of the high-speed technique for the endoscopic examination of the substitute voice generator yields the following results. The forms and oscillation characteristics of the pseudoglottides varied considerably: 3 pseudoglottides were circular, 6 were split shaped, and 1 was triangle shaped. A quasi-periodic opening and closing were observed and automatically detected by the described algorithm in each recording independently from quality of the recording and from morphologic and oscillation characteristics of the PE segment. The frequencies of the extracted oscillations of the pseudoglottides correspond to the structure of the acoustic signals. CONCLUSIONS Automatic image processing of PE segments derived from high-speed endoscopic recordings enables the detection and quantification of the substitute voice generator's oscillations in high temporal resolution. These data directly prove that the detected pseudoglottis is the source of the substitute voice. Close relations between substitute voice and functional properties of the PE segment exist. In the future, these data will be interpreted by applying biomechanical models of the PE segment. Presumably, results may help to optimize surgical and adaptive procedures for specific substitute voice restoration.
The Effect of Heliox-Driven Bronchodilator Aerosol Therapy on Pulmonary Function Tests in Patients with Asthma

To compare the effects of heliox-driven (He 80:O2 20) to air-driven (N 79:O2 21) β2-agonist aerosol therapy on pulmonary function tests (PFTs) in patients with asthma, a prospective randomized crossover study was undertaken in the asthma clinic of the university-affiliated county hospital in Houston, TX. Thirty-one patients (22 female, age range 18–44) with clinically stable asthma consented. All patients were studied on two different days with both heliox and air as driving gas, therefore serving as their own controls. The PFTs including forced expiratory volume in 1 sec (FEV1), forced vital capacity (FVC), maximal mid-expiratory flow rate (FEF25–75), and maximal expiratory flow rate (FEFmax) were obtained while breathing ambient air at baseline and 30 min after the bronchodilator treatment. Albuterol sulfate 2.5 mg was nebulized with either heliox or compressed air at 8 L/min for 8 min. When heliox was used as driving agent, additional heliox was delivered via a closed system and no entrainment of external air was allowed. Primary outcome measure was absolute change in FEV1 (ΔFEV1). There were no statistically significant differences in baseline PFTs on the two days of the study. All patients had good bronchodilator response (≥12% improvement in FEV1) with either driving gas. The ΔFEV1 after heliox-driven bronchodilator (HDBD) and air-driven bronchodilator (ADBD) were 0.68±0.38 L/sec (CI: 0.54–0.82) vs. 0.51±0.26 L/sec (CI: 0.42–0.60), respectively (p=0.004). The ΔFEV1 with HDBD was 49±90% (range −36% to 433%) more than ADBD. A subgroup analysis showed this was largely due to better response rates in patients with moderate to severe obstruction. There was more improvement in both FVC and FEFmax with HDBD than ADBD (p<0.05). The changes in FEF25–75 were similar. We conclude that HDBD therapy improves FEV1, FVC, and FEFmax significantly more than ADBD in patients with asthma. Further large randomized studies are needed to better characterize responders and the impact on clinical outcomes.
Maximum Langmuir Fields in Planetary Foreshocks Determined from the Electrostatic Decay Threshold

Maximum electric fields of Langmuir waves at planetary foreshocks are estimated from the threshold for electrostatic decay, assuming it saturates beam-driven growth, and incorporating heliospheric variation of plasma density and temperature. Comparison with spacecraft observations yields good quantitative agreement. Observations in type III radio sources are also in accord with this interpretation. A single mechanism can thus account for the highest fields of beam driven waves in both contexts.
Arm Blood Flow and Oxygenation on the Transition from Arm to Combined Arm and Leg Exercise in Humans

The cardiovascular response to exercise with several groups of skeletal muscle implies that work with the legs may reduce arm blood flow. This study followed arm blood flow (Q̇arm) and oxygenation on the transition from arm cranking (A) to combined arm and leg exercise (A+L). Seven healthy male subjects performed A at ∼80 % of maximum work rate (Wmax) and A at ∼80 % Wmax combined with L at ∼60 % Wmax. A transition trial to volitional exhaustion was performed where L was added after 2 min of A. The Q̇arm was determined by constant infusion thermodilution in the axillary vein and changes in biceps muscle oxygenation were measured with near‐infrared spectroscopy. During A+L Q̇arm was lowered by 0.38 ± 0.06 l min−1 (10.4 ± 3.3 %, P < 0.05) from 2.96 ± 1.54 l min−1 during A. Total (HbT) and oxygenated haemoglobin (HbO2) concentrations were also lower. During the transition from A to A+L Q̇arm decreased by 0.22 ± 0.03 l min−1 (7.9 ± 1.8 %, P < 0.05) within 9.6 ± 0.2 s, while HbT and HbO2 decreased similarly within 30 ± 2 s. At the same time mean arterial pressure and arm vascular conductance also decreased. The data demonstrate reduction in blood flow to active skeletal muscle during maximal whole body exercise to a degree that arm oxygen uptake and muscle tissue oxygenation are compromised.
Effect of Nerve Growth Factor in Ethylcholine Mustard Aziridinium (AF64A)‐Treated Rats: Sensitization of Cholinergic Enzyme Activity in the Septohippocampal Pathway

Abstract: In this study, we examined the effects of nerve growth factor (NGF) administration on cholinergic enzyme activity in both normal and ethylcholine mustard aziridinium (AF64A)‐treated rats. Choline acetyltransferase (ChAT) and acetylcholinesterase activity were measured in the hippocampus and septum of rats chronically administered NGF (0.36–2.85 µg/day) into the lateral ventricle for 14 days. In both normal and AF64A‐treated rats, NGF increased cholinergic enzyme activity in a dose‐dependent manner. Furthermore, although NGF increased ChAT activity in normal rats by 147%, it had a greater effect in AF64A‐treated rats, increasing ChAT activity as much as 273%. NGF increased acetylcholinesterase activity in normal rats by only 125% but produced a 221% increase in this activity in AF64A‐treated rats. These data indicate that AF64A produces an increased sensitivity to NGF in cholinergic neurons.
Forecasting returns and volatilities in GARCH processes using the bootstrap

We propose a new bootstrap resampling scheme to obtain prediction densities of levels and volatilities of time series generated by GARCH processes. The main advantage over other bootstrap methods previously proposed for GARCH processes, is that the procedure incorpora tes the variability due to parameter estimation and, consequently, it is possible to obtain bootstrap prediction densities for the volatility process. The asymptotic properties of the procedure are derived and the finite sample properties are analysed by means of Monte CarIo experiments, showing its good behaviour versus altemative procedures. Finally, the procedure is applied to estimate prediction densities of retums and volatilities of the Madrid Stock Market index, IBEX-35.
Sum-frequency vibrational spectroscopy of self-assembled ultrathin organic layers

We have used sum-frequency vibrational spectroscopy to investigate the molecular ordering of self-assembled polyelectrolyte layer-by-layer films, probing every step of the assembly process (adsorption, rinsing and drying). We have also studied the effect of substrate morphology on the defect density of alkanethiol monolayers self-assembled on gold.
Load alleviation potential of active flaps and individual pitch control in a full design load basis

The load alleviation potential of the Controllable Rubber Trailing Edge Flap (CRTEF) is verified on a full Design Load Basis (DLB) setup using the aeroelastic code HAWC2, and by investigating a flap configuration for the NREL 5MW Reference Wind Turbine (RWT) model. The performance of the CRTEF configuration is evaluated by comparing four setups: 1) baseline with collective pitch, 2) individual pitch control, 3) individual flap control and 4) individual flap control combined with individual pitch control. The CRTEF allows for a significant reduction of the lifetime fatigue on various load channels; the reduction for some of the extreme loads is also noticeable