Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Retinal blood vessels extraction and detection of exudates using wavelet transform and pnn approach for the assessment of diabetic retinopathy

In ophthalmology, human eye is an important diagnostic factor for studying vascular network. Segmentation of fundus image is important due to varying size of blood vessels, contrast and presence of different pathologies such as microaneurysms and hemorrhages. This work proposes a new method to find the exudates (patches) from the blood vessels of an eye during diabetic retinopathy treatment. For analysis, input retinal image is separated into three planes i.e., red, green and blue, from which green channels are selected, which are further processed using Daubechies wavelet transform to estimate the grey level co-occurrence matrix (GLCM) features. These features are processed using probabilistic neural network (PNN) and input retinal image is compared with the database image to classify it as normal or abnormal. Morphological operations are applied to the abnormal image to extract the blood vessels and then fuzzy c-means clustering is applied in the extracted blood vessels to detect the exudates. The accuracy and sensitivity of the result obtained by the proposed method is comparatively better and are 0.9776 and 0.9677 respectively. The method can be applied successfully and the blood vessels and exudates can be effectively detected.
Towards flexibility in business processes by mining process patterns and process instances

The possibility to react to unexpected situations in business process execution is restricted since all possible process flows must be specified at design-time. Thus, there is need for a flexible approach that reflects the way in which human actors would handle discrepancies between real-life activities and their representation in business process definitions. In this paper, we propose a novel approach that supports dynamic business processes and is based on a framework comprising a process pattern library with domain-specific patterns and execution logs for mining related process instances. Given a running business process and an unexpected situation, the proposed approach provides a largely automatic adaptation of the business process by replacing failed activities with fitting process alternatives identified by exploring existing process knowledge. The feasibility of the approach is demonstrated by applying the main steps to a business scenario taken from the industry domain.
Differences in the use of autobiographical memory across the adult lifespan

Current research distinguishes between self, directive and social function of autobiographical memories (AMs). To date, only few studies have investigated these functions across adulthood. The comparison of different age groups requires that the functions of AM are measured in the same way across groups (measurement invariance, MI). Additionally to the average use of AM, the factor variances and factor covariances among the three functions were examined across adulthood. In the present study, 1290 adults (aged between 17 and 93 years) completed the Thinking about Life Experiences Questionnaire (TALE), which measures the overall use of AMs for self, directive and social purposes. The sample was divided into five age groups and partial strong MI was established using multigroup confirmatory factor analysis. The results showed an increase in the factor associations as well as a decrease in the factor mean levels of all three functions across age groups. Both findings could be adequately described by linear functions of age. The factor variances were on most parts equal across age groups. These results strengthen the assumption that—from a lifespan developmental perspective—the use of AM may be aligned with relatively normative developmental tasks in a given society.
Surgical Treatment of Mild Hallux Valgus Deformity: The State of Practice among Academic Foot and Ankle Surgeons

Background: The purpose of this study was to determine the operative procedure of choice among academic foot and ankle surgeons practicing in the United States for treatment of mild hallux valgus deformity. Methods: A hypothetical patient was created: a 60-year-old woman with a mild hallux valgus deformity (first intermetatarsal angle of 11 degrees and hallux valgus angle of 22 degrees). The patient complained of pain around the bunion, nonoperative treatment had failed, and she desired operative correction. The case was sent to academic foot and ankle surgeons to identify their operative treatment of choice. The overall response rate was 83.7% (128 of 153). To be included in the study group each surgeon had 1) foot and ankle patients comprising 50% or more of their clinical practice and 2) direct responsibility for teaching orthopaedic surgery residents. One hundred and three respondents met the inclusion criteria and formed the study group. Results: Eighty-seven percent (90 of 103) reported that they would use a distal chevron osteotomy as their primary procedure to correct the mild hallux valgus. Ten percent (10 of 103) reported that they would also add an Akin osteotomy of the proximal phalanx to enhance correction. Conclusions: Most respondents chose a distal chevron osteotomy as their primary procedure to correct the mild hallux valgus deformity.
[Professional outcome of reflex sympathetic dystrophy].

OBJECTIVE In spite of physical medicine and rehabilitation care, post-traumatic reflex sympathetic dystrophy can be at the origin of articular deficiency, which decrease the capacity to return to work. The aim of this study is to know the professional future of patients who present post-traumatic reflex sympathetic dystrophy. MATERIAL AND METHOD Eighteen months prospective study, carried out from patients in age to work, hospitalized in physical medicine and rehabilitation unit for ostéo-articular traumatism complicated by reflex sympathetic dystrophy. Description of the population and comorbidity factors preventing professional resumption. Determination of the duration of medical certificate and the modalities of professional resumption. RESULTS From 16 patients in age to work, only 12 were able to resume a full time profession with an average period of 10.5 months +/- 5. The importance of the, the distale articular location of reflex sympathetic dystrophy (wrist - hand, ankle - foot), the association with a comorbidity such as chronic alcoholism represent pejorative factors of working resumption. Organizations of workstation are often necessary in six cases over eight, if the job is not sedentary. In the most complicated cases, inaptitudes in the work are pronounced with demand of professional reclassifying. CONCLUSION Post-traumatic reflex sympathetic dystrophy represents a real challenge for the rehabilitation team, to minimize deficiencies and to help the patient to become again a worker.
Dose-ranging effects of citrulline administration on plasma amino acids and hormonal patterns in healthy subjects: the Citrudose pharmacokinetic study

Previous experimental studies have highlighted that citrulline (CIT) could be a promising pharmaconutrient. However, its pharmacokinetic characteristics and tolerance to loading have not been studied to date. The objective was to characterise the plasma kinetics of CIT in a multiple-dosing study design and to assess the effect of CIT intake on the concentrations of other plasma amino acids (AA). The effects of CIT loading on anabolic hormones were also determined. Eight fasting healthy males underwent four separate oral loading tests (2, 5, 10 or 15 g CIT) in random order. Blood was drawn ten times over an 8 h period for measurement of plasma AA, insulin and growth hormone (Gh). Urine samples were collected before CIT administration and over the next 24 h. None of the subjects experienced side effects whatever the CIT dose. Concerning AA, only CIT, ornithine (ORN) and arginine (ARG) plasma concentrations were affected (maximum concentration 146 (sem 8) to 303 (sem 11) μmol/l (ARG) and 81 (sem 4) to 179 (sem 10) μmol/l (ORN); time to reach maximum concentration 1·17 (sem 0·26) to 2·29 (sem 0·20) h (ARG) and 1·38 (sem 0·25) to 1·79 (sem 0·11) h (ORN) according to CIT dose). Even at high doses, urinary excretion of CIT remained low ( < 5 %). Plasma insulin and Gh were not affected by CIT administration. Short-term CIT administration is safe and well-tolerated. CIT is a potent precursor of ARG. However, at the highest doses, CIT accumulated in plasma while plasma ARG levels increased less than expected. This may be due to saturation of the renal conversion of CIT into ARG.
An International Collaboration To Standardize HIV-2 Viral Load Assays: Results from the 2009 ACHIEV2E Quality Control Study

ABSTRACT Accurate HIV-2 plasma viral load quantification is crucial for adequate HIV-2 patient management and for the proper conduct of clinical trials and international cohort collaborations. This study compared the homogeneity of HIV-2 RNA quantification when using HIV-2 assays from ACHIEV2E study sites and either in-house PCR calibration standards or common viral load standards supplied to all collaborators. Each of the 12 participating laboratories quantified blinded HIV-2 samples, using its own HIV-2 viral load assay and standard as well as centrally validated and distributed common HIV-2 group A and B standards (http://www.hiv.lanl.gov/content/sequence/HelpDocs/subtypes-more.html). Aliquots of HIV-2 group A and B strains, each at 2 theoretical concentrations (2.7 and 3.7 log10 copies/ml), were tested. Intralaboratory, interlaboratory, and overall variances of quantification results obtained with both standards were compared using F tests. For HIV-2 group A quantifications, overall and interlaboratory and/or intralaboratory variances were significantly lower when using the common standard than when using in-house standards at the concentration levels of 2.7 log10 copies/ml and 3.7 log10 copies/ml, respectively. For HIV-2 group B, a high heterogeneity was observed and the variances did not differ according to the type of standard used. In this international collaboration, the use of a common standard improved the homogeneity of HIV-2 group A RNA quantification only. The diversity of HIV-2 group B, particularly in PCR primer-binding regions, may explain the heterogeneity in quantification of this strain. Development of a validated HIV-2 viral load assay that accurately quantifies distinct circulating strains is needed.
Comparative effectiveness of donation after cardiac death versus donation after brain death liver transplantation: Recognizing who can benefit

Due to organ scarcity and wait‐list mortality, transplantation of donation after cardiac death (DCD) livers has increased. However, the group of patients benefiting from DCD liver transplantation is unknown. We studied the comparative effectiveness of DCD versus donation after brain death (DBD) liver transplantation. A Markov model was constructed to compare undergoing DCD transplantation with remaining on the wait‐list until death or DBD liver transplantation. Differences in life years, quality‐adjusted life years (QALYs), and costs according to candidate Model for End‐Stage Liver Disease (MELD) score were considered. A separate model for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients with and without MELD exception points was constructed. For patients with a MELD score <15, DCD transplantation resulted in greater costs and reduced effectiveness. Patients with a MELD score of 15 to 20 experienced an improvement in effectiveness (0.07 QALYs) with DCD liver transplantation, but the incremental cost‐effectiveness ratio (ICER) was >$2,000,000/QALY. Patients with MELD scores of 21 to 30 (0.25 QALYs) and >30 (0.83 QALYs) also benefited from DCD transplantation with ICERs of $478,222/QALY and $120,144/QALY, respectively. Sensitivity analyses demonstrated stable results for MELD scores <15 and >20, but the preferred strategy for the MELD 15 to 20 category was uncertain. DCD transplantation was associated with increased costs and reduced survival for HCC patients with exception points but led to improved survival (0.26 QALYs) at a cost of $392,067/QALY for patients without exception points. In conclusion, DCD liver transplantation results in inferior survival for patients with a MELD score <15 and HCC patients receiving MELD exception points, but provides a survival benefit to patients with a MELD score >20 and to HCC patients without MELD exception points. Liver Transpl,18:630–640, 2012. © 2012 AASLD.
Adaptive evolutionary active noise control system without secondary path measurement

This paper proposes an adaptive evolutionary system for active noise control (ANC). The conventional ANC system often utilized filtered-X LMS (FXLMS) algorithm to update the coefficients of the linear finite impulse response (FIR) filter for its simplicity; while the FXLMS algorithm may converge to local minima. This paper uses evolutionary idea, substituting FXLMS algorithm, to prevent the local minima problem. In addition, it does not require identifying the secondary path for the ANC by using the proposed method; therefore, there is no plant information is necessary for designing an ANC system. Computer simulations results show that the proposed method can control the nonlinear noise under several situations very well, without identifying secondary path effectively.
Multipath ghost suppression for through-the-wall radar

When through-the-wall ultra-wideband (UWB) synthetic aperture radar (SAR) is applied to imaging, the interference of multipath spreading between targets will introduce ghosts into the SAR image. This paper proposes a hidden Markov model (HMM)-based method for suppressing ghosts in the SAR images. Simulations show that the method proposed can improve the peak value ratio of real targets to ghosts by about 15 dB.
Performance Evaluation of the Inveon Dedicated PET Preclinical Tomograph Based on the NEMA NU-4 Standards

The Inveon dedicated PET (DPET) scanner is the latest generation of preclinical PET systems devoted to high-resolution and high-sensitivity murine model imaging. In this study, we report on its performance based on the National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA) NU-4 standards. Methods: The Inveon DPET consists of 64 lutetium oxyorthosilicate block detectors arranged in 4 contiguous rings, with a 16.1-cm ring diameter and a 12.7-cm axial length. Each detector block consists of a 20 × 20 lutetium oxyorthosilicate crystal array of 1.51 × 1.51 × 10.0 mm elements. The scintillation light is transmitted to position-sensitive photomultiplier tubes via optical light guides. Energy resolution, spatial resolution, sensitivity, scatter fraction, and counting-rate performance were evaluated. The NEMA NU-4 image–quality phantom and a healthy mouse injected with 18F-FDG and 18F− were scanned to evaluate the imaging capability of the Inveon DPET. Results: The energy resolution at 511 keV was 14.6% on average for the entire system. In-plane radial and tangential resolutions reconstructed with Fourier rebinning and filtered backprojection algorithms were below 1.8-mm full width at half maximum (FWHM) at the center of the field of view. The radial and tangential resolution remained under 2.0 mm, and the axial resolution remained under 2.5-mm FWHM within the central 4-cm diameter of the field of view. The absolute sensitivity of the system was 9.3% for an energy window of 250–625 keV and a timing window of 3.432 ns. At a 350- to 625-keV energy window and a 3.432-ns timing window, the peak noise equivalent counting rate was 1,670 kcps at 130 MBq for the mouse-sized phantom and 590 kcps at 110 MBq for the rat-sized phantom. The scatter fractions at the same acquisition settings were 7.8% and 17.2% for the mouse- and rat-sized phantoms, respectively. The mouse image-quality phantom results demonstrate that for typical mouse acquisitions, the image quality correlates well with the measured performance parameters in terms of image uniformity, recovery coefficients, attenuation, and scatter corrections. Conclusion: The Inveon system, compared with previous generations of preclinical PET systems from the same manufacturer, shows significantly improved energy resolution, sensitivity, axial coverage, and counting-rate capabilities. The performance of the Inveon is suitable for successful murine model imaging experiments.
Keratocan Expression of Murine Keratocytes Is Maintained on Amniotic Membrane by Down-regulating Transforming Growth Factor-β Signaling*

Keratocytes in the corneal stroma express keratan sulfate-containing proteoglycans including cornea-specific keratocan. On plastic dishes, human, bovine, and rabbit keratocytes lose their characteristic dendritic morphology and keratocan expression when cultured in serum-containing media. Herein, we demonstrated that murine keratocytes also acquired a fibroblastic shape and lost keratocan expression after first passage when cultured on plastic in the presence of serum. In contrast, cells expanded on human amniotic membrane (AM) stromal matrix maintained a three-dimensional dendritic morphology and expressed keratocan mRNA and protein for at least 8 passages before senescence. When keratocytes were cultured on AM, the promoter activity of transforming growth factor (TGF)-β2 and TGF-β receptor II was down-regulated as compared with that on plastic. Furthermore, cells on AM continuously retained Smad 2 and Smad 4 in the cytoplasm and did not express α-smooth muscle actin, even when 10 ng/ml TGF-β1 was added in a serum-free medium for up to 5 days. In parallel to such down-regulation of TGF-β signaling, keratocan promoter-driven ECFP expression was observed in cells cultured either on AM in the presence of serum or on plastic containing serum treated with a neutralizing antibody to TGF-β. Collectively, these results indicate that down-regulation of Smad-mediated TGF-β signaling is an important mechanism for cultured keratocytes to maintain a normal phenotype while continuously expanded in a serum-containing medium. This strategy of suppressing TGF-β signaling, achieved by AM stromal matrix in part via suppression of TGF-β gene transcription, can be used to expand keratocytes in culture without the use of AM in the future.
Growth cone migration across extracellular matrix components depends on integrin, but migration across glioma cells does not

To promote neurite elongation, nerve growth cones must adhere to other surfaces. A complex of integral membrane glycoproteins mediates cell binding to the extracellular glycoproteins fibronectin and laminin (Horwitz et al., J Cell Biol 101:2134–2144, 1985). The receptor complex, named integrin, binds to fibronectin by recognition of a specific peptide sequence, Arg‐Gly‐Asp‐Ser (RGDS), in the fibronectin molecule (Pierschbacher and Ruoslahti, Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 81:5985–5988, 1984). We have used antibodies to integrin and an RGDS synthetic peptide to probe the functions of integrin in the migration of growth cones extended from sensory and spinal cord neurons of chick embryos. Analyses of time lapse videotapes of growth cone migration before and after adding RGDS indicated that 2 mM RGDS rapidly inhibits growth cone movement on substrata coated with fibronectin or a fragment of fibronectin containing the RGDS sequence. RGDS has no effect on growth cone movement on laminin or on a surface coated with material deposited from heart conditioned medium. However, a monoclonal antibody to the integrin complex (10 μg/ml CSAT) completely blocks growth cone movement on substrata treated with fibronectin, laminin, or heart conditioned medium. Thus integrin may be involved in growth cone adhesion to several extracellular molecules, although the selective effects of RGDS indicate that the integrin complex may have heterogeneous sites for interaction with different components of the extracellular matrix. CSAT antibody has no discernible effect, however, on growth cone migration across the upper surfaces of C6 glioma cells. These data indicate that the surfaces of nerve growth cones contain multiple binding molecules that mediate different adhesive interactions during migration.
Coiled Coil Domain-containing Protein 56 (CCDC56) Is a Novel Mitochondrial Protein Essential for Cytochrome c Oxidase Function*

Background: Cytochrome c oxidase (COX), the final enzyme of the mitochondrial electron transport chain, requires several assembly factors for its proper function. Results: ccdc56 knock-out flies showed developmental delay, lethality, and a dramatic decrease in the levels/activity of COX. Conclusion: CCDC56 protein is necessary for COX function and for viability in flies. Significance: Drosophila CCDC56 is a novel putative COX assembly factor conserved in humans. In Drosophila melanogaster, the mitochondrial transcription factor B1 (d-mtTFB1) transcript contains in its 5′-untranslated region a conserved upstream open reading frame denoted as CG42630 in FlyBase. We demonstrate that CG42630 encodes a novel protein, the coiled coil domain-containing protein 56 (CCDC56), conserved in metazoans. We show that Drosophila CCDC56 protein localizes to mitochondria and contains 87 amino acids in flies and 106 in humans with the two proteins sharing 42% amino acid identity. We show by rapid amplification of cDNA ends and Northern blotting that Drosophila CCDC56 protein and mtTFB1 are encoded on a bona fide bicistronic transcript. We report the generation and characterization of two ccdc56 knock-out lines in Drosophila carrying the ccdc56D6 and ccdc56D11 alleles. Lack of the CCDC56 protein in flies induces a developmental delay and 100% lethality by arrest of larval development at the third instar. ccdc56 knock-out larvae show a significant decrease in the level of fully assembled cytochrome c oxidase (COX) and in its activity, suggesting a defect in complex assembly; the activity of the other oxidative phosphorylation complexes remained either unaffected or increased in the ccdc56 knock-out larvae. The lethal phenotype and the decrease in COX were partially rescued by reintroduction of a wild-type UAS-ccdc56 transgene. These results indicate an important role for CCDC56 in the oxidative phosphorylation system and in particular in COX function required for proper development in D. melanogaster. We propose CCDC56 as a candidate factor required for COX biogenesis/assembly.
Challenges of Utilizing E-Learning Systems in Public Universities in Jordan

This research paper lists and discusses major challenges and barriers that may face faculty members at the public universities in Jordan in employing e-Learning systems authoring tools in their instructions. It also proposes several suggestions for the administrators in public universities in Jordan for what they could do to improve the utilization of e-Learning authoring tools at their campuses. E-Learning systems authoring tools allow instructors to easily create and deliver their e-contents and e-lectures. Furthermore, online course materials which uploaded by using such authoring tools could be viewed by any popular web browser system.
Characterisation of the Omsk collection of rickettsial strains.

North Asian tick typhus (NATT) was the first tick-borne rickettsiosis detected in Russia. To date, more than 65 000 NATT cases have been registered. Since 1954, the Omsk Institute of Natural Foci Infections has cultivated rickettsiae from ticks and clinical specimens collected in natural foci of NATT as part of the study of the epidemiology of this disease and the ecology of tick-borne rickettsiae [1]. Herein, we used gene amplification and sequencing to identify 50 strains with accuracy and thereby describe the rickettsial species endemic in NATT foci in Russia.
Elf5 inhibits TGF‐β‐driven epithelial‐mesenchymal transition in prostate cancer by repressing SMAD3 activation

The epithelial‐mesenchymal transition (EMT) has been associated with the acquisition of migration, invasiveness, and metastasis traits. During tumor progression, EMT can be induced by transforming growth factor‐β (TGF‐β) signal that epithelial cells receive from their microenvironment. However, the master regulatory controls on TGF‐β‐EMT axis are not understood.