Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Living-related liver transplantation with renoportal anastomosis for a patient with large spontaneous splenorenal collateral

Background. A large splenorenal collateral must be interrupted during liver transplantation to secure adequate portal perfusion. However, this process increases the complexity of the operative procedure and may cause hazardous bleeding. Recently, renoportal anastomosis in portal reconstruction was reported in cadaveric liver transplantation for patients with surgically created splenorenal shunts. We used this technique in a living-related liver transplantation. Methods. A 29-year-old female with a large spontaneous splenorenal collateral and a portal venous thrombus underwent a living-related liver transplantation. At surgery, the left renal vein was divided and the distal stump was anastomosed to the portal vein of the graft without interrupting collaterals. Results. Adequate portal venous blood flow was maintained throughout the postoperative course. The patient was discharged 9 weeks after transplantation and remains well. Conclusion. The renoportal anastomosis could be used for portal reconstruction in living-related liver transplantation for patients with a large splenorenal collateral. It provides adequate portal perfusion without interrupting collateral circulation.
A study of the Critical Success Factors of ERP implementation in developing countries

This paper presents two cases of Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) implementation in two middle-eastern companies. The objective of this case-based research is to investigate qualitatively the ERP implementation process, with a focus on the critical factors that contribute to its success. The ERP Critical Success Factor (CSF) model for medium-sized organisations in developing countries is explained and assessed. The discovery from the field study of the companies is analysed in the context of the literature and sample secondary cases. This analysis is expected to provide valuable guidelines and directions for organisations undertaking or planning similar initiatives.
Evolving Fuzzy Systems from Data Streams in Real-Time

An approach to real-time generation of fuzzy rule-base systems of extended Takagi-Sugeno (xTS) type from data streams is proposed in the paper. The xTS fuzzy system combines both zero and first order Takagi-Sugeno (TS) type systems. The fuzzy rule-base (system structure) evolves starting 'from scratch' based on the data distribution in the joint input/output data space. An incremental clustering procedure that takes into account the non-stationary nature of the data pattern and generates clusters that are used to form fuzzy rule based systems antecedent part in on-line mode is used as a first stage of the non-iterative learning process. This structure proved to be computationally efficient and powerful to represent in a transparent way complex non-linear relationships. The decoupling of the learning task into a non-iterative, recursive (thus computationally very efficient and applicable in real-time) clustering with a modified version of the well known recursive parameter estimation technique leads to a very powerful construct - evolving xTS (exTS). It is transparent and linguistically interpretable. The contributions of this paper are: i) introduction of an adaptive recursively updated radius of the clusters (zone of influence of the fuzzy rules) that learns the data distribution/variance/scatter in each cluster; ii) a new condition to replace clusters that excludes contradictory rules; iii) an extended formulation that includes both zero order TS and simplified Mamdani multi-input-multi-output (MIMO) systems; iv) new improved formulation of the membership functions, which closer resembles the normal Gaussian distribution; v) introduction of measures of clusters quality that are used to form the antecedent parts of respective fuzzy rules, namely their age and support; vi) experimental results with a well known benchmark problem as well as with real experimental data of concentration of exhaust gases (NOx) in on-line modeling of car engine test rigs
Lipidomics: Quest for Molecular Lipid Biomarkers in Cardiovascular Disease

Lipidomics is the comprehensive analysis of molecular lipid species, including their quantitation and metabolic pathways. The huge diversity of native lipids and their modifications make lipidomic analyses challenging. The method of choice for sensitive detection and quantitation of molecular lipid species is mass spectrometry, either by direct infusion (shotgun lipidomics) or coupled with liquid chromatography. Although shotgun lipidomics allows for high-throughput analysis, low-abundant lipid species are not detected. Previous separation of lipid species by liquid chromatography increases ionization efficiency and is better suited for quantifying low abundant and isomeric lipid species. In this review, we will discuss the potential of lipidomics for cardiovascular research. To date, cardiovascular research predominantly focuses on the role of lipid classes rather than molecular entities. An in-depth knowledge about the molecular lipid species that contribute to the pathophysiology of cardiovascular diseases may provide better biomarkers and novel therapeutic targets for cardiovascular disease.
Multivariate Model For Corporate Bankruptcy Prediction In Romania

The current paper proposes a methodology for bankruptcy prediction applicable for Romanian companies. Low bankruptcy frequencies registered in the past have limited the importance of bankruptcy prediction in Romania. The changes in the economic environment brought by the economic crisis, as well as by the entrance in the European Union, make the availability of performing bankruptcy assessment tools more important than ever before. The proposed methodology is centred on a multivariate model, developed through discriminant analysis. Financial ratios are employed as explanatory variables within the model. The study has included 53,252 yearly financial statements from the period 2007 – 2010, with the state of the companies being monitored until the end of 2012. It thus employs the largest sample ever used in Romanian research in the field of bankruptcy prediction, not targeting high levels of accuracy over isolated samples, but reliability and ease of use over the entire population.
Lingual thyroid

Lingual thyroid is an abnormal mass of ectopic thyroid tissue seen in base of tongue caused due to embryological aberrancy in development of thyroid gland. Most of the ectopic tissue is seen in the tongue. Their identification and proper management is essential since they may be the only functioning thyroid tissue occurring in the body. We report a case of lingual thyroid in a 40 year old female patient who was hypothyroid with posterior swelling of tongue. Tc-99 scintigraphy confirmed the clinical diagnosis and surgical excision of entire tissue was done by midline mandibular split osteotomy and patient was placed under lifelong thyroxine replacement. Follow up showed excellent results with minimum patient discomfort.
Measuring Emotion in Advertising Research: Prefrontal Brain Activity

With the current interest in the role of emotion in advertising and advertising research, there has been an increasing interest in the use of various brain activity measures to access nonverbal emotional responses. One such approach relies on measuring the difference between left and right hemisphere prefrontal cortical activity to assess like and dislike. This approach is based on electroencephalography (EEG) and neuroimaging work, suggesting that the approach/withdrawal (frequently but not always associated with like/dislike) dimension of emotion is indicated by the balance of activity between the left and right prefrontal cortex. Much of this work was initiated by Richard Davidson in the early 1990s. An early study by Davidson et al. measured brain electrical activity to assess patterns of activation during the experience of happiness and disgust [2]. The authors reported that disgust was found to be associated with increased right-sided activation in the frontal and anterior temporal regions compared with happiness. In contrast, happiness was found to be accompanied by left-sided activation in the anterior temporal region compared with disgust. Early reports suggested that frontal laterality indexes motivational valence with positive emotions (happy, like) associated with left greater than the right frontal activity and vice versa. Although these findings appear to be consistent with personality traits (e.g., optimism pessimism), state changes in frontal laterality appears to index approach withdraw rather than emotional valence [3]. Interestingly, the behavioral and motivational correlates of prefrontal asymmetric activity are not restricted to humans or even primates but have been observed in numerous species such as birds and fish (see [4]). Henceforth, we use the term motivational valence (MV) rather than the more cumbersome term approach withdraw.
Using the Seven Bridges Cancer Genomics Cloud to Access and Analyze Petabytes of Cancer Data

Next‐generation sequencing has produced petabytes of data, but accessing and analyzing these data remain challenging. Traditionally, researchers investigating public datasets like The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) would download the data to a high‐performance cluster, which could take several weeks even with a highly optimized network connection. The National Cancer Institute (NCI) initiated the Cancer Genomics Cloud Pilots program to provide researchers with the resources to process data with cloud computational resources. We present protocols using one of these Cloud Pilots, the Seven Bridges Cancer Genomics Cloud (CGC), to find and query public datasets, bring your own data to the CGC, analyze data using standard or custom workflows, and benchmark tools for accuracy with interactive analysis features. These protocols demonstrate that the CGC is a data‐analysis ecosystem that fully empowers researchers with a variety of areas of expertise and interests to collaborate in the analysis of petabytes of data. © 2017 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Domain‐specific retrieval of source information in the medial temporal lobe

Memory for context information (source memory) has been reported to rely on structures in the medial temporal lobe (MTL). Perirhinal cortex (anterior MTL) and parahippocampal cortex (posterior MTL) have distinct connectivity patterns with sensory neocortex, suggesting a possible modality‐dependent organization of memory processes. The present study investigated the neural substrates of two different types of source information of newly encoded material using functional magnetic resonance imaging: auditory (speaker voice) and visual (texture and colour). Source judgements during retrieval were reliably above chance level for both modalities and performance did not differ between the auditory and visual condition. During encoding, activity predictive of subsequent source recollection was observed in the anterior hippocampus/parahippocampal gyrus, irrespective of source modality. During retrieval, on the other hand, a regional dissociation emerged: bilateral parahippocampal cortex discriminated between correct and incorrect auditory but not visual source judgements, whereas left perirhinal/entorhinal cortex showed the reverse pattern. These findings are consistent with recent lesion evidence of disrupted auditory but intact visual source memory following damage to the parahippocampal cortex. Results are discussed with respect to anatomical models of corticoparahippocampal connectivity and the functional organization of the MTL.
Quantifying Inertia in Retail Deposit Markets

This paper investigates inertia within and across banks in retail deposit markets using detailed panel data on consumer choices and account characteristics. In a structural choice model, I find that costs of inertia are around one third higher for switching accounts across compared to switching within banks. Observable proxies of bank-level switching costs (number and type of additional financial products) explain most of this cost premium, while online banking usage reduces inertia. Consistent with theory, I provide evidence that banks incorporate inertia in their pricing as older accounts pay lower rates than comparable newer accounts. Counterfactual policies reducing inertia shift market share to more competitive smaller banks, but only eliminating inertia within banks already results in high potential gains in consumer surplus. This suggests that facilitating bank switching alone might be insufficient to improve consumer choices.
Business responses to climate change: strategies for reducing greenhouse gas emissions in Vietnam

Abstract This study identifies the climate change strategies adopted by firms in developing countries to reduce their greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. First, a framework is developed to classify and assess the GHG emission strategies of companies; second, it is then improved by using data on their implementation collected from 185 companies operating in 10 energy-intensive industries in Vietnam. We find that multinational subsidiaries engage in various climate change activities and have a higher level of implementation than those of domestic firms. Further, the most active and proactive companies are large in size and from Europe, the United States and Japan.
Research on a connotation and assessment index system of eco-communities

ABSTRACT Eco-communities integrate construction and management with a comprehensive view of the environment and can be reflected through the aspects of ‘harmony,’ ‘comfort,’ ‘conservation,’ and ‘intelligence. ’ In this study, relevant assessment indices were sorted and summarized to develop an eco-community evaluation system (ECES) based on basic principles of science, management, and operation. ECES assesses communities based on four parameters: outdoor environment, indoor environment, resource consumption, and operation and management. The main goal of ECES is to guide the sustainable development of eco-communities.
Phage P4 origin‐binding domain structure reveals a mechanism for regulation of DNA‐binding activity by homo‐ and heterodimerization of winged helix proteins

The origin‐binding domain of the gpα protein of phage P4 (P4‐OBD) mediates origin recognition and regulation of gpα activity by the protein Cnr. We have determined the crystal structure of P4‐OBD at 2.95 Å resolution. The structure of P4‐OBD is that of a dimer with pseudo twofold symmetry. Each subunit has a winged helix topology with a unique structure among initiator proteins. The only structural homologue of the P4‐OBD subunit is the DNA‐binding domain of the eukaryotic transcriptional activator Rfx1. Based on this structural alignment, a model for origin recognition by the P4‐OBD dimer is suggested. P4‐OBD mutations that interfere with Cnr binding locate to the dimer interface, indicating that Cnr acts by disrupting the gpα dimer. P4‐OBD dimerization is mediated by helices α1 and α3 in both subunits, a mode of winged helix protein dimerization that is reminiscent of that of the eukaryotic transcription factors E2F and DP. This, in turn, suggests that Cnr is also a winged helix protein, a possibility that is supported by previously unreported sequence homologies between Cnr and Rfx1 and homology modelling. Hence, in a mechanism that appears to be conserved from phage to man, the DNA‐binding activity of winged helix proteins can be regulated by other winged helix proteins via the versatile use of the winged helix motif as a homo‐ or heterodimerization scaffold.
Electromyographic Comparison of the Upper and Lower Rectus Abdominis During Abdominal Exercises

The objective of this pilot study was to determine the effect of 6 different abdominal exercises on the electrical activity of the upper rectus abdominis (URA) and lower rectus abdominis (LRA). Eight healthy, adult volunteers completed 6 random abdominal exercises: curl up, Sissel ball curl up, Ab Trainer curl up, leg lowering, Sissel ball roll out, and reverse curl up. Action potentials were recorded and analyzed from the URA and the LRA using surface electromyography (EMG) during a 2-second concentric contraction. The average normalized data were compared between the URA and the LRA in order to determine the behavior of the different muscle sites and between exercises in order to determine which exercises elicited the highest EMG activity. There were no significant differences (p > 0.05) between the EMG activity of the URA and LRA during any exercise. There were no significant interactions between subject and muscle site or between exercise and muscle site. Significant differences were found among the 6 exercises performed, and due to the interaction between subject and exercise performed. Both the URA and the LRA recorded significantly higher mean amplitudes during the Sissel ball curl up than during all other exercises. In addition, the curl up, Sissel ball curl up, and Ab Trainer curl up had significantly higher normalized EMG activity in both muscle sites than the reverse curl up, the leg lowering exercise, and the Sissel ball roll out. The curl up and the Ab Trainer curl up exercises were not significantly different in terms of their normalized EMG activities for both the URA and the LRA.
Effect of higher frequency on the classification of steady-state visual evoked potentials

Objective. Most existing brain–computer interface (BCI) designs based on steady-state visual evoked potentials (SSVEPs) primarily use low frequency visual stimuli (e.g., <20 Hz) to elicit relatively high SSVEP amplitudes. While low frequency stimuli could evoke photosensitivity-based epileptic seizures, high frequency stimuli generally show less visual fatigue and no stimulus-related seizures. The fundamental objective of this study was to investigate the effect of stimulation frequency and duty-cycle on the usability of an SSVEP-based BCI system. Approach. We developed an SSVEP-based BCI speller using multiple LEDs flickering with low frequencies (6–14.9 Hz) with a duty-cycle of 50%, or higher frequencies (26–34.7 Hz) with duty-cycles of 50%, 60%, and 70%. The four different experimental conditions were tested with 26 subjects in order to investigate the impact of stimulation frequency and duty-cycle on performance and visual fatigue, and evaluated with a questionnaire survey. Resting state alpha powers were utilized to interpret our results from the neurophysiological point of view. Main results. The stimulation method employing higher frequencies not only showed less visual fatigue, but it also showed higher and more stable classification performance compared to that employing relatively lower frequencies. Different duty-cycles in the higher frequency stimulation conditions did not significantly affect visual fatigue, but a duty-cycle of 50% was a better choice with respect to performance. The performance of the higher frequency stimulation method was also less susceptible to resting state alpha powers, while that of the lower frequency stimulation method was negatively correlated with alpha powers. Significance. These results suggest that the use of higher frequency visual stimuli is more beneficial for performance improvement and stability as time passes when developing practical SSVEP-based BCI applications.
General model to describe the structure and dynamic balance between different human serum lipoproteins and its practical application.

BACKGROUND Many dangerous diseases are associated with changes in the concentration of blood lipoproteins (LPs). Thus a fast and accurate method is needed to determine the composition of lipoprotein fractions in human serum. MATERIAL/METHODS A comparison of 30 parameters characterizing different LPs in serum from 120 healthy donors and 102 multiple sclerosis patients was carried out using a unique algorithm developed to determine the concentrations of all the main lipids and apolipoproteins in each LP fraction and subfraction. Specially developed computer programs and the small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) method were used to analyze the literature and experimental data. RESULTS A general mathematical model has been developed to describe the structure and equilibrium between various LPs, from high density to chylomicrons. All human serum LPs can be regarded as spherical particles, composed of a lipid hydrophobic spherical core consisting of triglycerides and cholesterol esters, and a hydrophilic shell of free cholesterol, phospholipids and apolipoproteins. We show for the first time that the distribution of components among various LP particles can be described by a system of five basic equations and two additional balance equations. The observed difference between control subjects and MS patients was found to be statistically significant in 23 parameters. CONCLUSIONS In contrast to traditional methods the new method for analyzing human blood LPs is very simple and relatively quick.
Bacteriological composition and structure of granular sludge adapted to different substrates

The bacteriological composition and ultrastructure of mesophilic granular methanogenic sludge from a large-scale Upflow Anaerobic Sludge Blanket reactor treating wastewater from a sugar plant and of sludge granules adapted to ethanol and propionate were studied by counting different bacterial groups and by immunocytochemical methods. Propionate-grown granular sludge consisted of two types of clusters, those of a rod-shaped bacterium immunologically related to Methanothrix soehngenii and those consisting of two different types of bacteria with a specific spatial orientation. One of these bacteria reacted with antiserum against Methanobrevibacter arboriphilus AZ, whereas the other is most likely a propionate-oxidizing bacterium immunologically unrelated to Syntrophobacter wolinii. Sludge granules obtained from the large-scale Upflow Anaerobic Sludge Blanket reactor and granules cultivated on ethanol did not show the typical spatial orientation of bacteria. Examination of the bacterial composition of the three types of granules by light and electron microscopy, the most-probable-number method, and by isolations showed that M. arboriphilus and M. soehngenii were the most abundant hydrogenotrophic and acetoclastic methanogens in propionate-grown sludge. Methanospirillum hungatei and Methanosarcina barkeri predominated in ethanol-grown granules, whereas many morphotypes of methanogens were abundant in granules from the full-scale reactor.