Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Efficient geometric algorithms for determining motion and shape deformation of coronary vessels

Each year approximately 225,000 Americans die of vascular disease alone. For effective diagnosis and treatment of such diseases, accurate imaging of the complicated vascular structures is essential. Quantitative measures relating to motion and structural changes of vessels are extremely important for clinical diagnosis of such diseases. Current medical imaging techniques, however, cannot yet provide the necessary spatial/temporal resolution for such advanced analysis of the rapidly moving coronary vessels. Thus, a great deal of information between two consecutive image frames could be inherently lost. Furthermore, due to the low contrast in many images of coronary sequences, segmentation algorithms often fail to detect the exact vessel structures. We propose geometric techniques to recover the motion and deformation of coronary vessels between two image frames. Our techniques can be used to increase the temporal resolution of a coronary sequence to a desired level by predicting the motion and shape-deformation of the vessel-structure. They can also be used to predict the structure of the vessel in a low contrast image to complement the results of a vessel-detection/segmentation algorithm; when used in conjunction with such a segmentation technique, it will help alleviate false positives and false negatives.
Transcultural adaptation of Champion's Health Belief Model Scales.

PURPOSE To translate to the Arabic language, adapt, and test Champion's revised Health Belief Model Scales to measure Jordanian women's beliefs about breast cancer and breast self-examination (BSE). In Jordan, the primary site of cancer in women is the breast. No published studies have been found which describe women's beliefs or practices about breast cancer and BSE in Jordan. DESIGN Descriptive correlational, using a cross-sectional survey with a random sample of 519 female university students and employees in Jordan, 1999 to 2000. METHODS Champion's revised Health Belief Model Scales were translated to Arabic, validated by professional judges, back-translated to English, and pretested. Analyses included descriptive statistics of all the study variables, internal consistency, reliability estimates, construct validity using factor analysis, and predictive validity using multiple regression analyses. The dependent variables were the frequency of practice of BSE and the intention to practice BSE. FINDINGS Factor analysis yielded nine factors: confidence 1, confidence 2, benefits, susceptibility, barriers, seriousness 1, seriousness 2, motivation 1, and motivation 2. All items on each factor were from the same construct. Significant correlations were found between the two confidence factors, the two motivation factors, and the two seriousness factors. Alpha coefficients ranged from . 65 to . 89. All the health belief variables accounted for 21% of the variance in the frequency of practice of BSE, and 7% of the variance in the intended frequency of practice. CONCLUSIONS The translated version of Champion's scales was found to be a valid and reliable tool for use with Jordanian women. It can be used in planning and testing interventions to improve BSE beliefs and practice.
Interaction of hepatitis C virus envelope glycoprotein E2 with the large extracellular loop of tupaia CD81.

AIM To further analyze the interaction of tupaia CD81 with hepatitis C virus (HCV) envelope protein E2. METHODS A tupaia CD81 large extracellular loop (CD81 LEL), which binds to HCV E2 protein, was cloned and expressed as a GST-fusion protein, and interaction of HCV E2 protein with a tupaia CD81 LEL was evaluated by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (EIA). RESULTS Although tupaia and human CD81 LEL differed in 6 amino acid changes, tupaia CD81 LEL was strongly recognized by anti-CD81 antibodies against human CD81 LEL conformation-dependent epitopes. Investigating LEL CD81-E2 interactions by EIA, we demonstrated that binding of tupaia CD81 LEL GST fusion protein to recombinant HCV E2 protein was markedly reduced compared to binding of human CD81 LEL GST fusion protein to recombinant HCV E2 protein. CONCLUSION These data suggest that the structural differences in-between the tupaia and human CD81 may alter the interaction of the large extracellular loop with HCV envelope glycoprotein E2. These findings may be important for the understanding of the mechanisms of binding and entry of HCV to PTHs.
Cognitive outcomes of patients undergoing therapeutic hypothermia after cardiac arrest

Objective: We aimed to study the long-term cognitive abilities of patients surviving out-of-hospital cardiac arrest who were treated with therapeutic hypothermia (TH). Methods: We prospectively identified and examined consecutive survivors of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest who underwent TH at our institution from June 2006 to May 2011. The results of brain imaging, serum neuron-specific enolase (NSE) measurements, and EEGs were recorded. We assessed cognitive domains using the modified Telephone Interview for Cognitive Status. An education-adjusted score of ≥32 was considered normal. Results: Of 133 total patients, 77 (58%) were alive at a median follow-up of 20 months (interquartile range 14–24 months). We interviewed 56 patients (73% of those alive). Median age was 67 years (range 24–88 years). Fifty-one patients (91%) were living independently. Modified Telephone Interview for Cognitive Status scores ranged from 16 to 41. Thirty-three (60%) were considered cognitively normal and 22 (40%) were cognitively impaired. The time to assessment did not differ among the cognitive outcomes (p = 0.557). The median duration of coma was 2 days, possibly indicating that patients with severe anoxic injury were not included. Eighteen patients were not working at the time of their cardiac arrest (17 were retired and 1 was unemployed). Of the 38 patients who were working up to the time of the cardiac arrest, 30 (79%) returned to work. Cognitive outcome was not associated with age, time to return of spontaneous circulation, brain atrophy, or leukoaraiosis. Conclusions: The majority of surviving patients who underwent TH after cardiac arrest in this series had preserved cognitive function and were able to return to work.
Pressure relationships in the bone marrow vascular bed.

The bone marrow tissue pressure was measured indirectly in anesthetized rabbits by measurement of the intramedullary venous pressure through a vein from the bone marrow of the tibia. It varied between 10 and 80 cm of saline and pulsated in synchrony with the arterial blood pressure. The socalled bone marrow pressure was measured through a needle inserted blindly into the bone marrow. It was equal to the venous pressure, but the procedures performed for measurement of the bone marrow pressure, often led to an increase in the venous pressure. Alterations in the arterial pressure and the venous pressure outside the bone caused changes in the same direction in the bone marrow tissue Pressure. Noradrenaline caused a drop, acetycloline a rise in this pressure. The bone marrow tissue was found able to maintain a considerable pressure difference in the long axis of the bone. It seems that the bone marrow cavity, as for the pressure relationships, can be considered as a part of the circulatory system, coupled in between the arterioles within the bone marrow and the veins draining the bone.
Donor risk index for African American liver transplant recipients with hepatitis C virus

African American (AA) liver transplant (LT) recipients with hepatitis C virus (HCV) have higher rates of graft loss than other racial/ethnic groups. The Donor Risk Index (DRI) predicts graft loss but is neither race‐ nor disease‐specific and may not be optimal for assessing donor risk for AA HCV‐positive LT recipients. We developed a DRI for AA with HCV with the goal of enhancing graft loss predictions. All U.S. HCV‐positive adult AA first deceased donor LTs surviving ≥30 days from March 2002 to December 2009 were included. A total of 1,766 AA LT recipients were followed for median 2.8 (interquartile range [IQR] 1.3‐4.9) years. Independent predictors of graft loss were donor age (40‐49 years: hazard ratio [HR] 1.54; 50‐59 years: HR 1.80; 60+ years: HR 2.34, P < 0.001), non‐AA donor (HR 1.66, P < 0.001), and cold ischemia time (CIT) (HR 1.03 per hour >8 hours, P = 0.03). Importantly, the negative effect of increasing donor age on graft and patient survival among AAs was attenuated by receipt of an AA donor. A new donor risk model for AA (AADRI‐C) consisting of donor age, race, and CIT yielded 1‐year, 3‐year, and 5‐year predicted graft survival rates of 91%, 77%, and 68% for AADRI <1.60; 86%, 67%, and 55% for AADRI 1.60‐2.44; and 78%, 53%, and 39% for AADRI >2.44. In the validation dataset, AADRI‐C correctly reclassified 27% of patients (net reclassification improvement P = 0.04) compared to the original DRI. Conclusion: AADRI‐C identifies grafts at higher risk of failure and this information is useful for risk‐benefit discussions with recipients. Use of AA donors allows consideration of older donors. (Hepatology 2013;58:1263–1269)
From Training to Organizational Behavior: A Mediation Model through Absorptive and Innovative Capacities

The training of human resources improves business performance: myth or reality? While the literature has extensively addressed this issue, the transfer that occurs from training to performance still remains unresolved. The present study suggests an empirical solution to this gap, through a multiple mediation model of dynamic capabilities. Accordingly, the study makes a major contribution to the effectiveness of an organizational-level training: the “true” relationship between training and performance is mediated by absorptive and innovative capacities. It is difficult from training to directly affect the results: it must be done through a chain of intermediate variables. Training can be argued to be indirectly related to performance, through absorptive capacity in the first place, and innovative capacity in the second, sequentially in this order (three-path mediated effect). Of all immediate relationships received by performance, its explained variance is achieved partly via absorptive capacity and partly via innovation. The direct relationship through training is not significant and only explains a small percentage of the variance in performance. These results have been corroborated by combining two methods of analysis: PLS-SEM and fsQCA, using data from an online survey. This dual methodology in the study of the same phenomenon allows overcoming the limitations of each method, which would not have been possible with a single methodological approach, and confirming the findings obtained by any of them.
Comparing contrast-enhanced breath-hold MR angiography and conventional angiography in the evaluation of mesenteric circulation.

OBJECTIVE Our aim was to compare the results of gadolinium-enhanced breath-hold MR angiography with those of conventional angiography for the study of mesenteric circulation. SUBJECTS AND METHODS MR angiography and digital subtraction angiography were prospectively performed in 33 patients referred for hepatic, pancreatic, or mesenteric disease. MR angiography was performed with four three-dimensional acquisitions at 0, 30, 60, and 90 sec after injection of 0.1 mmol/kg of gadolinium. Selective conventional angiography was used as the standard of reference. RESULTS A pure arterial angiogram (one on which veins could not be visualized) was obtained in 27 patients during the second or third acquisition. By subtracting the arterial phase from an arteriovenous phase (third or fourth acquisition) we obtained a pure venous angiogram (one on which arteries could not be visualized) in 28 patients. Agreement was good or excellent for the hepatic artery (kappa = 0.78), the superior mesenteric artery (kappa = 0.65), the splenic artery (kappa = 0.70), the portal vein (kappa = 1.0), the superior mesenteric vein (kappa = 0.88), and the splenic vein (kappa = 0.75). Agreement was poor, and vessels were better shown by conventional angiography, for the intrahepatic arteries (kappa = 0.006) and the branches of the superior mesenteric artery (kappa = 0.14). MR angiography and conventional angiography revealed 29 and 27 portosystemic collaterals, respectively. CONCLUSION Dynamic breath-hold contrast-enhanced MR angiography compared favorably with conventional angiography in preoperative assessment of the proximal mesenteric arteries and in the evaluation of portal hypertension; however, conventional angiography is still necessary to evaluate distal arteries.
KATP channel openers in the trigeminovascular system

Background: The ATP-sensitive K+ (KATP) channel openers levcromakalim and pinacidil are vasodilators that induce headache in healthy people. The neuropeptide calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) induces headache in healthy people and migraine in migraineurs, potentially through a mechanism that involves opening of vascular or neuronal KATP channels and mast cell degranulation. Using rat as a model, we studied the molecular presence of KATP channels in the trigeminovascular system. Furthermore, we examined whether KATP channel openers stimulate the in vitro release of CGRP and whether they degranulate dural mast cells. Methods: mRNA and protein expression of KATP channel subunits were studied in the trigeminal ganglion (TG) and trigeminal nucleus caudalis (TNC) by qPCR and western blotting. In vitro CGRP release was studied after application of levcromakalim (1 µM) and diazoxide (10 µM) to freshly isolated rat dura mater, TG and TNC. Rat dural mast cells were challenged in situ with levcromakalim (10−5 M) to study its potential degranulation effect. Results: mRNA and protein of KATP channel subunits Kir6.1, Kir6.2, SUR1 and SUR2B were identified in the TG and TNC. KATP channel openers did not release or inhibit capsaicin-induced CGRP release from dura mater, TG or TNC. They did also not induce dural mast cell degranulation. Conclusions: KATP channel openers do not interact with CGRP release or mast cell degranulation. Activation of these channels in the CNS is antinociceptive and therefore cannot explain the headache induced by KATP channel openers. Thus, they are likely to induce headache by interaction with extracerebral KATP channels, probably the SUR2B isoforms.
Role of SGP2, a suppressor of a gpa1 mutation, in the mating-factor signaling pathway of Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Loss of function of GPA1, which encodes a guanine-nucleotide-binding protein, arrests the cell at the G1 phase and allows it to mate, suggesting that the gpa1 mutation spontaneously exerts an intracellular signal that mimics the action of mating factor. We have cloned the SGP2 gene, which was first identified as a secondary mutation that allowed a gpa1::HIS3 mutant to grow and to show a non-cell-type-specific sterile phenotype. Disruption of SGP2 confers temperature-sensitive growth and a-specific sterile phenotypes, characteristics similar to those conferred by the dpr1 (ram) mutation, a suppressor of RAS2Val-19. The following observations indicate that SGP2 and DPR1 are in fact identical. (i) The cloned SGP2 complements both the temperature-sensitive growth and the a-specific sterility of the dpr1 mutant and can be integrated into the chromosomal DPR1 locus. (ii) The cloned DPR1, in turn, complements the ability of sgp2 to suppress the lethality of gpa1::HIS3. (iii) The dpr1 mutation suppresses the growth defect of gpa1::HIS3, and the dpr1 gpa1::HIS3 strain shows a non-cell-type-specific sterile phenotype. (iv) sgp2 is closely linked to the dpr1 locus. The DPR1 product has been shown to be responsible for processing and fatty acid acylation of a-factor and RAS proteins at their carboxyl termini. Therefore, the SGP2 (DPR1) product may be involved in membrane localization of an essential component in the mating-factor signaling pathway.
Verifying the Reliability of Operating System-Level Information Flow Control Systems in Linux

Information Flow Control at Operating System (OS) level features interesting properties and have been an active topic of research for years. However, no implementation can work reliably if there does not exist a way to correctly and precisely track all information flows occurring in the system. The existing implementations for Linux are based on the Linux Security Modules (LSM) framework which implements hooks at specific points in code where any security mechanism may interpose a security decision in the execution. However, previous works on the verification of LSM only addressed access control and no work has raised the question of the reliability of information flow control systems built on LSM@. In this work, we present a compiler-assisted and reproducible static analysis on the Linux kernel to verify that the LSM hooks are correctly placed with respect to operations generating information flows so that LSM-based information flow monitors can properly track all information flows. Our results highlight flaws in LSM that we propose to solve, thus improving the suitability of this framework for the implementation of information flow monitors.
Long-term results of percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage for benign and malignant bile duct strictures.

BACKGROUND Long-term percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage (PTBD) is a valid alternative to surgery in patients with benign or malignant bile duct strictures in whom endoscopic drainage has failed. However, few data are available on the long-term outcome with percutaneous drainage, specially when the application of Yamakawa-type prostheses is considered. METHODS During 1996, 48 patients who were either treated with primary PTBD insertion followed by PTBD exchanges (n = 15) or who presented only for exchange of an earlier PTBD (n = 33) were included in the study. Thirty-one patients had malignant strictures, and 17 had benign ones. The PTBD catheters were scheduled for exchange every 3 months or earlier if signs and symptoms of obstruction or other problems were present. The data were collected prospectively during each follow-up visit and included both symptoms and the status and function of the PTBD at the time of exchange. RESULTS Although PTBD was highly effective in relieving jaundice (progression of cholestasis was observed in only 2 cases), 73 of the 157 PTBD exchanges (47%) had to be carried out earlier than scheduled. Premature exchange was needed for clinical reasons, such as fever indicating PTBD dysfunction, in only 19% of these cases. The other reasons were related to the PTBD catheter and consisted of bile leakage alongside the drain (33%), PTBD disconnection or complete dislocation (30%), or occlusion suspected during regular flushing of the drain (15%). In most cases exchanging the drain was sufficient to solve the problem; in cases of complete dislocation, dilation of the same tract (n = 6) or fresh puncture and establishment of a new drainage site (n = 2) were necessary. Reducing the PTBD exchange interval from 3 to 2 months would have decreased the number of premature stent exchanges by 26%. CONCLUSIONS Although PTBD is an effective method of biliary drainage, there are frequently minor problems-mostly catheter-related-which require premature exchange of the drain in almost half of the cases, and this may affect the patients' quality of life. Improvements in PTBD materials and catheter design are therefore needed. The effectiveness of reducing the intervals between PTBD exchanges should also be examined.
Cost-effectiveness of hemofiltration to prevent contrast nephropathy in patients with chronic kidney disease

Objective:Prophylactic hemofiltration has been reported, in one study, to reduce renal complications and death but necessitates additional up-front health care resource deployment in a critical care setting. We sought to explore the potential scope and cost-effectiveness of this strategy. Design:Economic evaluation using decision analysis. Setting:Tertiary or quaternary care hospital. Patients:Subjects undergoing angiography at risk for developing contrast nephropathy. Intervention:Prophylactic hemofiltration was compared with intravenous saline. Secondary models incorporated sodium bicarbonate and N-acetylcysteine as comparators. Measurement and Main Results:The cost per quality-adjusted life year (QALY) gained with hemofiltration compared with intravenous saline in high-risk subjects (mean serum creatinine, 265 &mgr;mol/L) was U.S.$3,900. This finding was sensitive to variations in several important variables. For instance, the cost-effectiveness ratio became less attractive (i.e., >$50,000/QALY) when hemofiltration was used in lower-risk subjects (serum creatinine, <265 &mgr;mol/L). The cost-effectiveness remained <$50,000/QALY provided that the relative risk of hemofiltration compared with saline alone was below 0.65 (reported relative risk, 0.10). Although based on indirect comparison of clinical efficacy, when N-acetylcysteine or sodium bicarbonate was used as the comparator, the cost per QALY gained for hemofiltration became markedly less attractive ($50,100 and >$1,000,000), although the relative effectiveness of these three strategies strongly influenced the results. Conclusions:Use of prophylactic hemofiltration in patients at high risk for contrast nephropathy may be potentially cost-effective only if certain conditions are satisfied, and its attractiveness is materially diminished when compared to other strategies. As this invasive therapy would entail certain immediate resource outlay, before considering its implementation it is crucial to confirm the clinical effectiveness and health care resource consequences of hemofiltration relative to current standards of care in future studies.
Towards an effective legal framework for online dispute resolution in e-commerce transactions: trends, traditions, and transitions

The need for convergence of best practices in Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) and Information and Communication Technology (ICT) cannot be overemphasised in an increasingly digitalised world. This undoubtedly led to the introduction of Online Dispute Resolution (ODR) few decades ago which is considered a fast, seamless, and convenient means of dispute resolution. With the increasing prominence of e-commerce transactions, several countries and regions of the world are on the quest to provide an effective legal framework for ODR in e-commerce dealings. This article analyses the approaches to ODR legislations for consumer protection in selected jurisdictions. The article finds that a comparative legal approach with some leverage on legal borrowing can help to create the required legal environment for ODR in other jurisdictions.
BAlN alloy for enhanced two-dimensional electron gas characteristics of GaN-based high electron mobility transistor

The KAUST authors would like to acknowledge the support of like to acknowledge the support of KAUST Baseline Fund BAS/1/1664-01-01, GCC Research Council Grant REP/1/3189-01-01, and Competitive Research Grants URF/1/3437-01-01 and URF/1/3771-01-01.