Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Therapy Monitoring of Magnetic Resonance–Guided Radiofrequency Ablation Using T1- and T2-Weighted Sequences at 1.5 T: Reliability of Estimated Ablation Zones

PurposeThe aim of this study was to compare the size and shape of the indicated ablation zone using magnetic resonance (MR) imaging with different contrast weightings after MR-guided radiofrequency ablation (RFA) at 1.5 T. Materials and MethodsMagnetic resonance images of 50 patients treated for hepatic malignancies using MR-guided RFA were retrospectively evaluated. Areas indicating ablation zones in contrast-enhanced images were compared with nonenhanced T1- and T2-weighted images acquired after the intervention and 1 and 7 months after therapy. Corresponding slices were selected and registered to each other. Regions indicating ablation zones were segmented and compared. Areas in cm2, positive predictive value, and sensitivity of native T1- and T2-weighted images were calculated with regard to their accordance with the contrast-enhanced images. ResultsDirectly after the intervention, the ratios between the areas of the ablation zone in the contrast-enhanced and the tested sequences were 1.02 ± 0.12 in the T1-weighted images and 2.03 ± 0.78 in the T2-weighted images. Sensitivity (portion of the coagulation zone that was correctly detected based on the tested sequences) was 0.88 ± 0.08 using the T1-weighted and 0.54 ± 0.20 using the T2-weighted images. The positive predictive values were 0.89 ± 0.06 (T1 weighted) and 0.93 ± 0.06 (T2 weighted). One month after therapy, the ratios between the areas in the contrast-enhanced and the tested sequences were 1.02 ± 0.12 in the T1-weighted images and 1.04 ± 0.25 in the T2-weighted images. Seven months after therapy, the ratios were 1.04 ± 0.16 in the T1-weighted and 1.18 ± 0.22 in the T2-weighted images. ConclusionIn examinations performed directly after the intervention, the T2-weighted images tend to underestimate the ablation zone, whereas T1-weighted images clearly better reflect the ablation zone. T1-weighted images therefore seem more adequate for repetitive monitoring of MR-guided RFA at 1.5 T.
Progress in Fabrication and Application of Superhydrophobic Surfaces on Metal Substrates

On the basis of the fundamental theories,the fabrication and application of superhydrophobic surfaces on metal substrates were reviewed.It emphasized to discuss preparation methods of anodization,electrochemical deposition,chemical etching,chemical deposition,one step solution immersion,thermal oxidation,template,composite,etc.Superhydrophobic surfaces on metal substrates were also summarized in the application of response switch,self-cleaning,drag reduction,corrosion resistance,anti-icing,water and oil mixture separation,miniature transporter over water.Meanwhile,characteristics of different kinds of techniques were discussed.Finally,the problems about fabrication of superhydrophobic surfaces on metal substrates were brought forward.
Fast and privacy preserving distributed low-rank regression

This paper proposes a fast and privacy preserving distributed algorithm for handling low-rank regression problems with nuclear norm constraint. Traditional projected gradient algorithms have high computation costs due to their projection steps when they are used to solve these problems. Our gossip-based algorithm, called the fast DeFW algorithm, overcomes this issue since it is projection-free. In particular, the algorithm incorporates a carefully designed decentralized power method step to reduce the complexity by distributed computation over network. Meanwhile, privacy is preserved as the agents do not exchange the private data, but only a random projection of them. We show that the fast DeFW algorithm converges for both convex and non-convex losses. As an application example, we consider the low-rank matrix completion problem and provide numerical results to support our findings.
Dopaminergic control of local interneuron activity in the thalamus

The dorsal lateral geniculate nucleus (dLGN), the major thalamic station of the visual pathway, contains a fairly large number of dopaminergic terminals, and dopamine was found to reduce spontaneous and visually evoked activity in the dLGN in vivo. The cellular basis of this influence remained unknown. Here we have used whole cell patch‐clamp techniques to analyse the effects of dopamine (DA) on GABAergic transmission in dLGN slices of juvenile postnatal day (P) 12–P24 Long–Evans rats or juvenile (P12–P22) GAD67‐GFP (Δneo) mice. Spontaneous inhibitory postsynaptic currents (sIPSCs) were increased in frequency by the D2‐like agonist quinpirole (QUIN) in rat (n = 6), as well as in mouse (n = 5) thalamic slices. This effect was blocked in the presence of the D2‐like antagonist sulpiride (SULP, n = 5) and was absent in the ventrobasal complex (VB) of rat (n = 7) and mouse (n = 4) thalamus, which is devoid of GABAergic interneurons. Direct recordings from labelled GABAergic neurons in the dLGN of GAD67‐GFP mice revealed a QUIN‐mediated membrane depolarization (n = 12), which was attenuated by SULP (n = 6). These data demonstrate that DA through activation of D2‐like receptors in GABAergic interneurons induces an increase in inhibitory interactions most likely at F2 dendrodendritic terminals, thereby providing a cellular correlate of the observation made in vivo that DA predominantly acts through inhibition of relay cell activity in the dLGN.
Cancer prevention by protease inhibitors.

BACKGROUND There is now compelling evidence that certain protease inhibitors have strong anticarcinogenic activity. A particular protease inhibitor derived from soybeans, the Bowman-Birk inhibitor, appears to be highly promising as a cancer chemopreventive agent. In this article, studies performed to characterize an extract of soybeans containing the Bowman-Birk inhibitor, termed Bowman-Birk inhibitor concentrate, are described. METHODS A number of different methods have been utilized to evaluate the efficacy and safety of Bowman-Birk inhibitor concentrate as a cancer chemopreventive agent in cells and animals. Bowman-Birk inhibitor concentrate has been studied extensively in animal carcinogenesis model systems and in vitro transformation systems. RESULTS Bowman-Birk inhibitor has been shown to prevent animal carcinogenesis in the absence of adverse side effects in several different systems. The dose proposed for human trials is approximately two orders of magnitude below doses shown to have no adverse effects in animal studies. At high doses, Bowman-Birk inhibitor concentrate has been shown to have a life-lengthening effect in mice. The intermediate marker endpoints known to be affected by Bowman-Birk inhibitor/Bowman-Birk inhibitor concentrate in in vitro and in vivo models systems include levels of oncogene expression and proteolytic activity. These intermediate marker endpoints, as well as histopathology, have been proposed for use in projected human trials which will be performed to evaluate Bowman-Birk inhibitor concentrate as an anticarcinogenic agent. CONCLUSIONS Bowman-Birk inhibitor concentrate is now ready for human trials and is likely to emerge as a powerful chemopreventive agent for human cancer.
Country Size and Trade in Intermediate and Final Goods

This paper documents a negative relationship between country size and the share of final consumption goods in total exports. A model is developed, based on the division of labour and comparative advantage, to explain this relationship. Labour is used to produce traded intermediate inputs which are used in the production of traded final goods. Large countries gain relatively more from comparative advantage than from the division of labour, while the opposite is true for small countries. As in the data, large countries export a smaller share of final goods and a larger share of intermediate goods than small countries. It is shown that the model developed in the paper yields the same results as a model based on monopolistic competition.
Evidence that the major outer membrane protein of Chlamydia trachomatis is glycosylated

The major outer membrane protein (MOMP) of Chlamydia trachomatis was determined to be a glycoprotein on the basis of susceptibility to glycosidase digestion and the presence of carbohydrate by staining and radiolabeling. The MOMP of the serovar L2 organisms was isolated by electroelution from the protein band excised from the gel after sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE). The incubation of MOMP with N-glycosidase F, an endoglycosidase that cleaves the N-glycan, and periodate resulted in two new molecular weight species. While MOMP treated with N-glycosidase F showed a lower-molecular-weight mobility, the periodate-treated MOMP increased in molecular weight. Both treatments abolished the ability of the MOMP to bind to HeLa cell components. In the immunoblot, the reactivity to the monoclonal antibody specific against the C. trachomatis species was preserved. The endoglycosidase specific to O-linked glycan, endo-alpha-N-acetylgalactosaminidase, had no visible effect on the isolated MOMP. Carbohydrate was detected in the MOMP by p-phenylenediamine staining of the protein band in the gel following SDS-PAGE. Autoradiograms of proteins of chlamydial organisms metabolically labeled with [3H]galactose or [3H]glucosamine and separated by SDS-PAGE revealed the MOMP band. The isolated MOMP was shown to bind specifically to concanavalin A, wheat germ agglutinin, and Dolichos biflorus agglutinin in the lectin binding assay. No binding was observed with Ulex europaeus agglutinin I, soybean agglutinin, or Ricinus communis agglutinin.
Development and Evaluation of an Influenza Virus Subtype H7N2 Vaccine Candidate for Pandemic Preparedness

ABSTRACT Influenza virus of the H7N2 subtype has been introduced into noncommercial poultry in the United States, and this probably resulted in incidents of transmission of H7N2 virus to humans, documented in 2002 and 2003. This virus could be considered a potential threat to public health if it acquired person-to-person transmissibility. A favored approach for global pandemic preparedness includes development of prepandemic vaccines for any potential pandemic virus. To this end, we created a high-growth reassortant virus (H7N2-PR8) containing the genes for the hemagglutinin and the neuraminidase from a low-pathogenicity (H7N2) virus strain and the remaining six genes from a human vaccine strain (H1N1). The reassortant strain was evaluated to assess its antigenicity, safety, and protective efficacy using a mouse model. Antigenicity studies using ferret antibodies raised against H7N2-PR8 indicated that this virus confers broad cross-reactivity with divergent H7 viruses of different years and lineages. Mice and chickens inoculated with high doses of H7N2-PR8 supported virus replication but survived, indicating that this virus is comparable to other avian viruses of low pathogenicity. To assess the protective efficacy of H7N2-PR8, mice were immunized with two doses of formalin-inactivated H7N2-PR8, alone or with alum. Vaccinated mice subsequently challenged with highly pathogenic viruses from homologous and heterologous lineages A/Canada/444/04 (H7N3) and A/Netherlands/219/03 (H7N7) showed pronounced reduction of wild-type virus replication. These studies indicate that H7N2-PR8 is immunogenic, safe, and protective in animal models; these are the essential attributes to qualify for phase I human clinical trials as a prepandemic vaccine.
Medical management of primary pulmonary hypertension

Primary pulmonary hypertension (PPH) is a rare disease effecting the pulmonary vasculature. Patients present with dyspnoea on exertion, chest pain, near syncope and evidence of right heart failure. The natural history of PPH was described in the 1980s and the survival rate was quite poor. The introduction of iv. epoprostenol in the early 1990s has significantly altered the natural history of this disease. Due to the complicated nature of this therapy, inhaled, sc. and oral prostacyclins have also been evaluated for treatment of PPH. The most recent class of medications added to the armamentarium for the treatment of PPH are the endothelin receptor antagonists. This paper reviews the available therapies for the treatment of PPH.
An Adaptive Decision Logic to Enhance Distance Protection of Transmission Lines

This paper introduces adaptive decision-making logic to improve the performance of distance protection of transmission lines. The proposed approach incorporates the trajectory of the measured impedance into the relay final decision-making logic through a weighting procedure. Two criteria are used to weigh the impedance plane appropriately, where higher weights are assigned to the faults occurring at the interior areas of the relay protective zone and low resistance faults. The weights assigned to impedance samples are added together considering the amount of smoothness of the measured impedance trajectory. An adaptive neurofuzzy inference system (ANFIS) is used to implement the proposed decision logic. Meanwhile, the fault current amplitude is considered as the other input of the ANFIS network to accelerate the relay operation for close-in faults and to incorporate an index for the source-to-line impedance ratio into the final decision-making logic. Extensive simulation studies using PSCAD/EMTDC software indicate that the proposed approach provides a very reliable technique to make the distance protective scheme faster and smarter. It helps to achieve the optimal compromise between the protective relay operation time and security.
Separation and identification of soybean leaf proteins by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis and mass spectrometry q

To establish a proteomic reference map for soybean leaves, we separated and identified leaf proteins using two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (2D-PAGE) and mass spectrometry (MS). Tryptic digests of 260 spots were subjected to peptide mass fingerprinting (PMF) by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization-time of flight (MALDI-TOF) MS. Fifty-three of these protein spots were identified by searching NCBInr and SwissProt databases using the Mascot search engine. Sixty-seven spots that were not identified by MALDI-TOF-MS analysis were analyzed with liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS), and 66 of these spots were identified by searching against the NCBInr, SwissProt and expressed sequence tag (EST) databases. We have identified a total of 71 unique proteins. The majority of the identified leaf proteins are involved in energy metabolism. The results indicate that 2D-PAGE, combined with MALDI-TOF-MS and LC-MS/MS, is a sensitive and powerful technique for separation and identification of soybean leaf proteins. A summary of the identified proteins and their putative functions is discussed. 2006 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Localization, Etiology and Impact of Calcium Phosphate Deposits in Renal Allografts

Hypercalcemia, hypophosphatemia and renal phosphate wasting are common after kidney transplantation. Animal data suggest that these alterations in mineral metabolism may contribute to calcium phosphate (CaPhos) deposition in the kidney and renal dysfunction. We tested the hypothesis that CaPhos deposition is highly prevalent in the early posttransplant period and is related to a disturbed mineral metabolism. For this purpose, biomarkers of mineral metabolism and renal calcium and phosphorus handling were prospectively assessed in 201 renal transplant recipients. CaPhos deposits were observed in 4.6, 30.4 and 24.7% of protocol biopsies obtained at the time of engraftment, and 3 and 12 months thereafter, respectively. In multivariate logistic regression analysis, high calcium and low serum phosphorus levels were independently associated with renal CaPhos deposition at month 3. The extent of CaPhos deposition correlated significantly with the severity of mineral metabolism disturbances. Renal function after a mean follow‐up of 33 months was similar in patients with and without CaPhos deposition at month 3. In conclusion, our data demonstrate that CaPhos deposition is highly prevalent in the early posttransplant period and suggest that a disordered mineral metabolism is implicated in its pathogenesis. The clinical relevance of CaPhos deposition remains to be established.
Efficacy of mechanical insufflation-exsufflation in medically stable patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.

OBJECTIVE To determine under what circumstances the use of mechanical insufflation-exsufflation (MI-E) can generate clinically effective expiratory flows for airway clearance (> 2.7 L/s) for clinically stable patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). MATERIALS AND METHOD Twenty-six consecutive patients with ALS were studied, 15 with severe bulbar dysfunction. Using a pneumotachograph and with the aid of an oronasal mask, we measured FVC, FEV(1), peak cough flow (PCF), maximum insufflation capacity (MIC), PCF generated from a maximum insufflation MIC (PCFMIC), and PCF generated by MI-E (PCFMI-E). MI-E was delivered at +/- 40 cm H(2)O. Maximum inspiratory pressure (PImax) and maximum expiratory pressure (PEmax) at the mouth were also measured. RESULTS Although both groups had a similar time from ALS symptom onset to diagnosis, statistical differences (p < 0.05) were found between nonbulbar and bulbar patients in lung function and cough capacity parameters: FVC, 2.58 +/- 1.24 L vs 1.62 +/- 0.74 L; FEV(1), 2.26 +/- 1.18 L vs 1.54 +/- 0.69 L; PImax, - 93.45 +/- 47.47 cm H(2)O vs - 3.64 +/- 25.07 cm H(2)O; PEmax, 140.45 +/- 75.98 cm H(2)O vs 69.93 +/- 32.14 cm H(2)O; MIC, 3.02 +/- 1.22 L vs 1.97 +/- 0.75 L; PCF, 5.91 +/- 2.55 L/s vs 3.42 +/- 1.44 L/s; PCFMIC, 6.68 +/- 2.71 L/s vs 4.00 +/- 1.48 L/s; and PCFMI-E, 4.34 +/- 0.82 L/s vs 3.35 +/- 0.77 L/s. Four patients with bulbar dysfunction and MIC > 1 L had PCFMI-E < 2.7 L/s. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis showed PCFMIC of <or= 2.7 L/s predicting those patients with PCFMI-E < 2.7 L/s. The ROC curve analysis showed PCFMIC > 4 L/s predicting those patients with PCFMIC greater than PCFMI-E. CONCLUSION MI-E is able to generate clinically effective PCFMI-E (> 2.7 L/s) for stable patients with ALS, except for those with bulbar dysfunction who also have a MIC > 1 L and PCFMIC <2.7 L/s who probably have severe dynamic collapse of the upper airways during the exsufflation cycle. Clinically stable patients with mild respiratory dysfunction and PCFMIC > 4 L/s might not benefit from MI-E except during an acute respiratory illness.
When the Commons call “Enough”, Does Marketing Have an Answer?

How we use, or do not use our natural resources is a question that has been debated for millennia. Still an answer remains out of reach. It is a complex issue that often involves a social dilemma known as “the tragedy of the commons”. Many common pool resources, from fish stocks, to forests, to natural tourism destinations have an associated marketing system that may place pressure on the resource. If poorly managed, the resources sustainable future is questionable. This paper explains how commons and strategic action field theory can enhance a macromarketing analysis of marketing systems that involve a common pool resource (CPR) pointing to potential responses and solutions. The unique challenges faced are discussed, particularly in the interdependent areas of: property rights, power and equitable distribution. The findings from an empirical application confirm that CPRs destabilise a marketing system. Solutions may be found in the way the issue is negotiated, how the rules are structured and the perspective from which the issue is considered.
Population structure and paternal admixture landscape on present‐day Mexican‐Mestizos revealed by Y‐STR haplotypes

Mestizos currently represent most of the Mexican population (>90%); they are defined as individuals born in the country having a Spanish‐derived last name, with family antecedents of Mexican ancestors back at least to the third generation. Mestizos are result of 500 years of admixture mainly among Spaniards, Amerindians, and African slaves. Consequently, a complex genetic pattern has been generated throughout the country that has been scarcely studied from the paternal point of view. This fact is important, taking into account that gene flow toward the New World comprised largely males. We analyzed the population structure and paternal admixture of present‐day Mexican‐Mestizo populations based on Y‐STRs. We genotyped at least 12 Y‐STRs in DNA samples of 986 males from five states: Aguascalientes (n = 293); Jalisco (n = 185); Guanajuato (n = 168); Chiapas (n = 170); and Yucatán (n = 170). AmpFℓSTR Y‐filer and Powerplex‐Y® kits were used. Inclusion of North and Central Y‐STR databases in the analyses allowed obtaining a Y‐STR variability landscape from Mexico. Results confirmed the population differentiation gradient previously noted in Mestizos with SNPs and autosomal STRs throughout the Mexican territory: European ancestry increments to the Northwest and, correspondingly, Amerindian ancestry increments to the Center and Southeast. In addition, SAMOVA test and Autocorrelation Index for DNA Analysis autocorrelogram plot suggested preferential gene flow of males with neighboring populations in agreement with the isolation‐by‐distance model. Results are important for disease‐risk studies (principally male‐related) and for human identification purposes, because Y‐STR databases are not available on the majority of Mexican‐Mestizo populations. Am. J. Hum. Biol., 2010. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Genetic and structural analysis of polyomavirus BK T‐antigens reveal a higher density of mutations at inter‐domain and hexamerization regions, regardless the status of infection

Polyomavirus BK (BKPyV) T‐antigens (large and small tumor antigens, or Lt‐ag and st‐ag, respectively), control key aspects of viral replication and are able to regulate cell cycle, promoting cell proliferation. However, the structural effects of genetic mutations on T‐antigens are poorly investigated. In this study, 214 sequences of T‐antigens from individuals with different BKPyV infections (16 renal transplant with nephropathy; 78 asymptomatic renal transplant; 24 hematopoietic stem cell transplant with hemorrhagic cystitis; 96 healthy non‐transplant), were analyzed from the genetic and structural standpoints. We found a high concentration of non‐synonymous mutations at inter‐domains and hexamerization regions of both proteins, being five of them under positive selection in the Lt‐ag but none in the st‐ag. The in silico analysis indicated that two mutations, located at positions 164 in the st‐ag and 592 in the Lt‐ag, would significantly affect the interaction with PP2A and p53 cell targets, respectively, although they were not associated to a specific clinical status. No mutations were detected on the J‐domains or at the ATPase motif. In sum, the profile of the mutations found seem not to be associated to increased morbidity. This is the first work to analyze structural modifications on T‐antigens in different BKPyV infections, and managed to map conserved and variable regions of the T‐antigens, which will be helpful for the study of new antiviral drugs. J. Med. Virol. 87:1418–1426, 2015. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.