Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Peripheral arterial disease as a predictor of outcome after renal transplantation

Abstract Our aim was to assess the prevalence of symptomatic and asymptomatic peripheral occlusive arterial disease (POAD) in 129 consecutive diabetic (n = 34) and non-diabetic (n = 95) patients undergoing renal transplantation. The association of pre-existent POAD and complaints of claudication, lower limb amputations, and graft and patient survival were evaluated during a 5-year follow up. A questionnaire on walking capacity, ankle/brachial (ABI) and toe/brachial (TBI) pressure indices as well as the pulse volume recording (PVR) at the ankle were used to assess resting haemodynamics and the presence of POAD 4 days after the transplantation. Unquestionable ischaemia was encountered in 5 (4 %) patients all with a history of intermittent claudication and an ABI equal or below 0.77. While using assessment methods not affected by vessel calcification, i. e. toe pressures and PVR damping, a many-fold frequency of arterial disease was observed when compared to previous studies. TBI below 0.65 was found in 11 of diabetic (32 %) and in 15 of the others (16 %), and a PVR amplitude below 5 min in 28 of diabetics (82 %) and in 34 of non-diabetics (36 %). During the 5-year follow up, abnormal TBI and PVR values and diabetes at the time of transplantation were the greatest risk factors for proximal foot amputations. The low TBI levels also indicated a shortened patient survival. However, transplant function was not affected by the presence of abnormal haemodynamic indices at the time of transplantation.
Fas ligand plays an important role for the production of pro‐inflammatory cytokines in intervertebral disc nucleus pulposus cells

It is suggested that pro‐inflammatory cytokines, which are produced by interaction of the intervertebral nucleus pulposus cells and macrophages, may be linked to the cause of pain of the intervertebral disc herniation. This study carries out the in vitro experiments to examine the mechanism, with the use of the co‐culture of an immortalized cell line of nucleus pulposus of the human intervertebral disc and the macrophage cell line. As a result, it is found that the production of pro‐inflammatory cytokines is significantly larger at the co‐culture group than at the independent culture group. Also, at the co‐culture group of macrophages and intervertebral nucleus pulposus cells with over‐expression of fas ligand (FasL), the production of pro‐inflammatory cytokines is found to be far larger. Furthermore, it is found that these pro‐inflammatory cytokines are produced mainly by the intervertebral nucleus pulposus cells with over‐expression of FasL, and that the expression of a disintegrin and metalloproteinase (ADAM) 10, which controls the expression of FasL and activates reverse signaling inside cells, also increases. From these findings, it is suggested that FasL and ADAM10 play an important role in the production of pro‐inflammatory cytokines coming from interaction of the intervertebral nucleus pulposus cells and macrophages. © 2012 Orthopaedic Research Society. Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Orthop Res 31: 608–615, 2013
Reduced adipose tissue oxygenation in human obesity evidence for rarefaction, macrophage chemotaxis, and inflammation without an angiogenic response

Objective: Based on rodent studies, we examined the hypothesis that increased adipose tissue mass in obesity without an adequate support of vascularization might lead to hypoxia, macrophage infiltration and inflammation. Research Design and Methods: Oxygen partial pressure [AT pO2] and temperature [AT temperature] in abdominal adipose tissue [9 lean, 12 overweight/obese men and women] was measured by direct insertion of a polarographic Clark electrode. Body composition was measured by DEXA, insulin sensitivity by hyperinsulinemic euglycemic clamp. Abdominal subcutaneous tissue was used for staining, qRT-PCR and chemokine secretion assay. Results: AT pO2 was lower in overweight/obese as compared to lean [47 + 10.6 vs. 55 + 9.1 mm Hg], however this level of pO2 did not activate the classic hypoxia targets [PDK1, VEGF]. AT pO2 was negatively correlated with % fat [R=-0.50, p<0.05]. Compared to lean, overweight/obese subjects had 44% lower capillary density and 58% lower Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor [VEGF] suggesting adipose tissue rarefaction [capillary dropout]. This might be due to lower PPARγ1 and higher collagenVI mRNA expression, which correlated with AT pO2 [p<0.05]. Of clinical importance, AT pO2 negatively correlated with CD68 mRNA and MIP1α secretion [R=-0.58, R=-0.79, p<0.05], suggesting that lower AT pO2 could drive AT inflammation in obesity. Conclusions: Adipose tissue rarefaction might lie upstream of both low AT pO2 and inflammation in obesity. These results suggest novel approaches to treat the dysfunctional adipose tissue found in obesity.
Eph tyrosine kinase receptor EphA4 is required for the topographic mapping of the corticospinal tract

Fine movement in the body is controlled by the motor cortex, which signals in a topographically specific manner to neurons in the spinal cord by means of the corticospinal tract (CST). How the correct topography of the CST is established is unknown. To investigate the possibility that the Eph tyrosine kinase receptor EphA4 is involved in this process, we have traced CST axons in mice in which the EphA4 gene has been deleted. The forelimb subpopulation of CST axons is unaffected in the EphA4−/− mice, but the hindlimb subpopulation branches too early within the cord, both temporally and spatially. EphA4 shows a dynamic expression pattern in the environment of the developing CST in the spinal cord: high at the time of forelimb branching and down-regulated before hindlimb branching. To examine whether the fore- and hindlimb subpopulations of CST axons respond differently to EphA4 in their environment, neurons from fore- and hindlimb motor cortex were cultured on a substrate containing EphA4. Neurons from the hindlimb cortex showed reduced branching on the EphA4 substrate compared with their forelimb counterparts. Neurons from the hindlimb cortex express ephrinA5, a high-affinity ligand for EphA4, at higher levels compared with forelimb cortex neurons, and this expression is down-regulated before hindlimb branching. Together, these findings suggest that EphA4 regulates topographic mapping of the CST by controlling the branching of CST axons in the spinal cord.
Optical trapping with plasmonic and photonic nanostructures

The development of integrated approaches for optical trapping, based on photonic or plasmonic structures fabricated on a chip, offers several compelling advantages. First, chip-based optical traps enable the trapping platform to be miniaturized. Second, the chip-based configuration lends itself naturally to the incorporation of sensing modalities. Third, optical nanostructures can generate strong near-fields, boosting the trapping performance. In this presentation, works by the author and his team in the field of optical trapping with silicon photonics and with plasmonics are described. We will describe the use of silicon microring resonators for trapping and sensing particles. We will furthermore describe silicon photonics for sorting particles, as well as for sensing proteins. Finally, we will describe experiments in which a silicon photonic crystal cavity trapped a silver nanoparticle on whose surface molecules had been formed. We carried out Raman spectroscopy of these molecules, with the silver nanoparticle held in position via the photonic crystal cavity. Plasmonic nanostructures are compelling for optical trapping due to the large gradient forces they can generate, a consequence of their ability to generate highly confined optical fields. Yet deleterious thermal effects can also occur. We describe the use of a plasmonic nanotweezer with an integrated heat-sink. If time permits, we will also describe recent work in which fluorescence microscopy was used to track the position of a nanoparticle trapped by a double nanohole aperture.
Ecl1, a Regulator of the Chronological Lifespan of Schizosaccharomyces pombe, Is Induced upon Nitrogen Starvation

In fission yeast, ecl1 + was identified as a novel factor that extends chronological lifespan when overexpressed. Ecl1 is a small protein consisting of 80 amino acids localized mainly in the nucleus. However, the mechanism by which it affects chronological lifespan has not been elucidated clearly. Here we analyzed the expression profile of Ecl1, especially as to cell cycle and growth phase, and found that it is induced upon nitrogen starvation. Then we analyzed the relevance of factors, Atf1, Ste11, and Tor1, which are known to be involved in the signaling of nitrogen starvation. Though the nitrogen starvation-induced expression of Ecl1 did not change in the atf1Δ mutant, induction in both the ste11Δ mutant and the tor1Δ mutant showed a delay. Based on these observations, the regulation of Ecl1 is discussed.
A new clinical multivariable model that predicts postoperative acute kidney injury: impact of endogenous ouabain.

BACKGROUND Acute kidney injury (AKI) is an important complication of cardiac surgery. Recently, elevated levels of endogenous ouabain (EO), an adrenal stress hormone with haemodynamic and renal effects, have been associated with worse renal outcome after cardiac surgery. Our aim was to develop and evaluate a new risk model of AKI using simple preoperative clinical parameters and to investigate the utility of EO. METHODS The primary outcome was AKI according to Acute Kidney Injury Network stage II or III. We selected the Northern New England Cardiovascular Disease Study Group (NNECDSG) as a reference model. We built a new internal predictive risk model considering common clinical variables (CLIN-RISK), compared this model with the NNECDSG model and determined whether the addition of preoperative plasma EO improved prediction of AKI. RESULTS All models were tested on >800 patients admitted for elective cardiac surgery in our hospital. Seventy-nine patients developed AKI (9.9%). Preoperative EO levels were strongly associated with the incidence of AKI and clinical complication (total ICU stay and in-hospital mortality). The NNECDSG model was confirmed as a good predictor of AKI (AUC 0.74, comparable to the NNECDSG reference population). Our CLIN-RISK model had improved predictive power for AKI (AUC 0.79, CI 95% 0.73-0.84). Furthermore, addition of preoperative EO levels to both clinical models improved AUC to 0.79 and to 0.83, respectively (ΔAUC +0.05 and +0.04, respectively, P < 0.01). CONCLUSION In a population where the predictive power of the NNECDSG model was confirmed, CLIN-RISK was more powerful. Both clinical models were further improved by the addition of preoperative plasma EO levels. These new models provide improved predictability of the relative risk for the development of AKI following cardiac surgery and suggest that EO is a marker for renal vascular injury.
Automatic Counterflow Detection in Subway Corridors by Image Processing

The purpose of our study is to provide an automatic tool for the detection of abnormal individual or crowd motion in subway corridors, in particular counterflows in one way corridors. First, we developed a motion estimation method that takes into account two difficulties: real time constraint and non-rigid moving objects (the pedestrians). We chose three techniques, for this purpose. Each belongs to a specific class of methods. These are block matching (matching technique), optical flow (differential technique) and Gabor filtering (frequential technique). We then attempted to improve both the speed and performance of each algorithm. As a result, we produced a very efficient optical flow technique. The obtained motion vectors were then filtered and used for the construction of motion trajectories. The trajectories were finally used to detect counterflows.
Social capital as a theoretical approach in Strategic Management

[EN] The objective of this research paper is to investigate, from a theoretical point of view, the strategic relevance of social capital. In recent years, academic literature in this field has witnessed remarkable growth, recognizing social capital as a key element for companies, due to its contribution to the creation of competitive advantages. However, it might be said that its development is still emerging, given the number of discrepancies among researchers regarding its definition, measurement, and its positive or negative impact on other variables. For this reason, a set of empirical studies that show the social capital effect on diverse types of organizational results have been reviewed, taking as a reference the definition and dimensions proposed by Nahapiet and Ghoshal (1998). Additionally, different theoretical links between social capital and four related Strategic Management approaches are presented, such as the Intellectual Capital-Based View, the Knowledge-Based View, the Resource-Based View and the Dynamic Resource-Based View. A main conclusion drawn from this review is that social capital, being a knowledge-based resource, enables access to both internal and external resources and thus a firm’s competitive advantage and, consequently, its value creation can be generated from the combination of both areas. Going in depth and clarifying this strategic linkage are thus a challenge to address in future studies.
The Inertial Coefficients of an Airship in a Frictionless Fluid

This report deals with the investigation of the apparent inertia of an airship hull. The exact solution of the aerodynamical problem has been studied for hulls of various shapes and special attention has been given to the case of an ellipsoidal hull. In order that the results for this last case may be readily adapted to other cases, they are expressed in terms of the area and perimeter of the largest cross section perpendicular to the direction motion by means of a formula involving a coefficient K which varies only slowly when the shape of the hull is changed, being 0.637 for a circular or elliptic disk, 0.5 for a sphere, and about 0.25 for a spheroid of fineness ratio 7. For rough purposes it is sufficient to employ the coefficients, originally found for ellipsoids, for hulls otherwise shaped. When more exact values of the inertia are needed, estimates may be based on a study of the way in which K varies with different characteristics and for such a study the new coefficient possesses some advantage over one which is defined with reference to the volume of fluid displaced. The case of rotation of an airship hull has been investigated also and a coefficient has been defined with the same advantages as the corresponding coefficient for rectilinear motion.
A comparison of minimum energy combination and canonical correlation analysis for SSVEP detection

Minimum energy combination (MEC) and canonical correlation analysis (CCA) are widely used for steady-state visual evoked potential (SSVEP) based brain computer interface (BCI), since both approaches have satisfactory performance. The purpose of this paper is to provide a guideline on choice of detection method, through comparison of the performance of the two approaches from simulation data and real SSVEP data. The experiment results show that CCA has lower deviation, higher accuracy and higher signal to noise ratio than MEC.
What is the experience of providing, receiving and using short-term loan equipment?

The question at the heart of this thesis is “What is the experience of providing, receiving and using short-term loan equipment? ” The study sought to explore the lived experience of occupational therapists and patients with short-term disabilities with short-term loan equipment (assistive devices). While much is known about the use and non-use of such equipment, little is known about the experience of the process of providing, receiving and using the equipment in the New Zealand context. The methodology of hermeneutic phenomenology, informed by the writings of Heidegger [1889-1976], Gadamer [19002002] and van Manen [1942] was selected because of the emphasis on lived experience, and an interpretation of equipment as technology. The term ‘patient’ has been used throughout for those participants who used occupational therapy services because it implies a special duty of care towards the person. Five occupational therapists and eight adult patients from the acute wards of a busy metropolitan hospital were interviewed. Their experiences of how the equipment came to be chosen, its delivery to their home and how they used it until it was time to return it were explored. Anecdotes from the transcribed interviews became the research text. Dwelling with the texts, referring back to literature and calling on my own experiences with short-term loan equipment gave me the chance to listen to the spoken and unspoken words of the participants. The thesis concludes that patients highly value the short-term loan equipment provided for use at home following discharge from hospital. Nevertheless there are several courses of actions that are possible that will improve the service further. The study findings are presented under two overarching themes: what did work for patients and occupational therapists, and what did not work for patients and therapists. Openness to each other, time to understand each other, and having confidence in each other worked for patients and therapists; whereas a lack of a connection between patient and therapist, an inflexible system, and occupational therapists’ practice dictated by the employer’s goals contributed to the system not working. The thesis finishes with an explanation of the strengths and weaknesses of the study and notes seven implications for occupational therapy practice: 1) taking time to
Understanding Human Trafficking Using Victim-Level Data

Quantitative research on human trafficking is scant due to lack of data. This study makes use of a unique survey we collected on former victims of trafficking and vulnerable women and girls in the Philippines. We start by exploring the correlates of trafficking and show that household composition (in particular the presence of older sisters) and plausibly exogenous measures of health and economic shocks predict the likelihood of being tracked. We then study the effects of trafficking on victims' intertemporal and risk preferences using entropy balancing. We find that trafficking victims are not differentially patient, but they are more risk-loving. Our novel data and findings are pertinent to the design of policies intending to prevent trafficking and reintegrate victims.
A quantitative investigation of exit intension of public pickup points

Abstract Based on samples collected from logistics market in China, factors about withdrawing willingness of public pickup points were examined. The empirical study demonstrated that offline involvement experience had little effects on the exit decision. For the platform management efficiency, only settlement performance shown distinct negative effects, service efficiency did not bring the expected mechanisms. For the potential revenue perception, both the commission revenue and relationship promotion produced significant influence on the behavior of pickup points. However the perceived customer conversion was not proved to be significant. The detailed implications were also proposed as well as future research directions.
A Wavelet-Based Perceptual Image Coder Incorporating a New Model for Compression of Color Images

A wavelet-based perceptual image coder for the compression of color images is proposed here in which the coding structure is coupled with Human Visual System models to produce high quality images. The major contribution is the development of a new model for the compression of the color components based on psychovisual experiments, which quantifies the optimum amount of compression that can be applied to the color components for a given rate. The model is developed for YCbCr color space and the perceptually uniform CIE Lab color space. A complete coding structure for the compression of color images is developed by incorporating the new perceptual model. The performance of the proposed coder is compared with a wavelet-based coder that uses the quantization stage of the JPEG2000 standard. The perceptual quality of the compressed images is tested using the wavelet-based subjective and objective perceptual quality matrices such as Mean Opinion Score, Visual Information Fidelity and Visual Signal to Noise Ratio. Though the model is developed for a perceptually lossless high quality image compression, results obtained reveal that the proposed structure gives very good perceptual quality compared to the existing schemes for lower bit rates. These advantages make the proposed coder a candidate for replacing the encoder stage of the current image compression standards.
Molecular characterization of strains of enteroinvasive Escherichia coli O143, including isolates from a large outbreak in Houston, Texas

A large diarrhea outbreak due to enteroinvasive Escherichia coli (EIEC) serogroup O143 occurring in Houston, Tex. , provided the opportunity to investigate aspects of the molecular epidemiology of this and related organisms. This was done by comparing the plasmid patterns and the chromosomal restriction endonuclease digestion patterns by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) of EIEC from the outbreak, other E. coli from the same serogoup (O143), and EIEC isolated from other patients with diarrhea. Among the isolates studied, there was marked restriction fragment length polymorphism. All 3 non-O143 EIEC isolates had very different restriction endonuclease digestion patterns, as did 5 of 5 O143 non-EIEC isolates and 6 of 15 O143 EIEC isolates. Four Houston outbreak O143 EIEC isolates had the same restriction pattern as an O143 EIEC strain isolated 2 months before in Mexico and was nearly identical to another two O143 EIEC Mexican isolates. These related strains also had the same plasmid pattern; however, the presence of only a few plasmid bands, versus the 21 to 30 chromosomal bands seen with PFGE, suggests that plasmid patterns could be a less specific way to distinguish different strains. These results demonstrate that PFGE can distinguish between different E. coli strains of the same serogroup and phenotype. This technique can also identify relatedness within O143 EIEC, and our data suggest the spread of a strain of EIEC from Mexico to Houston, where it caused a large outbreak. PFGE may be useful to study the epidemiology of EIEC.
Standoff thermal hyperspectral imaging for flare and smokestack characterization in industrial environments

Flares and smokestacks are hard-to-reach structures that might turn out being difficult to characterize once in operation, i.e. in industrial environments. Standoff thermal hyperspectral imaging represents a powerful approach for these challenging installations as it is a non-invasive technique providing valuable information about both the chemical composition and the spatial distribution in emission gases. This paper illustrates how chemical imaging can be successfully carried out on installations at distances greater than 1 kilometer. Temperature and concentration profiles can be measured without the need of a complex experimental setup. This paper shows how this information can be applied to characterize operating flare installations.