Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Lichenoid dysplasia revisited - evidence from a review of Indian archives.

AIM AND OBJECTIVES To report on the prevalence of 'lichenoid dysplasia' (LD) in oral mucosal biopsies previously reported as oral lichen planus (OLP), oral lichenoid lesion (OLL) and oral epithelial dysplasia (OED). Based on this case series, to postulate whether features of dysplasia are present in biopsies with a diagnosis of OLP or OLL and vice versa that warrant a separate diagnostic entity of 'lichenoid dysplasia'. MATERIAL AND METHODS This retrospective, multicentre study was carried out by retrieving archival slides of cases diagnosed with OLP, OLL and OED. Diagnostic criteria for the study were based on published guidelines from seminal papers. A total of 165 cases, 70 OLP and OLL and 95 epithelial dysplasia cases, were re-examined. The diagnosis of OLPs and OLLs was first reconfirmed according to published diagnostic criteria. They were then verified for microscopic features of epithelial dysplasia. Among cases of leukoplakia diagnosed with epithelial dysplasia, we further verified for the presence of lichenoid features. RESULTS A total of 70 cases of OLP and OLL were microscopically evaluated (OLP-54; OLL-16). Epithelial dysplasia was noted in 11 cases (OLP - 8 of 54; OLL - 3 of 16). Nineteen cases of OLP (19 of 54) were found to bear features of OLLs as per published diagnostic criteria. Among the OED group, 22 of the 95 cases showed lichenoid features. CONCLUSION The study confirms lichenoid features may be found in OEDs and epithelial dysplasia may be found in OLP/OLL. We reconfirm that these microscopic features may coexist. Our findings require further discussion by a panel of experts to redefine the entity known as 'lichenoid dysplasia'. Future studies should address the concept of lichenoid dysplasia that may assist to resolve any controversies with regard to the malignant potential of OLP.
Production of Proinflammatory Cytokines by Monocytes in Liver-Transplanted Recipients with De Novo Autoimmune Hepatitis Is Enhanced and Induces TH1-like Regulatory T Cells

A subset of human regulatory T cells (Tregs) can secrete IFN-γ or IL-17, and thus share features of TH1 or TH17 effector cells and lose suppressive function. The main factors driving this differentiation of Tregs toward a proinflammatory phenotype include IL-12 for TH1-like and IL-6 for TH17-type Tregs. In this study we show that Tregs of patients with de novo autoimmune hepatitis (dAIH) display increased frequencies of proinflammatory IFN-γ and IL-17 cytokines. Irrespective of a fully demethylated FOXP3 locus, Tregs of subjects with dAIH are functionally impaired. In line with the observed Treg phenotype, we detected the presence of two dominant cytokines (IL-12 and IL-6) clustering with CD68+ monocyte/macrophage cells in livers of subjects with dAIH, and isolated monocytes of subjects with dAIH secrete high levels of proinflammatory IL-12 and IL-6, suggesting that this inflammatory milieu is key for functional impairment of Tregs. Importantly, the blockade of IFN-γ partially restores suppressive function of Tregs of subjects with dAIH, indicating that monocyte/macrophage-derived triggers might play a central role in Treg dysfunction and pathogenesis of dAIH.
Numerical Investigations of and Path Loss Predictions for Surface Wave Propagation Over Sea Paths Including Hilly Island Transitions

Surface wave propagation along multi-mixed-paths with irregular terrain over spherical Earth in two-dimension (2D) is discussed. For the first time in the literature, sea-land-sea (island) transition problem including non-flat (hilly) islands is investigated systematically. A finite element method based multi-mixed path surface wave virtual propagation predictor tool FEMIX is developed for this purpose. FEMIX, tested and calibrated against analytical ray-mode reference models accommodated with the Millington curve fitting approaches, is shown to be capable of modeling propagation along sea surface having multiple hilly islands over MF (300 kHz - 3 MHz) and HF (3 - 30 MHz) bands.
Autoregulation of the Human Liver X Receptor α Promoter

ABSTRACT Previous work has implicated the nuclear receptors liver X receptor α (LXRα) and LXRβ in the regulation of macrophage gene expression in response to oxidized lipids. Macrophage lipid loading leads to ligand activation of LXRs and to induction of a pathway for cholesterol efflux involving the LXR target genes ABCA1 andapoE. We demonstrate here that autoregulation of the LXRα gene is an important component of this lipid-inducible efflux pathway in human macrophages. Oxidized low-density lipoprotein, oxysterols, and synthetic LXR ligands induce expression of LXRα mRNA in human monocyte-derived macrophages and human macrophage cell lines but not in murine peritoneal macrophages or cell lines. This is in contrast to peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPARγ)-specific ligands, which stimulate LXRα expression in both human and murine macrophages. We further demonstrate that LXR and PPARγ ligands cooperate to induce LXRα expression in human but not murine macrophages. Analysis of the human LXRα promoter led to the identification of multiple LXR response elements. Interestingly, the previously identified PPAR response element (PPRE) in the murine LXRα gene is not conserved in humans; however, a different PPRE is present in the human LXR 5′-flanking region. These results have implications for cholesterol metabolism in human macrophages and its potential to be regulated by synthetic LXR and/or PPARγ ligands. The ability of LXRα to regulate its own promoter is likely to be an integral part of the macrophage physiologic response to lipid loading.
Properties of learning of a fuzzy ART variant

This paper discusses one variation of the fuzzy ART architecture, referred to as fuzzy ART variant. The fuzzy ART variant is a fuzzy ART algorithm, with a very large value for the choice parameter. Based on the geometrical interpretation of templates in fuzzy ART we present and prove useful properties of learning pertaining to the fuzzy ART variant. One of these properties of learning establishes an upper bound on the number of list presentations required by the fuzzy ART variant to learn an arbitrary list of input patterns presented to it. In previously published work, it was shown that the fuzzy ART variant performs as well as a fuzzy ART algorithm with more typical values for the choice parameter. Hence, the fuzzy ART variant is as good a clustering machine as the fuzzy ART algorithm using more typical values of the choice parameter.
A comparison between 11C-methionine PET/CT and MIBI SPECT/CT for localization of parathyroid adenomas/hyperplasia

ObjectiveThe purpose of this study was to compare the sensitivity of single-photon emission computed tomography/computed tomography (SPECT/CT) using 99mTc-sestamibi (MIBI) with that of PET/CT using 11C-methionine (MET) for localization of parathyroid adenomas/hyperplasia in primary hyperparathyroidism. Materials and methodsTwenty-three patients with primary hyperparathyroidism were analyzed. Fifteen patients underwent surgery, and the remaining eight did not, but these patients were clinically diagnosed as having primary hyperparathyroidism. Patients underwent both MET PET/CT and MIBI SPECT/CT scanning. The sensitivities of both modalities were evaluated on a per-patient basis, and on a per-lesion basis for parathyroid lesions detected by surgery. The size of the parathyroid adenoma/hyperplasia and serum intact parathyroid hormone levels were compared with the results of each of the two modalities. ResultsPer-patient sensitivities of MET PET/CT and MIBI SPECT/CT were 65 and 61%, respectively. Per-lesion sensitivities of MET PET/CT and MIBI SPECT/CT were 91 and 73% for histologically confirmed adenomas and 30 and 30% for hyperplastic glands, respectively. No significant differences were observed between the two modalities. The size of uptake-positive lesions was significantly larger than that of uptake-negative lesions in both modalities. Intact parathyroid hormone levels showed no significant difference between uptake-positive and uptake-negative patients in both modalities. ConclusionThe sensitivities of MET PET/CT and MIBI SPECT/CT were comparable. MET PET/CT has a complementary role in localizing parathyroid adenomas/hyperplasia when MIBI SPECT/CT is inconclusive.
Validation of a novel satisfaction questionnaire for patients with rheumatoid arthritis receiving outpatient clinical nurse specialist care, inpatient care, or day patient team care.

OBJECTIVES To develop and validate a questionnaire for measuring satisfaction with different forms of complex multidisciplinary care in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). METHODS The satisfaction questionnaire (score range 0-100) comprised 28 items covering 11 domains. Together with a visual analog scale (VAS, range 0-100) on overall satisfaction, the questionnaire was applied in 210 RA patients who participated in a randomized trial comparing 3 types of multidisciplinary care. RESULTS The questionnaire was returned by 174 patients (83%). The questionnaire and VAS scores in the total group were 75 (SD 12) and 83 (SD 20), respectively. Reliability analysis showed Cronbach's alpha of the questionnaire was 0.91. Spearman's correlation coefficient between the satisfaction questionnaire score and VAS score was 0.58 (P < 0.01). Mean total satisfaction questionnaire scores were 72 (SD 9), 76 (SD 14), and 78 (SD 11), in the nurse specialist, inpatient and day patient groups, respectively (nurse specialist versus day patient, P = 0.004). Significant differences between nurse specialist and day patients were seen in the following domains: waiting time during the treatment, autonomy, coordination, non-financial access, and quality of general information (all P < 0.05). CONCLUSION Overall, patients were highly satisfied with the multidisciplinary care they received. Major differences regarding the organization of care were reflected in the results of the questionnaire scores. The satisfaction questionnaire appears to be a useful instrument for measuring satisfaction with complex multidisciplinary care in RA patients.
C HAPTER 3 F INGERPRINTS IN C OMPRESSED S TRINGS

This thesis presents new algorithms and data structures for handling data represented as grammar-compressed strings. The compression scheme we focus on is the Straight Line Program (SLP). In the following, S is an SLP of size n compressing a string S of size N . We consider the following problems. The q-gram profile of a compressed string. We present an algorithm for computing the q-gram profile from a grammar-compressed string that runs in O(N − α) expected time and uses O(n+ q+ kS,q) space. Here, N −α ≤ qn is the exact number of characters decompressed by the algorithm and kS,q ≤ N − α is the number of distinct q-grams in S. This simultaneously matches the current best known time bound and improves the best known space bound. Our space bound is asymptotically optimal in the sense that any algorithm storing the grammar and the q-gram profile must use Ω(n+ q+ kS,q) space. To achieve this we introduce the q-gram graph that space-efficiently captures the structure of a string with respect to its q-grams, and show how to construct it from a grammar. Fingerprints and Longest Common Extensions in compressed strings. The KarpRabin fingerprint of a string is a type of hash value that due to its strong properties has been used in many string algorithms. In this paper we show how to construct a data structure for a grammar-compressed string that answers fingerprint queries. That is, given indices i and j, the answer to a query is the fingerprint of the substring S[i, j]. We present the first O(n) space data structures that answer fingerprint queries without decompressing any characters. For SLPs we get O(logN) query time, and for Linear SLPs (an SLP derivative that captures LZ78 compression and its variations) we get O(log logN) query time. Hence, our data structures has the same time and space complexity as for random access in SLPs. We utilize the fingerprint data structures to solve the longest common extension problem in query time O(logN log `) and O(log ` log log `+ log logN) for SLPs and Linear SLPs, respectively. Here, ` denotes the length of the LCE. Subsequence matching in compressed strings and the tree color problem. We present a new algorithm for subsequence matching in grammar-compressed strings that uses O(n+ nσ w ) space and O(n+ nσ w +m logN logw ·occ) or O(n+ nσ w logw+m logN ·occ) time. Here w is the word size and occ is the number of occurrences of the pattern. Our algorithm uses less space than previous algorithms and is also faster for occ = o( n logN ) occurrences. The algorithm uses a new data structure that allows us to efficiently find the next occurrence of a given character after a given position in a compressed string. This data structure in turn is based on a new data structure for the tree color problem, where the node colors are packed in bit strings. Random access in compressed strings. The random access problem for compressed strings is to build a data structure that efficiently supports accessing the character in
Intermediaries and End-users in Telehealth and Education

This article reviews the role of intermediaries and end-users in a number of recent telehealth and education initiatives, in relation to policy discussion about Australia's National Broadband Network. Intermediaries are defined as human agents who provide an interface between end-users and systems supported by information and communication technology. Most of the telehealth and education projects examined form part of the Australian Federal Government's Clever Networks program. The activities these projects cover include videoconferencing for at-home diagnosis of patients, aggregation of patient records from multiple databases, and secure educational networking. The article refers to sociotechnical systems theory, which considers end-users and intermediaries as equal players with technology. Using this theoretical basis, it is argued that end-users and intermediaries should be factored into system and policy design for telehealth and education.
Non-spa-Typeable Clinical Staphylococcus aureus Strains Are Naturally Occurring Protein A Mutants

ABSTRACT Staphylococcus aureus is a major human pathogen responsible for increasing the prevalence of community- and hospital-acquired infections. Protein A (SpA) is a key virulence factor of S. aureus and is highly conserved. Sequencing of the variable-number tandem-repeat region of SpA (spa typing) provides a rapid and reliable method for epidemiological studies. Rarely, non-spa-typeable S. aureus strains are encountered. The reason for this is not known. In this study, we characterized eight non-spa-typeable bacteremia isolates. Sequencing of the entire spa locus was successful for five strains and revealed various mutations of spa, all of which included a deletion of immunoglobulin G binding domain C, in which the upper primer for spa typing is located, while two strains were truly spa negative. This is the first report demonstrating that nontypeability of S. aureus by spa sequencing is due either to mutation or to a true deficiency of spa.
The Euro Zone Financial Meltdown and Sub-Saharan Africa's Financial Sector: Analysis and The Way Forward for Financial Development and Economic Growth

The purpose of the paper was to assess the effects of the euro zone financial crisis on sub-Saharan Africa’s (SSA) financial sector. The evidence showed that the euro zone crisis had limited negative effects on SSA financial sector as a whole. However, individual countries were impacted negatively based on their relative integration into the global financial system and the idiosyncratic responses by policy makers to the crisis. The article begins with a historical perspective and underpinning of the euro zone financial crisis. Next, it presents a brief overview of the euro zone financial sector. This is followed by an analysis of SSA’s financial sector and its exposure to the euro zone crisis. The paper then continues with a discussion of the transmission mechanisms of the crisis to SSA’s financial sector. The article ends with an outline of policy lessons learned from the euro debt crisis, policy implications for SSA’s financial sector, and recommendations for the way forward for financial development and stability in SSA.
Screening of a Fosmid Library of Marine Environmental Genomic DNA Fragments Reveals Four Clones Related to Members of the OrderPlanctomycetales

ABSTRACT A fosmid library with inserts containing approximately 40 kb of marine bacterial DNA (J. L. Stein, T. L. Marsh, K. Y. Wu, H. Shizuya, and E. F. DeLong, J. Bacteriol. 178:591–599, 1996) yielded four clones with 16S rRNA genes from the orderPlanctomycetales. Three of the clones belong to thePirellula group and one clone belongs to thePlanctomyces group, based on phylogenetic and signature nucleotide analyses of full-length 16S rRNA genes. Sequence analysis of the ends of the genes revealed a consistent mismatch in a widely used bacterium-specific 16S rRNA PCR amplification priming site (27F), which has also been reported in some thermophiles and spirochetes.
Surface Textures of Sand Grains—an Application of Electron Microscopy: Glaciation

To simulate glacial conditions, a mixture of ice and quartz grains was subjected to grinding under hydrostatic pressure of 500 bars. Electron microphotographs of these "synthetic" glaciated surfaces were then compared with electron microphotographs of grain surfaces which had been abraded and crushed by glacial action, and the correspondence was found to be good. Thus it appears possible to distinguish glacial sands from beach and eolian sands byexamining the surface textures of these grains with the electron microscope.
Optimized light-inducible transcription in mammalian cells using Flavin Kelch-repeat F-box1/GIGANTEA and CRY2/CIB1

Abstract Light-inducible systems allow spatiotemporal control of a variety of biological activities. Here, we report newly optimized optogenetic tools to induce transcription with light in mammalian cells, using the Arabidopsis photoreceptor Flavin Kelch-repeat F-box 1 (FKF1) and its binding partner GIGANTEA (GI) as well as CRY2/CIB1. By combining the mutagenesis of FKF1 with the optimization of a split FKF1/GI dimerized Gal4-VP16 transcriptional system, we identified constructs enabling significantly improved light-triggered transcriptional induction. In addition, we have improved the CRY2/CIB1-based light-inducible transcription with split construct optimization. The improvements regarding the FKF1/GI- and CRY2/CIB1-based systems will be widely applicable for the light-dependent control of transcription in mammalian cells.
The Top 1% in International and Historical Perspective

For three decades, the debate about rising income inequality in the United States has centered on the dispersion of wages and the increased premium for skilled/educated workers, attributed in varying proportions to skill-biased technological change and to globalization (for example, see Katz and Autor 1999 for a survey). In recent years, however, there has been a growing realization that most of the action has been at the very top. This has attracted a great deal of public attention (as witnessed by the number of visits to and press citations of our World Top Incomes Database at http://topincomes.parisschoolofeconomics.eu/) and has represented a challenge to the economics profession. Stories based on the supply and demand for skills are not enough to explain the extreme top tail of the earnings distribution; nor is it enough to look only at earned incomes. Different approaches are necessary to explain what has happened in the United States over the past century and also to explain the differing experience in other high-income countries over recent decades. We begin with the international comparison in the first section and then turn to the causes and implications of the evolution of top income shares.
Localized Tunneling Phenomena of Nanometer Scaled High- ${K}$ Gate-Stack

The 3-D simulator, which is capable of sensing potential change due to single electron’s movement via a local trap inside the high-K gate-stacking block, is developed. Then, we carefully investigate how the electron’s movement effects on the reliabilities of high-K gate-stack far beyond 10-nm generations. The simulation result shows that the potential change caused by a single electron’s charge is about a few hundered millivolts inside the high-K gate-stacking block. By this result, random telegraph noise (RTN) and trap-assisted tunneling (TAT) are carefully investigated with respect to various applied biases, interface suboxide layer thicknesses, and the dielectric constant of high-K dielectrics (K). We also take into account the Coulomb blockade of a local trap, and then obtain several phase diagrams for distinguishing RTN and TAT under various conditions. It is then found that K = 30 can most effectively suppress the gate leakage current.
Photoelectrochemical cells based on photosynthetic systems: a review

Photosynthesis is a process which converts light energy into energy contained in the chemical bonds of organic compounds by photosynthetic pigments such as chlorophyll (Chl a, b, c, d, f) or bacteriochlorophyll. It occurs in phototrophic organisms, which include higher plants and many types of photosynthetic bacteria, including cyanobacteria. In the case of the oxygenic photosynthesis, water is a donor of both electrons and protons, and solar radiation serves as inexhaustible source of energy. Efficiency of energy conversion in the primary processes of photosynthesis is close to 100%. Therefore, for many years photosynthesis has attracted the attention of researchers and designers looking for alternative energy systems as one of the most efficient and eco-friendly pathways of energy conversion. The latest advances in the design of optimal solar cells include the creation of converters based on thylakoid membranes, photosystems, and whole cells of cyanobacteria immobilized on nanostructured electrode (gold nanoparticles, carbon nanotubes, nanoparticles of ZnO and TiO2). The mode of solar energy conversion in photosynthesis has a great potential as a source of renewable energy while it is sustainable and environmentally safety as well. Application of pigments such as Chl f and Chl d (unlike Chl a and Chl b), by absorbing the far red and near infrared region of the spectrum (in the range 700-750 nm), will allow to increase the efficiency of such light transforming systems. This review article presents the last achievements in the field of energy photoconverters based on photosynthetic systems.