Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Changing Trends in Preoperative Localization and Surgical Techniques for the Treatment of Primary Hyperparathyroidism in a Single Tertiary Center

Purpose: Primary hyperparathyroidism (PHPT) is caused by the oversecretion of parathyroid hormone (PTH), resulting in increased serum calcium levels. The aim of this study was to analyze changing trends in preoperative localization and surgical techniques for the treatment of PHPT in a single tertiary center in Korea. Methods: Data from patients with PHPT who had undergone parathyroidectomy between January 2000 and December 2016 were evaluated in this retrospective analysis. Results: Data from 157 patients were included in this analysis (single adenoma n=156, double adenoma n=1). A total of 134 patients underwent ultrasonography for preoperative localization, 110 of which were marked preoperatively. Preoperative localization by sonographic marking increased over time following its introduction in 2006. Intraoperative PTH assay was used in 80 patients, with its use also increasing each year since it was introduced in 2011. In addition, 150 patients underwent 99mTc-sestamibi scan and 148 underwent computed tomography (CT) scanning. Four-dimensional CT and 99mTc-sestamibi SPECT/CT (SeS) was introduced in 2011 and replaced the use of 2-dimensional CT and 99mTc-sestamibi scan over time. Statistical analysis revealed that sonographic marking, SeS, CT, intraoperative PTH significantly reduce operation time. Surgical techniques used were bilateral neck exploration (n=11), unilateral neck exploration (n=54), focused parathyroidectomy (n=84), and others (n=8). Among 5 surgical technique, focused parathyroidectomy took significantly lesser operation time than other surgical methods. Conclusion: In order to reduce operation time, sonographic marking, SeS, CT, intraoperative PTH should be performed perioperatively, and focused parathyroidectomy could be the first choice of surgical methods.
Evaluation of the uncertainty-awareness principle using a tumor detection scenario

The acquisition process of real world data is usually affected by uncertainty, that can have a huge impact for decision making processes. The uncertainty principle tries to address this problem and gives guidelines to quantify, propagate and communicate the uncertainty of a dataset. Although there exist a variety of work that addresses this principle, the uncertainty principle is not evaluated fully. In this work, we utilize a tumor detection scenario from the medical area and applied the uncertainty principle in its entirety. Based on this, we performed a user evaluation that tries to identify the quality of the uncertainty principle in comparison to a standard visualization approach. We summarize the pros and cons of the uncertainty principles according to different measures. Our study shows, that the uncertainty principle helps users to detect the boundary with more certainty and understand the quality of the underlying image data.
High Exoelectrogenic Biofilms Formation in Microbial Fuel Cells

Background. Microbial fuel cells are devices in which electricity is generated by microorganisms called exoelectrogens. During the process of anaerobic respiration exoelectrogens emit electrons outside the cell. These electrons can be transferred to the anode of biofuel cell via several different mechanisms. Electricity generation in microbial fuel cells depends primarily on the electrochemical activity of the exoelectrogens present in the anode space. Nowadays, the usage of microorganisms, immobilized as biofilms on the anode, is constantly increasing. Natural sources for exoelectrogens selection such as activated sludge, biofilter biofilms, sediments of seas and rivers have a very diverse microbial composition. Therefore, it is important to immobilize relatively deficient in natural sources exoelectrogens on the anode during the biofilm formation process. The main research areas are the development of a technique for obtaining of electroactive biofilms enriched with exoelectrogens along with reduction of the period of biofilm formation process. Objective . We set a goal to study the process of high exoelectrogenic biofilm formation basing on the combination of different methods of exoelectrogens isolation and immobilization at the anode of a microbial fuel cell. Methods . A three-stage technique was used to obtain a highly exoelectrogenic biofilm which, due to the combination of typical isolation and immobilization techniques of exoelectrogens, allows obtaining the biofilm in which the vast majority of microorganisms are exoelectrogens. In the first stage, a biofilter biofilm was used as a source of exoelectrogens. The biofilm formed in the first stage was used as an inoculum for the second stage of biofilm formation. During the second stage an additional selective factor (applied additional potential in the electrical circuit of the microbial fuel cell) was used. The third stage of biofilm formation was the isolation of exoelectrogens capable of reducing ferum (III) compounds from secondary biofilm with subsequent application of these cells as inoculum. Results. The usage of the proposed method allows obtaining of a biofilm enriched with exoelectrogenic bacteria. The maximum current density generated by the biofilm, obtained during the first stage, reaches 140 μA/cm 2 , during the second – 400 μA/cm 2 , during the third – 615 μA/cm 2 . The duration of biofilm formation at each stage was 110 h, 40 h, and 60 h, respectively. Conclusions. It has been proven that the duration of biofilm formation is reduced almost twice as a result of a combination of typical methods of isolation and immobilization of exoelectrogens; obtained biofilm has high electrochemical activity and properties similar to biofilm, formed by pure cultures of exoelectrogens.
G-jitter fully developed heat transfer by mixed convection flow in a vertical channel with constant heat flux

A theoretical study of mixed convection heat transfer was carried out in an infinite length of vertical channel with both open ends. One of the vertical plates was prescribed with constant heat flux. The effect of g-jitter was also taken into consideration. The Fourier method was utilized to solve the resulting governing equations. The behavior of the fluid temperature and velocity of the flow were studied and presented graphically in this paper. The graphical results were later on analyzed and discussed. The behavior of steady state flow was also investigated. Results confirmed that as wall temperature increased, the fluid temperature increased. The velocity increased due to increments in mixed convection and oscillation parameter, on the other hand, it decreased as a frequency of g-jitter increased.
Thermodynamic and Transcritical Power Cycle with Recovery of Cryogenic LNG Using Stirling Engines

In this paper, a novel CO2 transcritical power cycle, which is driven by solar energy integrated by a cryogenic LNG recovery unit, is investigated. In the proposed cycle, the condenser unit of the CO2 power cycle is replaced by a Stirling engine. The thermodynamic and exergy analyses are carried out to evaluate the performance of the presented system. Furthermore, in order to investigate the impact of utilization of Stirling engines instead of the conventional condenser units, the proposed cycle is compared with the typical CO2 power cycle. The results obtained show that employing the Stirling engine decreases the exergy destruction from 17% in the typical cycle to 8.85%. In addition, the total generated power of the novel system is considerably boosted up by about 15 kW in the off-peak times and more than 20 kW in the peak time. Moreover, the integration of the Stirling engine also decreases the LNG mass flow rate. Therefore, the required heat exchanger area in the LNG heater is also lowered.
Trust and Reputation Mechanisms in Vehicular Ad-Hoc Networks: A Systematic Review

Article history: Received: 23 October, 2019 Accepted: 25 January, 2020 Online: 20 February, 2020 An emerging trend has been observed in the Trust and Reputation (T & R) systems in field of decision-making support for a majority of the provisions propagated by the Internet. It is the extreme importance that peers (users) are able to trust each other and rely on them for file sharing and for services. This paper provides the reader an apprehensive and completely true information and details on a large number of the present conceptions, proposals, issues, and the key to those problems in VANETs and other fields to enhance the eminence of the data in transportation through a systematized literature review. Trust and reputation have also been discussed gravely in this paper. After the scrutinized analysis of more than 90 articles related to trust in a plethora of fields, extracted from few of the apt scientific sources ((i.e., SIEEE Computer Society, ACM Digital Library, Springer Link, Science Direct, and Wiley Online Library), and hence, succeeds to bring about the major hurdles and necessities for trust in real world and future research.
Presenting Visualization Guideline Collections

There have been a number of attempts to create collections of guidelines for visualizations, in several different formats. This position paper briefly reviews the structure of some of these attempts, suggests a general data model for recording a collection of guidelines, and describes some presentations that this would enable. It argues for a much more structured representation of guidelines than has been previously used.
The common component of the CPI: A trendy measure of Icelandic underlying in ation∗

This paper presents a new measure of underlying in ation in Iceland: the common component of the CPI. It is obtained from a factor model that is estimated using monthly data on individual subcomponents of the CPI. The results indicate that the common component is most responsive to imported in ation. Over the entire estimation period, the common component explained, on average, half of the total variation of individual subindices. Following the easing and stabilisation of in ation and in ation expectations in recent years, the majority of the variance of individual subindices is explained by sector-speci c shocks over a shorter estimation period. The performance of this measure was also checked along several dimensions. It appears robust to the estimation period used, and both the level of aggregation and the impact of revisions due to real-time extraction of the common component were negligible. The common component could serve as a useful complement to existing measures of underlying in ation already monitored by the Central Bank of Iceland.
New Thermodynamics: Inefficiency of a Piston-Cylinder

Inefficiencies of expanding systems are traditionally taught in terms of entropy, and the second law. Herein, it will be shown that such traditional explanations are an over-complication of reality. This will be accomplished by providing a simpler understanding as to why such inefficiencies exist in a piston-cylinder apparatus. This introduces many to a new perspective which is founded on lost work, and the inherent inefficiencies when converting a gas’s kinetic energy into actual work.
Prognostic value of platelet indices in patients with acute pulmonary thromboembolism

Introduction: Given the role of platelets in thrombus formation, markers of platelet activation may be able to predict outcomes in patients with acute pulmonary thromboembolism (PTE). Methods: In a prospective cohort study, 492 patients with acute PTE were enrolled. Patients were evaluated for platelet indices including mean platelet volume (MPV), platelet distribution width (PDW), and platelet-lymphocyte-ratio (PLR), as well as for the simplified Pulmonary Embolism Severity Index (PESI) risk score. The primary endpoint was in-hospital all-cause mortality. Major adverse cardiopulmonary events (MACPE, composite of mortality, thrombolysis, mechanical ventilation and surgical embolectomy during index hospitalization) and all-cause death during follow-up were secondary endpoints. Results: MPV, PDW and PLR were 9.9±1.0 fl, 13.5±6.1%, and 14.7±14.5, respectively, in the total cohort. Whilst MPV was higher in those with adverse events (10.1±1.0 vs 9.9±1.0 fl; P= 0.019), PDW and PLR were not different between two groups. MPV with a cut-off point of 9.85 fl had a sensitivity of 81% and a specificity of 50% in predicting in-hospital mortality, but it had lower performance in predicting MACPE (Area under the curve: AUC 0.58; 95%CI 0.52-0.63) or long-term mortality (AUC 0.54; 95% CI 0.47-0.61). The AUC for all these three markers were lower than the AUC calculated for the simplified PESI score (0.80; 0.71-0.88). Conclusion: Platelet indices had only fair-to-good predictive performance in predicting in-hospital all-cause death. Established PTE risk scoring models such as simplified PESI outperform these indices in predicting adverse outcomes.
Homestead horticultural crops: Alternative sources to alternative medicines/therapies in Ebonyi State, Southeastern Nigeria

The prehistoric discovery that certain plants harm and others have curative powers is the origin of the healing professions and its practitioners as well as professions devoted to plants (botany and horticulture). The description of plants and their properties and virtues (termed herbals) became invaluable resources for the physician and apothecary. The horticultural plants with medicinal values used in the traditional medicine of Ebonyi State, Southeast Nigeria were surveyed, aimed at identifying and documenting the plants used amongst the indigenes of Ebonyi State. Semi-structured interviews were conducted during a field trip to gather information from traditional medicinal practitioners (TMPs) and community elders. Results obtained indicated that horticultural plants species with medicinal values were 44 species representing 32 genera and 30 families; used in the ethno medicine of the people of Ebonyi State. The most represented genera were Cucurbitaceae and Rutaceae providing five and four species, respectively. The most used plant parts recorded was the leaves representing (52.27%), followed by fruits (27.27%), and while decoction was the main method of drug preparation with (38.67%) followed by infusion (21.33%). The result of the survey shows that more than half of the horticultural plants with medicinal values gathered in Ebonyi State are also used in other states in Nigeria as well as in other countries for various ailments. The most frequently treated diseases represents 67.09% of the medicinal applications and the most treated diseases was Fungal /Bacterial diseases with 27.45% followed by Malaria/Fever and other related diseases with (22.55%). These medicinal plants gathered may bring about drug discovery and may also be incorporated into the healthcare delivery system of the country.
Assessment of the ecological structure of Posidonia oceanica (L.) Delile on the northern coast of Lazio, Italy (central Tyrrhenian, Mediterranean)

The ecological structure of Posidonia oceanica (L.) Delile meadows was evaluated on the northern coast of Lazio, Italy (central Tyrrhenian, Mediterranean sea). This is an infra-littoral zone with a wide range of anthropogenic activities and high geo-morphological variability, which reflects heterogeneity in shoot density, leaf morphology and biomass in fragmented patches. Genetic variability in populations corresponds to the formation of 3 sub-clusters, in the diverse impacted zones (north, centre and south), being correlated to the geographical distance between sites. AMOVA estimated a high genetic variation showing 43.05% individual differences within populations with a marked differentiation among the populations (56.9%) indicated by Fst value (0.57). These results revealed the role of the genetic structure of seagrasses for determining selectivity of fragmented habitat, in response to natural drivers. They showed that site-specific self-recruitment is related to biodiversity capacity and to the geo-morphological characteristic of the coast.
Neuro-Fuzzy Hybridization using Modified S Membership Function and Kernel Extreme Learning Machine for Robust Face Recognition under Varying Illuminations

The multifaceted light varying environment severely degrades the performance of person recognition using facial images. Here, the authors present a novel person identification method using hybridization of artificial neural network (ANN) and fuzzy logic concepts. An efficient illumination normalization method is presented with the help of a new modified S membership function. The proposed method of illumination normalization retains the large scale facial features as well as suppresses the variations related to change in light variations. Kernel extreme learning machine (KELM) which is a nonlinear and non-iterative learning algorithm of ANN is used for classification. Various kernel types and parameters are experimented to find the best choice for robust classification. To assess the performance of proposed hybridization, Yale and extended Yale B face databases have been used. Very promising results have been achieved which establish the worth of the proposed method.
Bendy: An Exploration into Gaming with Mobile Flexible Devices

We explore gaming with mobile flexible devices through a comprehensive study. We conducted two experiments with two commonly sized mobile devices. The first experiment created user-defined bend gestures from a set of tasks derived from gaming. The results suggest pairing opposing events by gesture location, little differences in gestures performed on two sized devices and interaction paradigms relating to the Simon Effect. The results of the first experiment were summarized and provided guidelines for the design of the game controls used in the second experiment. We implemented the userdefined gestures into 6 games using an interactive flexible prototype. Usability and user experience were evaluated and we find an overall preference for the small size, identified an important usability issue related to hand position and interaction paradigms regarding the Simon Effect and bimanual input. Finally, we propose a set of design recommendations for flexible device interactions and game designers.
Biological behavior of 60/40 biphasic calcium phosphate and growth hormone mixture: in vivo study in dogs

Grafting materials are important for ridge preservation procedures after tooth extraction. Ridge preservation prime value is the volume preservation for the healing sockets, which is needed for different ridge augmentation procedures. Objective: Determine the healing responses of (local growth hormone, and biphasic calcium phosphate mixture 60/40 in fresh extraction sockets of a canine model.Materials and Methods: Six mongrel dogs included in this study; they were divided into 2 groups according to the time of sacrifice (4 and 8 weeks). Each of these groups includes three animals. Animals subjected to extraction of the fourth premolar bilaterally, The right side treated with a mixture of 4 IU (1.6 mg) Growth hormone and biphasic calcium phosphate (a composite of hydroxyapatite HA and beta-tricalcium phosphate TCP 1 x 0.15 ml (450-650 µm) in a granular form, while the left side left as a control. The healing extraction sockets were evaluated by surface electron microscope (SEM). Results: Scanning electron microscope examination showed homogenous new bone formation in both groups. Control group showed significant results as regard calcium phosphate ratio in the first month, while non-significant result was encountered in the second month between two groups. Conclusion:. Single local dose of growth hormone mixed with 60/40 biphasic calcium phosphate did not improve calcium phosphate ratio.
Naturalness and Artificiality Revisited Through Natural Infinity1

Discussions about naturalness, artificiality and unnaturalness in this article are motivated by the field of Human Cognitive Enhancement (HCE) because of its potential for altering human personality and identity. This article at first proposes a concept of human naturalness as interaction between physis and logos. Then it presents an intuitive understanding of naturalness in terms of the inherent inability of language to fully describe all attributes of an object that is natural. The analytical core of the article proposes a formal model of naturalness utilising Vopenka’s phenomenologically grounded Alternative Set Theory (AST), comprising and formalising the concept of natural infinity. A brief introduction to AST is presented as well. Naturalness and artificiality are modelled as two structurally different naturally infinite semisets within AST. This key structural difference is then analysed and applied back to the domain of HCE.
Measuring the mechanical properties of apoptotic cells using particle tracking microrheology

Numerical models developed to study high frequency ultrasound scattering during apoptosis require knowledge of mechanical properties of cells. Particle Tracking Microrheology (PTM) is a technique for studying the mechanical properties of soft materials. By tracking the Brownian movement of particles embedded in a material, its mechanical properties can be extracted. In this thesis, PTM is used to measure the relative changes in the viscoelasticity of apoptotic PC3 cells. PTM was first validated in purely viscous and viscoelastic phantoms. It was found to work well in viscous phantoms, but was limited to only measuring relative changes of the viscoelasticity of viscoelastic materials. After validation, PTM measurements in cells showed that the elastic and viscous modulus increased by over 50 Pa and 20 Pa respectively over the course of the treatment. Preliminary development of another technique known as Two-Point Particle Tracking Microrheology (TPM) is also presented in this thesis.
Kinetic modeling and analysis of dynamic bioluminescence imaging of substrates administered by intraperitoneal injection.

Background Bioluminescence imaging (BLI) has been found to have diverse applications in the life sciences and medical research due to its ease of use and high sensitivity. From kinetics analysis, dynamic imaging studies have significant advantages for diagnosis when compared to traditional static imaging studies. This work focuses on modeling and quantitatively analyzing the dynamic data produced from the intraperitoneal (IP) injection of D-luciferin in longitudinal BLI, aiming to provide a powerful tool for monitoring the growth of tumors. Methods We constructed a three-compartment pharmacokinetic (PK) model and employed the standard Michaelis-Menten (M-M) kinetics to investigate the dynamic BLI data produced from the IP injection of D-luciferin. The 3 compartments were the plasma compartment, the non-specific compartment, and the specific compartment. The validity of this PK model was tested by the dynamic BLI data of MKN28M-luc xenograft mice, along with the published longitudinal dynamic BLI data of B16F10-luc xenograft mice. Results The R-squares between the simulated lines and the measurement were 1 and 0.99, respectively, for the mice data and the published data. In addition, the 2 kinetic macroparameters obtained reflected the rate of tumor growth in vivo. In particular, the values of macroparameters A showed a significant dependence on tumor surface area. Conclusions The proposed PK model may be an effective tool for use in drug development programs and for monitoring the response of tumors to treatment.