Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Automated Software for PET/CT Image Registration to Avoid Unnecessary Invasive Cardiac Surgery

Computed tomography (CT) is used for the attenuation correction of positron emission tomography (PET) to enhance the efficiency of data acquisition process but due to the use of two different modalities chances of misalignment between PET and CT images are quite significant. There are multiple causes of this misalignment, the most important being the respiratory motion of the patient. The position of the heart in PET and CT can have a difference of up to 2 cm along the long axis of the body. If such a misaligned CT attenuation correction map is used for the PET reconstruction it will cause erroneous results by projecting the lungs attenuation parameters on the cardiac wall creating false areas of hypoperfusion which may be misinterpreted as myocardial ischemia or infarction and can lead to unnecessary invasive procedure like bypass or angioplasty. In this paper, an automated cardiac software alignment method is proposed to overcome this motion artifact. PET and CT heart geometries are aligned using efficient real time image processing techniques and results of this optimization procedure have been evaluated on 100 PET/CT cardiac data sets producing accurate cardiac alignment which eliminated PET/CT misregistration attenuation correction artifact.
A Meta-Cognitive Computer-based Tutor for High-School Algebra

Algebra is an important high-school subject and serves as a gateway to higher math education. Yet many students struggle with Algebra and are left behind. This paper describes a computer-based Algebra tutor for use in tandem with classroom instruction to provide adaptive practice with problem-solving skills. This tutor is designed so as to reify the problem-solving process to the student and bring it to their awareness. This is accomplished in the problem-solving environment that supports each problem with helper sub-problems that are organized in a metacognitive framework. The tutor also adapts instruction to provide optimal challenge to each student. In addition, the tutor adapts the interface to provide help suggestions to students who have difficulties solving problems. The tutor is currently being evaluated.
Prenatal Cocaine Exposure and Cardiometabolic Disease Risk Factors in 18- to 20-Year-Old African Americans.

OBJECTIVE The long-term effects of prenatal cocaine exposure (PCE) on physical health are largely unknown. No human studies support or refute a relationship between PCE and the long-term risk for cardiovascular and/or metabolic disease. We investigated the association of PCE on primary cardiometabolic disease risk factors in African Americans (AA) aged 18 to 20 years. DESIGN Cohort, longitudinal, prospective. SETTING Miami-Dade County, Florida, and the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine/Jackson Memorial Medical Center. PARTICIPANTS Healthy full-term inner-city AA adolescents (aged 18 to 20 years, n=350) previously enrolled at birth from 1990-1993. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Fasting serum insulin, glucose, lipids, and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein; systolic and diastolic blood pressures; and the components and prevalence of the metabolic syndrome. RESULTS There were no PCE-associated differences in cardiometabolic disease risk factors including the metabolic syndrome and its individual components in AAs aged 18 to 20 years. CONCLUSIONS The results of our study do not support an association between PCE and increased cardiometabolic disease risk in AAs aged 18 to 20 years. Whether PCE is associated with cardiovascular or metabolic disease in adulthood would require further investigation.
A comparison of PD and model-based control of needle for medical procedures

In this paper, a model-based dynamics equation for the needle movement through the soft tissue is developed. A model-based control scheme which uses the force estimation calculated through the simulated tissue deformation data and the dynamic finite element as the tissue model is proposed. To compare the performance of the proposed controller, a PD controller is also used for the proposed needle dynamics equation. It is shown that even with uncertainty in model parameters; the mode-based controller outperforms the PD controller. Furthermore, although increasing the controller gain improves the performance of PD, but the model-based controller's performance is still superior.
The Clinical Utility of a Concussion Rebaseline Protocol After Concussion Recovery

Objective:To evaluate the clinical utility of “rebaseline” testing (ie, new baseline) before the season after an athlete's concussion recovery by (1) determining differences between baseline and rebaseline scores, and (2) comparing differences to clinical reliable change indices (RCIs). Design:Retrospective cohort. Setting:Clinical research center. Patients:Thirty-four Division I collegiate athletes (16 females, 18 males; baseline age = 18.38 ± 0.78 years). Interventions:Neurocognitive, balance, and symptom testing was conducted at 3 times: (1) original baseline, (2) final postinjury before return-to-play, and (3) rebaseline completed before the next competitive season. Physicians diagnosed concussions, and all concussed athletes' returned-to-play during the same season. Main Outcome Measures:Dependent variables included all neurocognitive domains, balance composite, and total symptom scores. Mean differences between sessions were compared with 80% RCIs to clinically interpret statistical findings. Results:Statistically significant improvements in neurocognitive performance were observed between baseline and rebaseline sessions: psychomotor speed (F1,33 = 13.79, P = 0.001), cognitive flexibility (F1,33 = 7.99, P = 0.008), processing speed (F1,32 = 15.93, P < 0.001), executive functioning (F1,33 = 9.61, P = 0.004), and reasoning (F1,32 = 7.63, P = 0.009). We observed significant improvement in balance (F1,29 = 22.26, P < 0.001), but no difference in total symptom score (P = 0.719). Participants performed statistically better at last postinjury compared with rebaseline in visual memory (F1,29 = 5.64, P = 0.024) and complex attention (F1,31 = 11.38, P = 0.002), but worse in processing speed (F1,30 = 8.92, P = 0.006). Participants reported more symptoms (F1.28 = 10.83, P = 0.003) at rebaseline than last postinjury. No observed mean differences exceeded RCIs. Conclusions:All between-session improvements were within RCIs and therefore within expected test–retest variation. Our results suggest limited clinical utility for rebaseline assessments in the collegiate setting. Clinical Relevance:Despite statistically significant differences between test sessions, no differences exceeded RCIs, suggesting the differences were of little clinical utility in the interpretation of neurocognitive, balance, and symptom scoring.
Lactational exposure to atypical antipsychotic drugs disrupts the pituitary-testicular axis in mice neonates during post-natal development

Olanzapine (OLNZ) and risperidone (RISP), two widely prescribed drugs for post-partum psychosis, transfer through milk to the neonates. Hence, neonates are susceptible to their adverse side effects. In the present study, the pituitary—testicular axis of lactationally exposed mice neonates (PND 28) was examined to evaluate the reproductive adverse effects. Testicular histopathology, immunocytochemistry and morphometric analysis of pituitary PRL (prolactin) and LH (luteinizing hormone) cells and plasma hormonal (PRL, LH and testosterone) levels were the various end points studied. Significantly regressed testes, reduced seminiferous tubules with disrupted germ-cell alignment, spermatogonial exfoliation into the tubule lumens and sparse sperms in the lumens were observed. PRL-immunointensity and plasma levels were elevated, whereas immunoreactivity and plasma levels of LH were decreased. Plasma testosterone levels were also decreased. The hypogonadism thus observed might be mediated by drug-induced hyperprolactinemia, which further inhibited secretions of LH and testosterone. Age may be the factor which made the neonates vulnerable to the PRL elevation by OLNZ which otherwise causes transient elevation in adults and is considered safe. The adverse impact was persistent until adulthood with higher doses of both of the drugs as evident by the analysis of testicular weight, histology and hormonal profiles of post-pubertal mice (PND 63) lactationally exposed as neonates.
Instructions for use Title Identification of Mycobacterium tuberculosis clinical isolates in Bangladesh by a speciesdistinguishable multiplex PCR Author ( s )

Background: Species identification of isolates belonging to the Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex (MTC) seems to be important for the appropriate treatment of patients, since M. bovis is naturally resistant to a first line anti-tuberculosis (TB) drug, pyrazinamide, while most of the other MTC members are susceptible to this antimicrobial agent. A simple and low-cost differentiation method was needed in higher TB burden countries, such as Bangladesh, where the prevalence of M. bovis among people or cattle has not been investigated. Methods: Genetic regions cfp32, RD9 and RD12 were chosen as targets for a species distinguishable multiplex PCR and the system was evaluated with twenty reference strains of mycobacterial species including non-tubercular mycobacteria (NTM). A total of 350 clinical MTC isolates obtained in Bangladesh were then analyzed with this multiplex
Lower bounds on maximal determinants of ±1 matrices via the probabilistic method

Let D(n) be the maximal determinant for n × n {±1}-matrices, and R(n) = D(n)/n n/2 be the ratio of D(n) to the Hadamard upper bound. We give several new lower bounds on R(n) in terms of d, where n = h + d, h is the order of a Hadamard matrix, and h is maximal subject to h ≤ n. A relatively simple bound is
Mechanism of low CO2‐induced activation of the cmp bicarbonate transporter operon by a LysR family protein in the cyanobacterium Synechococcus elongatus strain PCC 7942

The cmp operon of the cyanobacterium Synechococcus elongatus strain PCC 7942, encoding the subunits of the ABC‐type bicarbonate transporter, is activated under CO2‐limited growth conditions in a manner dependent on CmpR, a LysR family transcription factor of CbbR subfamily. The 0.7 kb long regulatory region of the operon carried a single promoter, which responded to CO2 limitation. Using the luxAB reporter system, three cis‐acting elements involved in the low‐CO2 activation of transcription, each consisting of a pair of LysR recognition signatures overlapping at their ends, were identified in the regulatory region. CmpR was shown to bind to the regulatory region, yielding several DNA–protein complexes in gel shift assays. Addition of ribulose‐1,5‐bisphosphate (> 1 mM) or 2‐phosphoglycolate (> 10 μM) enhanced the binding of CmpR in a concentration‐dependent manner, promoting formation of large DNA–protein complexes. Given the involvement of O2 in adaptive responses of cyanobacteria to low‐CO2 conditions, our results suggest that 2‐phosphoglycolate, which is produced by oxygenation by ribulose‐1,5‐bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase (Rubisco) of ribulose‐1,5‐bisphosphate under CO2‐limited conditions, acts as the co‐inducer in the activation of the cmp operon by CmpR.
Conservation of motifs within the unusually variable polypeptide sequences of type I restriction and modification enzymes

Type I restriction enzymes comprise three subunits encoded by genes designated hsdR, hsdM, and hsdS; S confers sequence specificity. Three families of enzymes are known and within families, but not between, hsdM and hsdR are conserved. Consequently, interfamily comparisons of M and R sequences focus on regions of putative functional significance, while both inter‐ and intrafamily comparisons address the origin, nature and role of diversity of type I restriction systems. We have determined the sequence of the hsdR gene for EcoA, thus making available sequences of all three hsd genes of one representative from each family. The predicted R polypeptide sequences share conserved regions with one superfamily of putative helicases, so‐called ‘DEAD box’ proteins; these conserved sequences may be associated with the ATP‐dependent translocation of DNA that precedes restriction. We also present hsdM and hsdR sequences for EcoE, a member of the same family as EcoA. The sequences of the M and R genes of EcoA and EcoE are at least as divergent as typical genes from Escherichia coli and Salmonella, perhaps as the result of selection favouring diversity of restriction specificities combined with lateral transfer among different species.
Reliability analysis of substations with automatic modelling of switching operations

This paper reviews some of the problems related to the evaluation of substation and switching station reliability and introduces an improved computing method. In particular, it describes a computer program which, from basic data only, classifies all momentary interruptions according to the time of switching required to restore service. The method is based on a Failure Mode and Effect Analysis and is illustrated by the analysis of a practical substation configuration.
Analysis of novel over‐ and under‐sulfated glycosaminoglycan sequences by enzyme cleavage and multiple stage MS

We report on a novel strategy for identification of specific sulfation motifs in chondroitin/dermatan sulfate (CS/DS) chain derived from decorin (Dcn), based on enzyme cleavage and multistage MS (MSn). Released CS/DS chains were digested with chondroitin B and in parallel with AC I lyases to obtain oligosaccharides of known hexuronic acid (HexA) epimerization. The depolymerized chains were separated by gel filtration, and collected di‐ and hexasaccharides were analyzed by ESI MSn. MS2 on bisulfated 4,5‐Δ‐HexAGalNAc revealed an additional sulfate ester group at 4,5‐Δ‐HexA. MS2 data provided evidence upon GlcA sulfation in Dcn due to the fact that 4,5‐Δ‐HexA derived from GlcA after chondroitin AC I lyase treatment. Hexasaccharide screening in the MS1 mode indicated direct correlation between the sulfate distribution and HexA epimerization. MSn performed on ions that, according to mass calculation, correspond to pentasulfated [4,5‐Δ‐HexAGalNAc(GlcAGalNAc)2], trisulfated [4,5‐Δ‐HexAGalNAc(GlcAGalNAc)2] with IdoA‐derived 4,5‐Δ‐HexA at the nonreducing end, tetrasulfated [4,5‐Δ‐HexAGalNAc(IdoAGalNAc)2] and monosulfated [4,5‐Δ‐HexAGalNAc(IdoAGalNAc)2] with GlcA‐derived 4,5‐Δ‐HexA at the nonreducing end rendered fragmentation patterns confirming the presence of over‐, regular, and under‐sulfated regions as well as structural motifs having both types of HexA sulfated within Dcn CS/DS.
Role of re-growth interface preparation process for spectral line-width reduction of single InAs site-controlled quantum dots

We present growth and optical characterization measurements of single InAs site-controlled quantum dots (SCQDs) grown by molecular beam epitaxy on GaAs (001) patterned substrates by atomic force microscopy oxidation lithography. InAs SCQDs directly grown on the patterned surface were used as a seed layer and strain template for the nucleation of optically active single InAs SCQDs. The preservation of the initial geometry of the engraved pattern motifs after the re-growth interface preparation process, the lack of buffer layer growth prior to InAs seed layer deposition and the development of suitable growth conditions provide us an improvement of the SCQDs’ active layer optical properties while retaining a high ratio of single occupation (89%). In this work a fivefold reduction of the average optical line-width from 870 μeV to 156 μeV for InAs SCQDs located 15 nm from the re-growth interface is obtained by increasing the temperature of the initial thermal treatment step of the re-growth interface from 490 °C to 530 °C.
A perspective on quantum integrability in many-body-localized and Yang–Baxter systems

Two of the most active areas in quantum many-particle dynamics involve systems with an unusually large number of conservation laws. Many-body-localized systems generalize ideas of Anderson localization by disorder to interacting systems. While localization still exists with interactions and inhibits thermalization, the interactions between conserved quantities lead to some dramatic differences from the Anderson case. Quantum integrable models such as the XXZ spin chain or Bose gas with delta-function interactions also have infinite sets of conservation laws, again leading to modifications of conventional thermalization. A practical way to treat the hydrodynamic evolution from local equilibrium to global equilibrium in such models is discussed. This paper expands upon a presentation at a discussion meeting of the Royal Society on 7 February 2017. The work described was carried out with a number of collaborators, including Jens Bardarson, Vir Bulchandani, Roni Ilan, Christoph Karrasch, Siddharth Parameswaran, Frank Pollmann and Romain Vasseur. This article is part of the themed issue ‘Breakdown of ergodicity in quantum systems: from solids to synthetic matter’.
Glioblastoma multiforme: its treatment and some factors effecting survival.

AS WE have reviewed our cases of glioblastoma multiforme of the cerebral hemispheres, it has become obvious that some of our patients live longer and in much better condition than had been anticipated. Some of these patients have lived much longer, ie, six, seven, eight or more years, and have lived active useful lives. Some are, of course, still alive. Whether they have been cured of their brain tumor cannot yet be said; but it does seem that, if we can determine why these particular patients did better than others and better than was expected, it might be possible to obtain superior results in more cases. We have studied a number of factors that we thought were related to the long survival of these patients with glioblastoma multiforme. We have included such variables as the gross structure, the location, and the histology of the tumors. Also, the correlation between young
Design and pharmacological characterization of VUF14480, a covalent partial agonist that interacts with cysteine 983.36 of the human histamine H4 receptor

The recently proposed binding mode of 2‐aminopyrimidines to the human (h) histamine H4 receptor suggests that the 2‐amino group of these ligands interacts with glutamic acid residue E1825.46 in the transmembrane (TM) helix 5 of this receptor. Interestingly, substituents at the 2‐position of this pyrimidine are also in close proximity to the cysteine residue C983.36 in TM3. We hypothesized that an ethenyl group at this position will form a covalent bond with C983.36 by functioning as a Michael acceptor. A covalent pyrimidine analogue will not only prove this proposed binding mode, but will also provide a valuable tool for H4 receptor research.
Social Support and Anxiety in Pregnant and Postpartum Women

The purpose of study was to examine relationships between social support and anxiety in pregnant and postpartum women. Hypotheses were that there will be an inverse relationship between social support and anxiety in pregnancy and the postpartum. The sample consisted of 177 women. The Personal Resource Questionnaire (PRQ) 85—Part 2 and the State Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) were used. The STAI demonstrated coefficient alphas from 0.90 to 0.93; 0.87 and 0.93 for the PRQ. All five hypotheses were supported—social support and state anxiety in pregnancy (r = −.308, p = .000) and trait anxiety (r = −.420, p = .000) and postpartum (r = −.497, p = .000) and social support and state anxiety in the postpartum (r = −.375, p = .000) and trait anxiety (r = −.276, p = .013). Findings are relevant to advance nursing theory, science, and practice. Nurses must understand these complex processes to effectively intervene.
Extraction d'arguments de relations n-aires dans les textes guidée par une RTO de domaine. (Extraction of arguments in N-ary relations in texts guided by a domain OTR)

Aujourd'hui, la communaute scientifique a l'opportunite de partager des connaissances et d'acceder a de nouvelles informations a travers les documents publies et stockes dans les bases en ligne du web. Dans ce contexte, la valorisation des donnees disponibles reste un defi majeur pour permettre aux experts de les reutiliser et les analyser afin de produire de la connaissance du domaine. Pour etre valorisees, les donnees pertinentes doivent etre extraites des documents puis structurees. Nos travaux s'inscrivent dans la problematique de la capitalisation des donnees experimentales issues des articles scientifiques, selectionnes dans des bases en ligne, afin de les reutiliser dans des outils d'aide a la decision. Les mesures experimentales (par exemple, la permeabilite a l'oxygene d'un emballage ou le broyage d'une biomasse) realisees sur differents objets d'etudes (par exemple, emballage ou procede de bioraffinerie) sont representees sous forme de relations n-aires dans une Ressource Termino-Ontologique (RTO). La RTO est modelisee pour representer les relations n-aires en associant une partie terminologique et/ou linguistique aux ontologies afin d'etablir une distinction claire entre la manifestation linguistique (le terme) et la notion qu'elle denote (le concept). La these a pour objectif de proposer une contribution methodologique d'extraction automatique ou semi-automatique d'arguments de relations n-aires provenant de documents textuels afin de peupler la RTO avec de nouvelles instances. Les methodologies proposees exploitent et adaptent conjointement des approches de Traitement automatique de la Langue (TAL) et de fouille de donnees, le tout s'appuyant sur le support semantique apporte par la RTO de domaine. De maniere precise, nous cherchons, dans un premier temps, a extraire des termes, denotant les concepts d'unites de mesure, reputes difficiles a identifier du fait de leur forte variation typographique dans les textes. Apres la localisation de ces derniers par des methodes de classification automatique, les variants d'unites sont identifies en utilisant des mesures d'edition originales. La seconde contribution methodologique de nos travaux repose sur l'adaptation et la combinaison de methodes de fouille de donnees (extraction de motifs et regles sequentiels) et d'analyse syntaxique pour identifier les instances d'arguments de la relation n-aire recherchee.