Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Evaluation of the Fish Invasiveness Screening Kit (FISK v2) for peninsular Florida

The Fish Invasiveness Screening Kit (FISK) is becoming a popular tool for rapid risk identification of freshwater fishes, with published applications now spanning the globe. Upgrades (i.e., FISK v2) were completed recently to ensure the incorporation of broader climatic zones for its application to the sub-tropical climate of peninsular Florida. The goal of the present study was to evaluate the ability of FISK v2 to identify the potential risk of non-native fishes being invasive in peninsular Florida. The 95 fishes selected for screening were assigned an independent invasiveness ranking using information provided by FishBase and the Invasive Species Specialist Group database. Risk screenings using FISK v2 were then completed separately and independently by five assessors resulting in one to five screenings per taxon. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis identified a mean threshold value of 10.25 to distinguish between invasive fishes and noninvasive fishes, which, when compared to the independent invasiveness standard, correctly classified 76% of invasive fishes and 88% of noninvasive fishes. This threshold value was considerably lower than many other published calibrations of FISK, emphasizing the importance of regionally focused risk screening. Further supporting these results, 18 (72%) of the high risk species are either established in Florida or have elevated regulatory status by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. Overall, FISK v2 has proved that it would be a valuable tool for informing management decisions related to the risks of non-native freshwater fishes.
Fluorodopa Positron Emission Tomography with an Inhibitor of Catechol-O-Methyltransferase: Effect of the Plasma 3-O-Methyldopa Fraction on Data Analysis

Fluorodopa (FDOPA) is an analogue of L-dihydroxyphenylalanine (L-dopa) used to assess the nigrostriatal dopamine system in vivo with positron emission tomography (PET). However, FDOPA/PET quantitation is complicated by the presence of the 3-O-methyl-FDOPA (30MFD) fraction in brain and plasma. Pretreatment with entacapone (OR-611), a peripheral catechol O-methyltransferase (COMT) inhibitor, greatly reduces the plasma 30MFD fraction and provides an ideal situation to evaluate the contribution of the plasma 30MFD fraction in several kinetic models of FDOPA uptake. We performed FDOPA/PET with and without the OR-611 preadministration in six Parkinson's disease (PD) patients. We measured the time-course of the plasma FDOPA and 30MFD fractions using high-pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC). We calculated striato-occipital ratios (SOR), and estimated the striatal FDOPA uptake rate constant graphically using the plasma FDOPA and occipital tissue time activity curves (KiFD and KiOCC, respectively). We also estimated striatal dopa decarboxylase (DDC) activity (k3D) using a model incorporating independent measurements of 30MFD transport kinetic rate constants. With the preadministration of OR-611, the pharmacological efficiency in plasma was prolonged significantly (21.1–37.7%; p < 0.01). We also observed significant mean elevations in SOR and KiOCC by 21.8 and 53.5%, respectively (p < 0.05). KiFD and k3D did not show significant change. We conclude that OR-611 prolongs the circulation time of FDOPA in the plasma but does not alter rate constants for striatal FDOPA uptake or decarboxylation.
Multiple signaling pathways contribute to synergistic TLR ligand‐dependent cytokine gene expression in human monocyte‐derived macrophages and dendritic cells

TLRs are innate immune receptors that recognize pathogen‐associated structures. Binding of ligands to different TLRs can induce the production of proinflammatory cytokines in a synergistic manner. We have analyzed the molecular mechanisms of synergy in TLR ligand‐stimulated human monocyte‐derived macrophages and dendritic cells (moDCs). Stimulation of moDCs with the TLR8 ligand together with the TLR3 or TLR4 ligand led to synergistic IL‐6, IL‐10, IL‐12, and TNF‐α mRNA expression and cytokine production. DNA‐binding assays showed that TLR3 and TLR8 stimulation induced binding of multiple IFN regulatory factor (IRF) and STAT transcription factors to the IL‐12p35 gene promoter IFN‐stimulated response element in moDCs and macrophages but with different binding profiles and kinetics. We also demonstrate that NF‐κB, MAPKs and PI‐3K pathways have an important role in TLR‐induced cytokine gene expression, as pharmacological inhibitors of these signaling pathways inhibited TLR3, TLR4, and TLR8 ligand‐induced cytokine mRNA expression and protein production. Especially, synergistic IL‐12p70 production was abolished completely in NF‐κB, MAPK p38, and PI‐3K inhibitor‐treated moDCs. Our data suggest that TLR‐dependent, synergistic cytokine gene expression results from enhanced activation and cooperation among NF‐κB, IRF, MAPK, PI‐3K, and STAT signaling pathways.
Untangling the Appraisal-Emotion Connection

This article aims to clarify the nature of the relation between cognitive appraisal and emotion. I distinguish a range of alternative possible hypotheses according to whether this appraisal—emotion connection is assumed to operate at the conceptual or empirical level, whether it is supposed to be a descriptive or causal relation, and whether it is seen as having a contingent or necessary basis. Reviewing the varieties of available evidence for connections at different levels, I find little support for empirical rather than conceptual relations or for necessary as opposed to contingent ones. Ways are suggested in which this evidence might be extended so that more substantive conclusions are possible. I contend that future progress in this research area requires tighter specification of the different kinds of appraisal process that operate during real-time emotional episodes and of their potential interactions with other aspects of the unfolding emotional syndrome. Finally, I develop an alternative perspective on appraisal—emotion relations that views appraisals as representing the message value of interpersonally directed emotions, and I suggest future directions for research based on this approach.
Image Model, Poisson Distribution and Object Extraction

The theory of formation of an ideal image has been described which shows that the gray level in an image follows the Poisson distribution. Based on this concept, various algorithms for object background classification have been developed. Proposed algorithms involve either the maximum entropy principle or the minimum χ2 statistic. The appropriateness of the Poisson distribution is further strengthened by comparing the results with those of similar algorithms which use conventional normal distribution. A set of images with various types of histograms has been considered here as the test data.
A Framework for Understanding and Analysing eBusiness Models

As the evolution of e-business technology has passed from the early phase of hype and innovation to the mature phase of adoption and use, the research interest of both the academic and business communities is shifting to investigating opportunities for market exploitation of e-business technologies. As a result, the debates around established ebusiness models, as well as the way to achieve business model innovation, are ever increasing. However, while many researchers and practitioners are contemplating business models, there is a distinct lack of appropriate theoretical tools in the literature to structure and codify the extant knowledge in the area. The existing research contributions are featured by a great degree of diversity, which is due to the existence of Adamantia G. Pateli, George M. Giaglis a variety of reasons and motives for making research on business models. Thus, some researchers try to define business models, others to specify their primary elements, while others have proceeded further to introduce methodologies for developing, changing, or assessing business models. In this paper, we draw on a great number of research contributions in the field of e-business models to propose a framework that further decomposes the research area of Business Models into specific research sub-domains. The proposed framework is then applied to organise and review existing research contributions under each sub-domain.
Air: an effective indicator of intravenously located epidural catheters.

The authors conducted a two-part study to evaluate the efficacy of 1 ml of air as a "test dose" for detection of intravenously located epidural catheters. In part 1, a Doppler fetal heart rate monitoring probe was placed over the precordium of 33 laboring patients in whom functioning epidural catheters were in place. Each patient received, more than 90 s apart, in random order: 10 ml of agitated saline (containing less than 0.5 ml of air microbubbles) via a peripheral vein; 2 ml of air via the epidural catheter; and a sham injection (i.e., nothing injected). In all 33 cases, a blinded observer identified Doppler changes 10-30 s following the injection of air (microbubbles) via peripheral vein. Doppler changes were never heard following epidural air injection (P less than 0.001 compared with iv air microbubble injection) or the sham injection (P less than 0.001 compared with iv air microbubble injection). In part 2, the authors listened for Doppler heart tone changes while injecting 1 ml of air via catheters that were accidentally inserted in the epidural veins of five other patients. Unequivocal Doppler changes compatible with intracardiac air always occurred within 3 s, and no signs or symptoms of air embolism developed. The results suggest that 1 ml of air may be a suitable indicator of iv epidural catheter location.
DNA and its synthesis in individual tumor cells from human upper respiratory tract squamous cell carcinomas

Measurements of cytophotometric Feulgen DNA content and incorporation of 2H‐thymidine were made in individual tumor cells from 58 patients with squamous cell carcinomas of the head‐neck region. These measurements were correlated with a point ranking system for pathological grading for these types of tumors. Two of the parameters of the grading system, mode of invasion and nuclear polymorphism which had been found to be important factors in prognosis in clinical studies were correlated to the objective cellular DNA measurements.
Significance and impact of bisphosphonate-induced acute phase responses

Background: Bisphosphonates are synthetic analogs of inorganic pyrophosphates with high avidity for bone, where they bind to hydroxyapatite crystals. Bisphosphonates are effective in decreasing bone resorption, the incidence of skeletal-related events, and pain from bone metastases. These agents have recently become incorporated into the treatment regimen of patients with osteolytic and osteoblastic metastatic bone disease. Although relatively well tolerated, the initial dose(s) of intravenous aminobisphosphonates can be associated with an acute phase response, a nonspecific physiologic reaction associated with increased levels of inflammatory cytokines, fever, and flu like symptoms including fatigue, nausea, and myalgia. Objective: The purpose of this article is to provide an updated review of the literature in this field. Data Sources: A search of PubMed was performed using the key terms bisphosphonate, acute phase response, and cancer, and limited to publications in English. The published literature on acute phase response with bisphosphonate therapy was reviewed. Results and Conclusions: Approximately 40% of patients receiving aminobisphosphonates experience an acute phase response, which generally occurs only on first exposure to the drug and typically last <72 h. Not all bisphosphonates induce acute phase responses to the same extent. This article reviews acute phase response in patients with metastatic bone disease treated with aminobisphosphonates. J Oncol Pharm Practice (2007) 13: 223—229.
High glucose facilitated endothelial heparanase transfer to the cardiomyocyte modifies its cell death signature.

AIMS The secretion of enzymatically active heparanase (HepA) has been implicated as an essential metabolic adaptation in the heart following diabetes. However, the regulation and function of the enzymatically inactive heparanase (HepL) remain poorly understood. We hypothesized that in response to high glucose (HG) and secretion of HepL from the endothelial cell (EC), HepL uptake and function can protect the cardiomyocyte by modifying its cell death signature. METHODS AND RESULTS HG promoted both HepL and HepA secretion from microvascular (rat heart micro vessel endothelial cells, RHMEC) and macrovascular (rat aortic endothelial cells, RAOEC) EC. However, only RAOEC were capable of HepL reuptake. This occurred through a low-density lipoprotein receptor-related protein 1 (LRP1) dependent mechanism, as LRP1 inhibition using small interfering RNA (siRNA), receptor-associated protein, or an LRP1 neutralizing antibody significantly reduced uptake. In cardiomyocytes, which have a negligible amount of heparanase gene expression, LRP1 also participated in the uptake of HepL. Exogenous addition of HepL to rat cardiomyocytes produced a dramatically altered expression of apoptosis-related genes, and protection against HG and H2O2 induced cell death. Cardiomyocytes from acutely diabetic rats demonstrated a robust increase in LRP1 expression and levels of heparanase, a pro-survival gene signature, and limited evidence of cell death, observations that were not apparent following chronic and progressive diabetes. CONCLUSION Our results highlight EC-to-cardiomyocyte transfer of heparanase to modulate the cardiomyocyte cell death signature. This mechanism was observed in the acutely diabetic heart, and its interruption following chronic diabetes may contribute towards the development of diabetic cardiomyopathy.
New Complexity in Differentiating Stem Cells Toward Hepatic and Pancreatic Fates

Programming of the liver and pancreas is controlled by a dynamic, temporally coordinated signaling network. The differentiation of hepatic and pancreatic progenitor cells during embryogenesis is determined by inductive factors secreted by neighboring cells. These factors stimulate and repress the expression of key regulatory genes in progenitor cells, thereby establishing unique genetic programs that determine cell fate. The signaling network that controls liver and pancreas development is highly dynamic with respect to both concentration and timing of exposure to several key inductive factors. Not only do large changes occur within short time frames, multiple signaling pathways also converge on the same target genes. Given the intense effort under way to generate certain differentiated cell types from both embryonic and induced pluripotent stem cells, greater understanding of how different inductive signals interact with each other may be essential for the eventual success of such efforts.
Ultrasound assessment of severe dehydration in children with diarrhea and vomiting.

OBJECTIVES The objective of this study was to determine the test characteristics for two different ultrasound (US) measures of severe dehydration in children (aorta to inferior vena cava [IVC] ratio and IVC inspiratory collapse) and one clinical measure of severe dehydration (the World Health Organization [WHO] dehydration scale). METHODS The authors enrolled a prospective cohort of children presenting with diarrhea and/or vomiting to three rural Rwandan hospitals. Children were assessed clinically using the WHO scale and then underwent US of the IVC by a second clinician. All children were weighed on admission and then fluid-resuscitated according to standard hospital protocols. A percent weight change between admission and discharge of greater than 10% was considered the criterion standard for severe dehydration. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were created for each of the three tests of severe dehydration compared to the criterion standard. RESULTS Children ranged in age from 1 month to 10 years; 29% of the children had severe dehydration according to the criterion standard. Of the three different measures of dehydration tested, only US assessment of the aorta/IVC ratio had an area under the ROC curve statistically different from the reference line. At its best cut-point, the aorta/IVC ratio had a sensitivity of 93% and specificity of 59%, compared with 93% and 35% for IVC inspiratory collapse and 73% and 43% for the WHO scale. CONCLUSIONS Ultrasound of the aorta/IVC ratio can be used to identify severe dehydration in children presenting with acute diarrhea and may be helpful in guiding clinical management.
A high datarate wideband OOK transmitter for wireless neural signal recording

A gated injection locked wideband OOK transmitter for wireless neural signal recording is presented in this paper. For high data rate implantable devices such as wireless neural signal recording system, there is a tradeoff between transmission efficiency and overall form factor of the device. Higher transmission frequency reduces the antenna size and thus reduces the device form factor. However, higher frequency especially above 1 GHz experiences severe tissue loss. A high data rate 434 MHz OOK transmitter that optimally balances between these two factors is implemented in a 0.18-μm CMOS technology. It achieves a maximum data rate of 54.24 Mbps while consuming 5 mW from a 1.8-V supply, resulting in high energy efficiency of 92 pj/bit.
Adaptive Blind Signal and Image Processing - Learning Algorithms and Applications

From the Publisher: With solid theoretical foundations and numerous potential applications, Blind Signal Processing (BSP) is one of the hottest emerging areas in Signal Processing. This volume unifies and extends the theories of adaptive blind signal and image processing and provides practical and efficient algorithms for blind source separation, Independent, Principal, Minor Component Analysis, and Multichannel Blind Deconvolution (MBD) and Equalization. Containing over 1400 references and mathematical expressions Adaptive Blind Signal and Image Processing delivers an unprecedented collection of useful techniques for adaptive blind signal/image separation, extraction, decomposition and filtering of multi-variable signals and data. Offers a broad coverage of blind signal processing techniques and algorithms both from a theoretical and practical point of viewPresents more than 50 simple algorithms that can be easily modified to suit the reader's specific real world problemsProvides a guide to fundamental mathematics of multi-input, multi-output and multi-sensory systemsIncludes illustrative worked examples, computer simulations, tables, detailed graphs and conceptual models within self contained chapters to assist self studyAccompanying CD-ROM features an electronic, interactive version of the book with fully coloured figures and text. C and MATLAB user-friendly software packages are also provided MATLAB is a registered trademark of The MathWorks, Inc. By providing a detailed introduction to BSP, as well as presenting new results and recent developments, this informative and inspiring work will appeal to researchers, postgraduate students, engineers and scientists working in biomedical engineering, communications, electronics, computer science, optimisations, finance, geophysics and neural networks.
Resource-Efficient SRAM-Based Ternary Content Addressable Memory

Static random access memory (SRAM)-based ternary content addressable memory (TCAM) offers TCAM functionality by emulating it with SRAM. However, this emulation suffers from reduced memory efficiency while mapping the TCAM table on SRAM units. This is due to the limited capacity of the physical addresses in the SRAM unit. This brief offers a novel memory architecture called a resource-efficient SRAM-based TCAM (REST), which emulates TCAM functionality using optimal resources. The SRAM unit is divided into multiple virtual blocks to store the address information presented in the TCAM table. This approach virtually increases the overall address space of the SRAM unit, mapping a greater portion of the TCAM table in SRAM and increasing the overall emulated TCAM bits/SRAM at the cost of reduced throughput. A $72 \times 28$ -bit REST consumes only one 36-kbit SRAM and a few distributed RAMs via implementation on a Xilinx Kintex-7 field-programmable gate array. It uses only 3.5% of the memory resources compared with a conventional SRAM-based TCAM (hybrid-partitioned TCAM).
The Salmonella SPI1 effector SopB stimulates nitric oxide production long after invasion

The ability of Salmonella enterica to invade and replicate within host cells depends on two type III secretion systems (TTSSs) encoded on pathogenicity islands 1 and 2 (SPI1 and SPI2). The current paradigm holds that these systems translocate two classes of effectors that operate sequentially and independently. In essence, the SPI1 TTSS mediates early events (i.e. invasion) whereas the SPI2 TTSS mediates post‐invasion processes (i.e. replication, vacuole maturation). Contrary to this model, we have found in infected macrophages that a SPI1 effector, SopB/SigD, increased inducible nitric oxide synthase levels and nitric oxide production, host cell process previously known only to be a target of the SPI2 TTSS. Furthermore, SopB protein and message persist many hours after invasion. Our findings reveal an unanticipated potential for dialogue between the SPI1 and SPI2 TTSS and the host cell response.
New simple tests for age‐at‐onset anticipation: Application to panic disorder

Recently, testing for anticipation has received renewed interest. It is well known that standard statistical methods are inappropriate for this purpose due to problems of sampling bias. Few statistical tests have been proposed for comparing mean age of onset in affected parents with mean age of onset in affected children. All of them are difficult to compute and lack software to perform the tests. In this report, we formulate the problem in terms of symmetry tests. We propose a simple generalized paired t‐test and a Wilcoxon signed rank test to adjust for the bias caused by the right truncation of both the parent's and child's ages at onset. We also extend the generalized paired t‐test to a random effects model that enables analysis of correlated data from nuclear families, and could be further extended to larger family structures. We illustrate the approaches with an example of panic disorder. Genet. Epidemiol. © 2005 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.