Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
An Overview of Cardiac Computed Tomography in Adults With Congenital Heart Disease

Familiarity with congenital heart disease (CHD) and its manifestations in adults is becoming increasingly important for the practicing cardiothoracic imager. The use of computed tomographic angiography is becoming commonplace not only in adults with a history and subsequent interventions for CHD as a child but also in de novo detection of—typically—milder, survivable forms of CHD, which are clinically suspected because of declining cardiac performance, cardiac events, or murmurs. Occasionally, adult CHD (ACHD) is found incidentally on scans performed for other indications (eg, trauma or neoplasm staging) because of improvements in computed tomographic technology and advanced visualization. A growing number of patients with CHD survive into adulthood and lead essentially normal lives all over the world and may present in community hospitals and emergency rooms to receive care. Advancements in computed tomographic angiography technology have further allowed us to individually tailor cardiovascular scans according to the patient’s anatomy and specifically for the clinical question raised, aiming at reduced exposure to iodinated contrast and radiation dose, while obtaining diagnostic-quality images. This task, however, is not simple. There is no one-size-fits-all cardiac scan that serves as a one-stop shop for ACHD patients. Careful planning and patient preparation, close supervision of the scan, sophisticated postprocessing, and interdisciplinary interpretation of the findings are all required ingredients for managing patients with ACHD. In this review we highlight the technical principles that should be observed to optimize imaging in ACHD. We also provide practical insight into how specific clinical questions can be answered utilizing this technology in the most frequently encountered forms of ACHD.
Notice of RetractionThe effects of knowledge attributes and knowledge management practices on firm capabilities

A number of studies have addressed the critical role of knowledge and its impacts on business organizations. This research explores the effects of knowledge attributes on knowledge management practices and along with their impacts on firm capabilities. The proposed path analytical model is tested using structural equation modeling. Results provide robust support for the notion that there are positive relationships among knowledge attributes, knowledge management practices, and firm capabilities.
The impact of making music on aural perception and language skills: A research synthesis

This paper provides a synthesis of research on the relationship between music and language, drawing on evidence from neuroscience, psychology, sociology and education. It sets out why it has become necessary to justify the role of music in the school curriculum and summarizes the different methodologies adopted by researchers in the field. It considers research exploring the way that music and language are processed, including differences and commonalities; addresses the relative importance of genetics versus length of time committed to, and spent, making music; discusses theories of modularity and sensitive periods; sets out the OPERA hypothesis; critically evaluates research comparing musicians with non-musicians; and presents detailed accounts of intervention studies with children and those from deprived backgrounds, taking account of the importance of the nature of the musical training. It concludes that making music has a major impact on the development of language skills.
Residential roof condition assessment system using deep learning

Abstract. The emergence of high resolution (HR) and ultra high resolution (UHR) airborne remote sensing imagery is enabling humans to move beyond traditional land cover analysis applications to the detailed characterization of surface objects. A residential roof condition assessment method using techniques from deep learning is presented. The proposed method operates on individual roofs and divides the task into two stages: (1) roof segmentation, followed by (2) condition classification of the segmented roof regions. As the first step in this process, a self-tuning method is proposed to segment the images into small homogeneous areas. The segmentation is initialized with simple linear iterative clustering followed by deep learned feature extraction and region merging, with the optimal result selected by an unsupervised index, Q. After the segmentation, a pretrained residual network is fine-tuned on the augmented roof segments using a proposed k-pixel extension technique for classification. The effectiveness of the proposed algorithm was demonstrated on both HR and UHR imagery collected by EagleView over different study sites. The proposed algorithm has yielded promising results and has outperformed traditional machine learning methods using hand-crafted features.
PART 1 OF 2 Preventing infection after cesarean delivery : Evidence-based guidance

monly performed major operation in hospitals across the United States. Approximately 30% of the 4 million deliveries that occur each year are by cesarean. Endo‐ metritis and wound infection (superficial and deep surgical site infection) are the most common postoperative complications of cesarean delivery. These 2 infections usu‐ ally can be treated in a straightforward man‐ ner with antibiotics or surgical drainage. In some cases, however, they can lead to seri‐ ous sequelae, such as pelvic abscess, septic pelvic vein thrombophlebitis, and wound dehiscence/evisceration, thereby prolonging the patient’s hospitalization and significantly increasing medical expenses. Accordingly, in the past 50 years many investigators have proposed various specific measures to reduce the risk of postcesarean infection. In this article, we critically evalu‐ ate 2 of these major interventions: meth‐ ods of skin preparation and administration of prophylactic antibiotics. In part 2 of this series next month, we will review the evi‐ dence regarding preoperative bathing with an antiseptic, preoperative vaginal cleansing with an antiseptic solution, methods of pla‐ cental extraction, closure of the deep subcu‐ taneous layer of the abdomen, and closure of the skin.
Interpolation filters for 2-D hexagonally sampled signals

This paper deals with the design of interpolation filters for 2-D hexagonally sampled signals using multidimensional antimetric wave digital filters. Theoretically there are two essential schemes for the interpolation of hexagonally sampled signals, i.e. interpolations by factor 3 and by factor 4. We show that by exploiting some symmetry properties of the amplitude response, multidimensional antimetric filters are suitable for the design of interpolation filters in both cases. In particular, very efficient design can be obtained for the case of interpolation by factor 4, for which very low hardware cost is required for achieving satisfactory amplitude responses. The paper also compares the behaviours of the designed interpolation filters with those of circularly symmetric filters realized by cascading some antimetric filters. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
In situ characterization of direction-dependent cure-induced shrinkage in thermoset composite laminates with fiber-optic sensors embedded in through-thickness and in-plane directions

This study develops a fiber-optic-based technique for in situ characterization of direction-dependent cure-induced shrinkage in thermoset fiber-reinforced composites. A procedure is established to embed fiber Bragg grating (FBG) sensors in composite out-of-plane directions and to measure key through-thickness chemical cure shrinkage directly under practical curing conditions. First, sensitivity of the proposed method is evaluated through comparison with a standard technique (i.e. thermo-mechanical analysis (TMA)), and the effect of sensor tail length on measurement sensitivity is discussed considering shear-lag effect. Next, combined with double-sided vacuum bagging and demolding during curing, FBG sensors embedded in through-thickness and in-plane directions clarify direction-dependent cure-induced shrinkage in autoclaved unidirectional carbon/epoxy. Finally, the feasibility of characterizing through-thickness shear strain, which is important in complex-shaped parts but cannot be measured using conventional techniques, is confirmed. The developed technique will be a powerful tool for evaluating cure shrinkage in complex-shaped parts and for validating process-simulation tools based on internal strain.
The solution of euclidean norm trust region SQP subproblems via second-order cone programs: an overview and elementary introduction

It is well known that convex sequential quadratic programming (SQP) subproblems with an Euclidean norm trust region constraint can be reduced to second-order cone programs for which the theory of Euclidean Jordan algebras leads to efficient interior-point algorithms. Here, a brief and self-contained outline of the principles of such an implementation is given and the application to SQP subproblems as well as to cubic regularization problems is discussed. All identities relevant for the implementation are derived from scratch and are compared to interior-point methods for linear programs (LPs). Sparsity of the data of the SQP subproblem can be maintained essentially in the same way as for interior-point methods for LPs. The presentation is intended as an introduction for students and for colleagues who may have heard about Jordan algebras but did not yet find the time to get involved with them. A simple Matlab implementation is made available and the discussion of implementational aspects addresses a scaling property that is critical for SQP subproblems.
Porcine Endogenous Retrovirus (PERV) – Molecular Structure and Replication Strategy in the Context of Retroviral Infection Risk of Human Cells

The xenotransplantation of porcine tissues may help overcome the shortage of human organs for transplantation. However, there are some concerns about recipient safety because the risk of porcine endogenous retrovirus (PERV) transmission to human cells remains unknown. Although, to date, no PERV infections have been noted in vivo, the possibility of such infections has been confirmed in vitro. Better understanding of the structure and replication cycle of PERVs is a prerequisite for determining the risk of infection and planning PERV-detection strategies. This review presents the current state of knowledge about the structure and replication cycle of PERVs in the context of retroviral infection risk.
Alpha-v–containing integrins are host receptors for the Plasmodium falciparum sporozoite surface protein, TRAP

Significance Malaria is caused by a parasite that is deposited in the skin through the bite of an infected mosquito. From the skin, parasites navigate through host tissues where they must locate and invade liver cells. We know that a parasite surface protein called TRAP is important for this process, making it a leading vaccine candidate. TRAP is thought to work by specifically binding a defined host cell surface protein, but its identity has remained a long-standing mystery. Our research has identified an integrin—a class of host cell surface proteins—as a TRAP receptor. This finding provides an important piece of the puzzle relating to TRAP function and may help improve the development of an effective malaria vaccine. Malaria-causing Plasmodium sporozoites are deposited in the dermis by the bite of an infected mosquito and move by gliding motility to the liver where they invade and develop within host hepatocytes. Although extracellular interactions between Plasmodium sporozoite ligands and host receptors provide important guidance cues for productive infection and are good vaccine targets, these interactions remain largely uncharacterized. Thrombospondin-related anonymous protein (TRAP) is a parasite cell surface ligand that is essential for both gliding motility and invasion because it couples the extracellular binding of host receptors to the parasite cytoplasmic actinomyosin motor; however, the molecular nature of the host TRAP receptors is poorly defined. Here, we use a systematic extracellular protein interaction screening approach to identify the integrin αvβ3 as a directly interacting host receptor for Plasmodium falciparum TRAP. Biochemical characterization of the interaction suggests a two-site binding model, requiring contributions from both the von Willebrand factor A domain and the RGD motif of TRAP for integrin binding. We show that TRAP binding to cells is promoted in the presence of integrin-activating proadhesive Mn2+ ions, and that cells genetically targeted so that they lack cell surface expression of the integrin αv-subunit are no longer able to bind TRAP. P. falciparum sporozoites moved with greater speed in the dermis of Itgb3-deficient mice, suggesting that the interaction has a role in sporozoite migration. The identification of the integrin αvβ3 as the host receptor for TRAP provides an important demonstration of a sporozoite surface ligand that directly interacts with host receptors.
The Diseases of the Intestines, Their Special Pathology, Diagnosis, and Treatment

Thirteen hundred ninety-and-five pages, and large these pages; one hundred and ten illustrations ; thirteen pages? filled up, double-columned -? with the names only, of the authorities quoted in each of the two volumes; and all this with regard to intestinal diseases alone ! Shades of our ancestors ! From position of conduit, and from site of compassion, the bowel has been raised so high as to be second to no other organ in point of interest felt in, and attention paid to it, in the body. Thirteen hundred ninety-and-five pages, and large pages, devoted to the bowel; and exclusive of surgical details, except so far as the physician has to do with the surgeon. A few years ago, enteritis, flatulent colic, obstructions, hernia, typhoid, dysentery, perityphlitis, and rectal ailments, constituted almost all the conditions recognised as being connected with the bowel. Now the list of newly specified lesions, each with a special name, each name more dissonant than the
Relevance of Detail in Basal Topography for Basal Slipperiness Inversions: A Case Study on Pine Island Glacier, Antarctica

Given high-resolution satellite-derived surface elevation and velocity data, ice-sheet models generally estimate mechanical basal boundary conditions using surface-to-bed inversion methods. In this work, we address the sensitivity of results from inversion methods to the accuracy of the bed elevation data on Pine Island Glacier. We show that misfit between observations and model output is reduced when high-resolution bed topography is used in the inverse model. By looking at results with a range of detail included in the bed elevation, we consider the separation of basal drag due to the bed topography (form drag) and that due to inherent bed properties (skin drag). The mean value of basal shear stress is reduced when more detailed topography is included in the model. This suggests that without a fully resolved bed a significant amount of the basal shear stress recovered from inversion methods may be due to the unresolved bed topography. However, the spatial structure of the retrieved fields is robust as the bed accuracy is varied; the fields are instead sensitive to the degree of regularisation applied to the inversion. While the implications for the future temporal evolution of PIG are not quantified here directly, our work raises the possibility that skin drag may be overestimated in the current generation of numerical ice-sheet models of this area. These shortcomings could be overcome by inverting simultaneously for both bed topography and basal slipperiness.
The vagal ganglia transcriptome identifies candidate therapeutics for airway hyperreactivity

Mainstay therapeutics are ineffective in some people with asthma, suggesting a need for additional agents. In the current study, we used vagal ganglia transcriptome profiling and connectivity mapping to identify compounds beneficial for alleviating airway hyperreactivity (AHR). As a comparison, we also used previously published transcriptome data from sensitized mouse lungs and human asthmatic endobronchial biopsies. All transcriptomes revealed agents beneficial for mitigating AHR; however, only the vagal ganglia transcriptome identified agents used clinically to treat asthma (flunisolide, isoetarine). We also tested one compound identified by vagal ganglia transcriptome profiling that had not previously been linked to asthma and found that it had bronchodilator effects in both mouse and pig airways. These data suggest that transcriptome profiling of the vagal ganglia might be a novel strategy to identify potential asthma therapeutics.
Coadaptation of mitochondrial and nuclear genes, and the cost of mother's curse

Strict maternal inheritance renders the mitochondrial genome susceptible to accumulating mutations that harm males, but are otherwise benign or beneficial for females. This ‘mother's curse’ effect can degrade male survival and fertility if unopposed by counteracting evolutionary processes. Coadaptation between nuclear and mitochondrial genomes—with nuclear genes evolving to compensate for male-harming mitochondrial substitutions—may ultimately resolve mother's curse. However, males are still expected to incur a transient fitness cost during mito-nuclear coevolution, and it remains unclear how severe such costs should be. We present a population genetic analysis of mito-nuclear coadaptation to resolve mother's curse effects, and show that the magnitude of the ‘male mitochondrial load’—the negative impact of mitochondrial substitutions on male fitness components—may be large, even when genetic variation for compensatory evolution is abundant. We also find that the male load is surprisingly sensitive to population size: male fitness costs of mito-nuclear coevolution are particularly pronounced in both small and large populations, and minimized in populations of intermediate size. Our results reveal complex interactions between demography and genetic constraints during the resolution of mother's curse, suggesting potentially widespread species differences in susceptibility to mother's curse effects.
Recommendation system of Grants-in-Aid for researchers by using JSPS keyword

The grant for the research gives the researcher the important opportunity to make fruitful research results. Recently, the notification of the government grants and some Foundation grants in the various fields informs the researchers through Internet. However, the notification provided through Internet includes ambiguous and complex. The researchers will fail to notice the grant information which he/she should submit the application form. The department of research support at the university should avoid to miss the researcher's opportunity. The support staff classifies the notifications into some categories related to the research fields and provides to the researchers the application form best matched to the researcher's current research field. We have developed recommendation system of Grant-in-Aid system for researchers by using JSPS (Japan Society for the Promotion of Science) keywords. The system can determine some rules associated between the characteristic keywords extracted from the website and the keywords from the researcher's current research field. The system recommends to the researcher the best matched application form. The researcher can surely know the information without failing to notice it by using the developed system.
Incidence, Clinical Characteristics and Attributable Mortality of Persistent Bloodstream Infection in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit

Background An atypical pattern of neonatal sepsis, characterized by persistent positive blood culture despite effective antimicrobial therapy, has been correlated with adverse outcomes. However, previous studies focused only on coagulate-negative staphylococcus infection. Methods All episodes of persistent bloodstream infection (BSI), defined as 3 or more consecutive positive blood cultures with the same bacterial species, at least two of them 48 hours apart, during a single sepsis episode, were enrolled over an 8-year period in a tertiary level neonatal intensive care unit. These cases were compared with all non-persistent BSI during the same period. Results We identified 81 episodes of persistent BSI (8.5% of all neonatal late-onset sepsis) in 74 infants, caused by gram-positive pathogens (n=38, 46.9%), gram-negative pathogens (n=21, 25.9%), fungus (n=20, 24.7%) and polymicrobial bacteremia (n=2, 2.5%). Persistent BSI does not differ from non-persistent BSI in most clinical characteristics and patient demographics, but tends to have a prolonged septic course, longer duration of feeding intolerance and more frequent requirement of blood transfusions. No difference was observed for death attributable to infection (9.8% vs. 6.5%), but neonates with persistent BSI had significantly higher rates of infectious complications (29.6% vs. 9.2%, P < 0.001), death from all causes (21.6% vs. 11.7%, P = 0.025), and duration of hospitalization among survivors [median (interquartile range): 80.0 (52.5-117.5) vs. 64.0 (40.0-96.0) days, P = 0.005] than those without persistent BSI. Conclusions Although persistent BSI does not contribute directly to increased mortality, the associated morbidities, infectious complications and prolonged septic courses highlight the importance of aggressive treatment to optimize outcomes.
cAMP and Vfr Control Exolysin Expression and Cytotoxicity of Pseudomonas aeruginosa Taxonomic Outliers

ABSTRACT The two-partner secretion system ExlBA, expressed by strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa belonging to the PA7 group, induces hemorrhage in lungs due to disruption of host cellular membranes. Here we demonstrate that the exlBA genes are controlled by a pathway consisting of cAMP and the virulence factor regulator (Vfr). Upon interaction with cAMP, Vfr binds directly to the exlBA promoter with high affinity (equilibrium binding constant [Keq] of ≈2.5 nM). The exlB and exlA expression was diminished in the Vfr-negative mutant and upregulated with increased intracellular cAMP levels. The Vfr binding sequence in the exlBA promoter was mutated in situ, resulting in reduced cytotoxicity of the mutant, showing that Vfr is required for the exlBA expression during intoxication of epithelial cells. Vfr also regulates function of type 4 pili previously shown to facilitate ExlA activity on epithelial cells, which indicates that the cAMP/Vfr pathway coordinates these two factors needed for full cytotoxicity. As in most P. aeruginosa strains, the adenylate cyclase CyaB is the main provider of cAMP for Vfr regulation during both in vitro growth and eukaryotic cell infection. We discovered that the absence of functional Vfr in the reference strain PA7 is caused by a frameshift in the gene and accounts for its reduced cytotoxicity, revealing the conservation of ExlBA control by the CyaB-cAMP/Vfr pathway in P. aeruginosa taxonomic outliers. IMPORTANCE The human opportunistic pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa provokes severe acute and chronic human infections associated with defined sets of virulence factors. The main virulence determinant of P. aeruginosa taxonomic outliers is exolysin, a membrane-disrupting pore-forming toxin belonging to the two-partner secretion system ExlBA. In this work, we demonstrate that the conserved CyaB-cAMP/Vfr pathway controls cytotoxicity of outlier clinical strains through direct transcriptional activation of the exlBA operon. Therefore, despite the fact that the type III secretion system and exolysin are mutually exclusive in classical and outlier strains, respectively, these two major virulence determinants share similarities in their mechanisms of regulation.