Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Thermal conditions of breast cancer progress-treatment

Thermography is an imaging technique which is based on the idea that the temperature rises in regions with increased blood flow and metabolism, which could be a sign of a tumor. Recently, it has found promising applications in cancer diagnosis, particularly, in breast cancer exposure. Even though many thermo-medical applications need a good image assessment tool, there were no reports in literature on using a thermal image as a thermal conditioning of breast cancer progress/treatment. In this paper, a novel thermal images assessment tool for detecting the conditions of breast cancer exposure based on thermography is proposed. The presented innovative measure is based on integration of human visual system, intensity and density attributes of observed images. The proposed scheme as thermal conditions of breast cancer has the advantages of: (i) determining cancer risks for prevention by introducing a measuring system for estrogen imbalance, (ii) detecting the progress and treatment by monitoring the conditions as a new measurements and (iii) breast skin temperature measurement. The experiments show the effectiveness of the proposed measuring system on thermal conditions of breast cancer.
Local government transparency index: determinants of municipalities’ rankings

Purpose – Cases of corruption, embezzlement, theft and fraud, abuse of discretion, favoritism, nepotism, clientelism, and abuse of power in governments have led to a growing demand from society to access public information. In response to this demand, governments have been forced to be more transparent in the conduct of their activities. The information transparency index (TI) may be conditioned by economic and political characteristics of local governments affecting the information provided. What factors influenced the index of municipal transparency? Literature about transparency is largely based on the explanations of the agency theory and the legitimacy theory. Based on the postulates of both theories, the purpose of this paper is twofold. First, study the index transparency in Spanish municipalities, and, second, determine the main features that are affecting the index of transparency. Design/methodology/approach – Data were collected from Transparency International Spain ranking and from official so.
A message-based incentive mechanism for opportunistic networking applications

In the recent years, the research community proposed several protocols and applications for opportunistic networking. A common assumption is that all nodes have pro social behavior and are willing to cooperate with the network. However, in opportunistic networking applications, this assumption can lead to degradations in the network performance. People can be selfish and this behavior affects the operation of the network. In this work, we propose an incentive mechanism to improve routing, called MINEIRO, which aims to detect and avoid selfish nodes based on the source of the messages. We demonstrate under which constraints our algorithm leads to Bayesian equilibrium. Moreover, we show that without an incentive mechanism the network supports up to 60% of nodes with selfish behavior without performance degradation in a random mobility scenario. Meanwhile, in a scenario with social-based mobility, the performance decreases linearly for more than 20% of selfish nodes. Our proposal, on the other hand, improves the performance with any amount of selfish nodes by encouraging users to relay messages from third-parties.
Compact Modeling of Drain Current Thermal Noise in FDSOI MOSFETs Including Back-Bias Effect

In this paper, we present an analytical charge-based model for thermal noise power spectral density in fully depleted silicon on insulator (FDSOI) MOSFETs. Two important aspects particular to FDSOI technology, namely, different inversion charges and different effective mobilities at front and back interfaces, are considered in the model. Proposed model is valid from weak to strong inversion regions of operation. Velocity saturation and channel length modulation are also incorporated to properly capture the excess noise in deep submicrometer MOSFETs. To test the quality of the model, standard benchmark tests are performed and asymptotic behavior of the model is validated in all regions of operation. The model is implemented in SPICE and validated with calibrated TCAD simulations as well as with experimental data of high frequency noise for wide range of back biases.
Timing of Earnings Restatements: CEO Equity Compensation and Market Reaction

This study investigates the impact of chief executive officersâ€™ (CEO) compensation on their choices regarding the timing of earnings restatements. The results indicate a negative relationship between options exercised and lags in disclosing the restated earnings, suggesting that managers who exercise options in a given year tend to release information quickly. This effect is more pronounced if the options are exercised after the dark period. We also find that the market penalises longer lags in the restatement disclosure. It seems that the CEO would try to optimise the timing of information release so as to balance the costs and benefits.
New pharmacotherapy options for pulmonary arterial hypertension

Introduction: Epoprostenol was the first targeted therapy available for the treatment of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). Since then great advances in our knowledge of the disease have been made and the spectrum of therapeutic options for PAH has expanded. After an overview of current available treatments, this article describes the new pharmacotherapy options and their place in the management of PAH. Areas covered: This paper is based on a literature search and the review of studies published on PAH pharmacotherapy using the MEDLINE database. Expert opinion: The last decade has been particularly important in PAH management with the emergence of six new molecules, the development of novel routes of administration and improvement of pharmacokinetics. Moreover, pediatric formulations have been developed. However, further research is required to inform clinicians regarding optimal choices of combination therapies (progressive add-on therapy or upfront combination therapy, selection of associated molecules regarding the patient’s profile.), to continue to improve the quality of life of patients with new drugs and to reach the ultimate goal of curing the disease.
Primary cutaneous infection with Mycobacterium avium intracellulare complex resembling lupus vulgaris

We describe a 56–year–old woman with Mycobacterium avium complex infection of the skin. She presented with a granulomatous plaque studded with pustules and crusts on the cheeks and bridge of the nose. The appearance resembled lupus vulgaris. The lesion responded well to antituberculous treatment within 9 months. An association of Mycobacterium avium compled with squamous cell carcinoma of the cervix is emphasized.
Peptococcus simiae sp. nov., isolated from rhesus macaque faeces and emended description of the genus Peptococcus.

A study of the faecal microbiome in three healthy female rhesus macaques revealed the presence of a novel obligately anaerobic, chemoorganoheterotrophic, non-sporing, coccoid, non-motile, Gram-stain-positive bacterial species. Three strains of this species, designated as M108T, M916-1/1, and M919-2/1, were non-haemolytic, H2S-positive, catalase-positive, bile- and NaCl-sensitive and required peptone for growth. Strains also were asaccharolytic, able to utilize sulfite, thiosulfate and elemental sulfur as electron acceptors, and produced acetic and butyric acids as metabolic end-products. Strain M108T is characterized by the prevalence of C14 : 0, C16 : 0 and C18 : 1ω9cis dimethyl acetal among the cellular fatty acids, and the presence of MK-10 menaquinone. The DNA G+C content was found to be 51 mol%. Phylogenetic analysis of partial 16S rRNA gene sequences of strains M108T, M916-1/1 and M919-2/1 placed these strains into the genus Peptococcus (family Peptococcaceae). On the basis of phenotypic and genotypic properties we conclude that these strains represent a novel bacterial species for which the name Peptococcus simiae sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is M108T (=DSM 100347T=VKM B-2932T).
Draft Genome Sequence of the Planktic Cyanobacterium Tychonema bourrellyi, Isolated from Alpine Lentic Freshwater

ABSTRACT We describe here the draft genome sequence of the cyanobacterium Tychonema bourrellyi, assembled from a metagenome of a nonaxenic culture. The strain (FEM_GT703) was isolated from a freshwater sample taken from Lake Garda, Italy. The draft genome sequence represents the first assembled T. bourrellyi strain.
On the clinical meaningfulness of a treatment's effect on a time‐to‐event variable

The standard analysis of a time‐to‐event variable often involves the calculation of a hazard ratio based on a survival model such as Cox regression; however, many people consider such relative measures of effect to be poor expressions of clinical meaningfulness. Two absolute measures of effect are often used to assess clinical meaningfulness: (1) many disease areas frequently use the absolute difference in event rates (or its inverse, the number‐needed‐to‐treat) and (2) oncology frequently uses the difference between the median survival times in the two groups. While both of these measures appear reasonable, they directly contradict each other. This paper describes the basic mathematics leading to the two measures and shows examples. The contradiction described here raises questions about the concept of clinical meaningfulness. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Analysis of the "Balassa" Index of Fruit and Vegetables in Greece (1981-2013)

International trade liberalisation, through the abolition of market limits between countries and the implementation of preferential trade agreements, as well as globalisation, contributed to the increase of the competition in markets on a geographical, as well as sectoral level. Measuring competitiveness has thus become the object of analysis by both market players and economic policy institutions. Competitiveness analysis based on single indices, such as cost, price or quality, is not a satisfactory tool for forecasting trade policy results, whether it concerns a country, a production sector or a business, or, even more, their development process. Competitiveness of a branch of the economy, such as agriculture or foodstuffs, focuses on the level and change of trade balance or/and the performance of businesses in the sector. The main data in the competitiveness analysis of a branch of agriculture, as well as of individual products, is thus derived from the information drawn from the trade balance. The present paper analyses the competitiveness of basic fruit and vegetables of Greece compared to the rest of the world, using the Revealed Comparative Advantage (RCA) index, for the 1981-2013 period. Assessment of the comparative advantage of Greece, based on the so called Balassa index, is used to determine whether a country has a "revealed" comparative advantage (RCA). The progress and long-term competitiveness of agriculture is related less with short-term parameters, such as prices or the cost of inflows, and more with productivity and organisation on a level of agricultural exploitations and on a state level. Besides product quantity, the wealth of nature of areas and cost-cutting technologies, more attention is given to the increase of their added value, the quality, the services offered and other factors "not related to price". In the case of a country such as Greece, which is part of a mainly economic international organisation, the European Union, with a completely open economy and, therefore faced with the developments of a changing international environment, competitiveness analysis of the individual branches of economy continues to be both opportune and important. Measuring competitiveness in the field of agriculture is used to highlight its strengths and weaknesses, so that a framework of corrective moves, if needed and suggestions for the future is set up.
Analysis of Historical and Implied Volatility

It is an interesting question that if the implied volatility can perfectly predict the fluctuations of the future share market, and how many days of the changes the implied volatility can effectively predict.The purpose of this paper is to find the answers of the above questions. We calculate the implied volatility of S&P/ASX 200 index by using Black-Scholes formula based on different strategies, and comparing them with historical volatility in different period. The results are as follows:1. The implied volatility based on near or at the money strategy is more suitable to predict the movements of future share market.2. The implied volatility based on near or at the money strategy can effectively predict the changes of share market in 15 days.
Highly efficient transformerless solar inverter topologies

Grid connected photovoltaic energy systems (PVES) are semiconductor based, and since they yield direct voltage/current they need inverters as an interface to the grid. Especially between 1–20 kW, with the reduction in the cost and size, single phase transformerless PVES inverters become widely used. In this paper, these widespread transformerless PVES inverters are investigated. In the work, transformerless PVES inverters will be introduced and common mode current which is one of the most important differences of these inverters from traditional inverters with transformer and bears restrictions on the usage of transformerless inverters will be emphasized. The work will be supported by simulations.
The Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam: a benefit-sharing project in the Eastern Nile?

ABSTRACT Negotiations over the GERD have not transformed the debate in the Eastern Nile from sharing water to sharing benefits. Nationalistic discourse used by the three governments, the political sensitivity of the Nile issue, cautious Egyptian approach towards Eastern Nile cooperation beyond the project, divisions within policy circles in Egypt on dealing with the project and with the NBI as a framework of cooperation, the failure of Egypt to adapt its water policies to expected changes in the post-GERD era, and the new power asymmetries in the Eastern Nile have affected, and will continue to affect, positions in ongoing negotiations, making it more difficult to reach a benefit-sharing deal.
Diagnostic CT scans: assessment of patient, physician, and radiologist awareness of radiation dose and possible risks.

PURPOSE To determine the awareness level concerning radiation dose and possible risks associated with computed tomographic (CT) scans among patients, emergency department (ED) physicians, and radiologists. MATERIALS AND METHODS Adult patients seen in the ED of a U.S. academic medical center during a 2-week period with mild to moderate abdominopelvic or flank pain and who underwent CT were surveyed after acquisition of the CT scan. Patients were asked whether or not they were informed about the risks, benefits, and radiation dose of the CT scan and if they believed that the scan increased their lifetime cancer risk. Patients were also asked to estimate the radiation dose for the CT scan compared with that for one chest radiograph. ED physicians who requested CT scans and radiologists who reviewed the CT scans were surveyed with similar questions and an additional question regarding the number of years in practice. The chi(2) test of independence was used to compare the three respondent groups regarding perceived increased cancer risk from one abdominopelvic CT scan. RESULTS Seven percent (five of 76) of patients reported that they were told about risks and benefits of their CT scan, while 22% (10 of 45) of ED physicians reported that they had provided such information. Forty-seven percent (18 of 38) of radiologists believed that there was increased cancer risk, whereas only 9% (four of 45) of ED physicians and 3% (two of 76) of patients believed that there was increased risk (chi(2)(2) = 41.45, P <. 001). All patients and most ED physicians and radiologists were unable to accurately estimate the dose for one CT scan compared with that for one chest radiograph. CONCLUSION Patients are not given information about the risks, benefits, and radiation dose for a CT scan. Patients, ED physicians, and radiologists alike are unable to provide accurate estimates of CT doses regardless of their experience level.
Inward and Outward Foreign Direct Investment and Inequality: Evidence from a Group of Middle-Income Countries

Abstract Using panel data of a group of 39 middle-income countries over 1981–2006, this paper examines how globalization in general and inward and outward FDI in particular affects inequality. Depending on geographical region and economic system, each component of globalization affects inequality in three groups of countries in different ways: open to inward FDI tends to affect income distribution adversely in transition economies and Latin American countries, but marginally improves income distribution in countries of the reference group. In contrast, open to outward FDI is positively associated with inequality in the reference group whereas negatively associated with that of the other two groups of countries. Crucially, improvement in human capital appears to be the single most reliable way to reduce inequality.
Bad attitudes: Why design students dislike teamwork

Positive experiences of teamwork in design contexts significantly improve students’ satisfaction with teaching and their attitudes towards future teamwork. Thus, an understanding of the factors leading to negative and positive team experiences can inform strategies to support effective teamwork. This paper examines design students’ perceptions and experiences of teamwork. Three sources of qualitative data were analysed: a pilot survey completed by 198 design students in four institutions; five focus groups with 23 students; and a national survey completed by 417 students from 18 Australian universities. Students were from a range of design disciplines, with the majority studying architecture. The findings provide insights into issues and challenges of learning how to design in teamwork contexts, in particular the importance of adopting strategies to promote individual accountability within a team and ensuring fair assessment that acknowledges levels of individual contributions. The paper concludes with recommendations for teachers.
Interleukin-1 Assembles a Proangiogenic Signaling Module Consisting of Caveolin-1, Tumor Necrosis Factor Receptor–Associated Factor 6, p38–Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase (MAPK), and MAPK-Activated Protein Kinase 2 in Endothelial Cells

Objective—Interleukin-1&bgr; (IL-1&bgr;) is a major cytokine linking inflammation and angiogenesis in pathological vascular processes, such as atherosclerosis and tumor neoangiogenesis. However, signaling pathways mediating IL-1&bgr;-induced proangiogenic processes in endothelial cells (ECs) have barely been elucidated yet. Therefore, the present study investigated IL-1&bgr;-induced proangiogenic signaling in ECs. Methods and Results—IL-1&bgr; potently induced tube formation and migration of ECs. This was associated with and dependent on activation of p38–mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) and MAPK-activated protein kinase 2 (MK2) as determined by pharmacological inhibition and gene silencing. Furthermore, silencing of the adaptor protein tumor necrosis factor receptor–associated factor 6 (TRAF6) (lentiviral short hairpin RNA) inhibited these IL-1&bgr;-induced processes. Moreover, IL-1&bgr; promoted translocation of TRAF6 to insoluble cellular fractions (containing membrane rafts/caveolae) and interaction of TRAF6 with caveolin-1. Accordingly, cellular cholesterol depletion (cyclodextrin) and silencing of caveolin-1 (small interfering RNA) inhibited IL-1&bgr;-induced activation of p38-MAPK and MK2, as well as IL-1&bgr;-induced tube formation and migration. Finally, silencing of TRAF6 and MK2 deficiency inhibited IL-1&bgr;-induced microvessel outgrowth in murine aortic rings ex vivo, and deficiency of MK2 or caveolin-1 significantly reduced IL-1&bgr;-induced angiogenesis in mice in vivo (Matrigel plug assay). Conclusion—IL-1&bgr; assembles a proangiogenic signaling module consisting of caveolin-1, TRAF6, p38-MAPK, and MK2 in ECs, representing a potential target to intervene into angiogenesis-dependent processes and diseases.
Lactate production by human monocytes/macrophages determined by proton mr spectroscopy

Elevated brain lactate has been observed by in vivo proton MRS in different pathological situations. The origin of this lactate remains controversial. The possibility that it was produced by the metabolism of phagocytic cells has been proposed. To investigate this hypothesis, the authors have employed high‐resolution proton MRS to monitor changes in glucose, lactate, and other metabolites in the medium used to culture human monocyte‐derived macrophages in vitro. Results show that the differentiation of human monocytes/macrophages in the presence of physiological stimulating factors (M‐CSF or GM‐CSF) was associated with an increase in lactate production and glucose utilization. The present results are consistent with the hypothesis that lactate detected by proton MRS in vivo may be produced by the metabolism of macrophages when infiltrates of these cells are present. The possible extrapolation of the authors' finding to the in vivo situation and its relevance are discussed.
Acute or Chronic? What's the Difference?

Acute and chronic wounds heal and behave differently. An understanding of these differences is imperative to the practitioner in providing and planning appropriate wound care and management. The purpose of this article is to present some of the major differences and enable the practitioner in developing and modifying an appropriate plan of care to enhance healing and manage patient expectations.
ohr, Encoding an Organic Hydroperoxide Reductase, Is an In Vivo-Induced Gene in Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae

ABSTRACT Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae is the causative agent of porcine pleuropneumonia, a disease characterized by pulmonary necrosis and hemorrhage caused in part by neutrophil degranulation. In an effort to understand the pathogenesis of this disease, we have developed an in vivo expression technology (IVET) system to identify genes that are specifically up-regulated during infection. One of the genes that we have identified as being induced in vivo is ohr, encoding organic hydroperoxide reductase, an enzyme that could play a role in detoxification of organic hydroperoxides generated during infection. Among the 12 serotypes of A. pleuropneumoniae, ohr was found in only serotypes 1, 9, and 11. This distribution correlated with increased resistance to cumene hydroperoxide, an organic hydroperoxide, but not to hydrogen peroxide or to paraquat, a superoxide generator. Functional assays of Ohr activity demonstrated that A. pleuropneumoniae serotype 1 cultures, but not serotype 5 cultures, were able to degrade cumene hydroperoxide. In A. pleuropneumoniae serotype 1, expression of ohr was induced by cumene hydroperoxide, but not by either hydrogen peroxide or paraquat. In contrast, an ohr gene from serotype 1 cloned into A. pleuropneumoniae serotype 5 was not induced by cumene hydroperoxide or by other forms of oxidative stress, suggesting the presence of a serotype-specific positive regulator of ohr in A. pleuropneumoniae serotype 1.