Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Contrast-Enhanced Ultrasound Angiogenesis Imaging by Mutual Information Analysis for Prostate Cancer Localization

<italic>Objective:</italic> The role of angiogenesis in cancer growth has stimulated research aimed at noninvasive cancer detection by blood perfusion imaging. Recently, contrast ultrasound dispersion imaging was proposed as an alternative method for angiogenesis imaging. After the intravenous injection of an ultrasound-contrast-agent bolus, dispersion can be indirectly estimated from the local similarity between neighboring time-intensity curves (TICs) measured by ultrasound imaging. Up until now, only linear similarity measures have been investigated. Motivated by the promising results of this approach in prostate cancer (PCa), we developed a novel dispersion estimation method based on mutual information, thus including nonlinear similarity, to further improve its ability to localize PCa. <italic> Methods:</italic> First, a simulation study was performed to establish the theoretical link between dispersion and mutual information. Next, the method's ability to localize PCa was validated <italic>in vivo</italic> in 23 patients (58 datasets) referred for radical prostatectomy by comparison with histology. <italic>Results:</italic> A monotonic relationship between dispersion and mutual information was demonstrated. The <italic>in vivo</italic> study resulted in a receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve area equal to 0.77, which was superior (<italic>p</italic> = 0.21–0.24) to that obtained by linear similarity measures (0.74–0.75) and (<italic>p</italic> <inline-formula><tex-math notation="LaTeX">$<$</tex-math></inline-formula> 0.05) to that by conventional perfusion parameters (<inline-formula><tex-math notation="LaTeX">$\le$</tex-math></inline-formula>0.70). <italic>Conclusion: </italic> Mutual information between neighboring time–intensity curves can be used to indirectly estimate contrast dispersion and can lead to more accurate PCa localization. <italic>Significance:</italic> An improved PCa localization method can possibly lead to better grading and staging of tumors, and support focal-treatment guidance. Moreover, future employment of the method in other types of angiogenic cancer can be considered.
Prevalence and clonal nature of Escherichia coli O157:H7 on dairy farms in Wisconsin

A survey was conducted between March and October of 1994 to determine the prevalence and identify the sources of serotype O157:H7 isolates of Escherichia coli in Wisconsin dairy herds. A stratified sample of 400 farms was identified, and 70 farms with weaned calves less than 4 months old were included in the study. During the prevalence study, 5 of the 70 farms (herd prevalence, 7.1 +/- 4.5%) and fecal samples from 10 of 560 calves (animal prevalence, 1.8%) tested positive for serotype O157:H7. In a follow-up study, the five O157:H7-positive farms and seven of the O157:H7-negative farms identified in the prevalence study were visited again. An additional 517 fecal samples from cattle of various ages were tested, and a total of 15 animals from four of the five herds that were previously positive and 4 animals from two of seven herds that were previously negative tested positive for E. coli O157:H7. Observations made during the follow-up study suggested that horizontal transmission was an important means of E. coli O157:H7 dissemination on the farms. A total of 302 environmental samples, were examined, and 2 animal drinking water samples from one previously negative farm and 1 animal drinking water sample from a previously positive farm contained E. coli O157:H7. Analyses by the pulsed-field gel electrophoresis technique of contour-clamped homogeneous electric field electrophoresis revealed that isolates from the same farm displayed identical or very similar XbaI restriction endonuclease digestion profiles (REDP), whereas isolates from different farms typically displayed different REDP. However, more than one REDP was usually observed for a given herd over the 8-month sampling period. Analyses of multiple isolates from an animal revealed that some animals harbored O157:H7 strains that had different REDP, although the REDP of isolates obtained from the same fecal sample were very similar. Collectively, 160 bovine isolates obtained from 29 different animals and three water isolates displayed 20 distinct XbaI REDP. Our data revealed that there are several clonal types of serotype O157:H7 isolates in Wisconsin and indicated that there is probably more than one source of this pathogen on the dairy farms studied. However, animal drinking water was identified as one source of E. coli O157:H7 on one farm.
Browlift – A South East Asian Experience

Background:To describe the indications, techniques and outcomes of various browlift procedures in a predominantly East-Asian community. Patients and Methods:Retrospective review of patients who underwent browlift procedures performed by 2 oculoplastic surgeons or under their direct supervision, in a tertiary referral hospital in South East Asia from 2002 to 2007. Results: Forty-six patients (30 female, 16 male) had browlift surgery for 89 sides from 2002 to 2007. Mean follow-up period was 10 months (6 to 44 months). 43 patients had bilateral browlift, 3 patients had unilateral browlift, 2 of whom had underlying facial nerve palsy and one had involutional brow ptosis. Indications: involutional brow ptosis (42), mitochondrial myopathy (2), and facial palsy (2). Ethnicity of patients: Chinese (40), Indian (4) and Malay (2). Techniques: direct browlift (18), transblepharoplasty browpexy (6), midforehead lift (3), coronal browlift (2) and pretrichial browlift (4), endoscopic browlift (7), limited incision nonendoscopic browlift (5) and temporal browlift (3). Adjuvant procedures included upper blepharoplasty (26), blepharoptosis correction (4), midface lift (2), upper eyelid entropion correction (1), lacrimal gland fixation (1), and upper lid gold implant (1). Encountered complications included: undercorrection 6 (12%), segmental facial nerve palsy 1(2%), visible scar 2 (5%), paraesthesia 2 (5%), suture granuloma 1 (2%). Overall 94% of our patients were satisfied. Conclusion: Browlift provides satisfactory results for both patient and surgeon. A comprehensive knowledge and proper surgical technique, along with a thorough discussion with patients about the pros and cons of each procedure are essential to obtain optimal outcomes.
Transient CD4/CD8 ratio inversion and aberrant immune activation during dengue virus infection

The immune status after dengue virus infection was studied in dengue patients from an outbreak of serotype 3 dengue virus infection in the southern part of Taiwan during November and December 1998. Consecutive blood samples from 29 dengue patients, of whom 21 had dengue fever and 8 had dengue hemorrhagic fever/dengue shock syndrome, were collected, and the immunophenotypes of the peripheral blood mononuclear cells were determined by flow cytometry. The early activation marker CD69 appeared on lymphocytes and monocytes at day 4 after the onset of fever, and declined afterward. However, a transient reverse in the CD4/CD8 ratio occurred at days 6–10 after the onset of fever. The CD4/CD8 ratio inversion was manifested in 10 of 29 dengue patients and was encountered more frequently in dengue hemorrhagic fever/dengue shock syndrome than in dengue fever patients. Analysis of the clinical blood cell count of these 10 cases showed that increase of immature neutrophils developed at fever days 5–6, CD4dim or CD8dim monocytosis at days 6–7, and atypical lymphocytosis at days 8–10 after the onset of fever. Serum IL‐6 was found at either day 7 or day 9–11. The PHA‐stimulated T‐cell response was depressed as well. These changes in immune parameters indicate aberrant immune activation during dengue virus infection and might be involved in the pathogenesis of dengue virus infection. J. Med. Virol. 68: 241–252, 2002. © 2002 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Insulin‐Induced Microvascular Recruitment in Skin and Muscle are Related and Both are Associated with Whole‐Body Glucose Uptake

Please cite this paper as: Meijer RI, de Boer MP, Groen MR, Eringa EC, Rattigan S, Barrett EJ, Smulders YM, Serne EH. Insulin‐induced microvascular recruitment in skin and muscle are related and both are associated with whole‐body glucose uptake. Microcirculation 19: 494–500, 2012.
A new version of 2-tuple fuzzy linguistic representation model for computing with words

In this paper, we provide a new (proportional) 2-tuple fuzzy linguistic representation model for computing with words (CW), which is based on the concept of "symbolic proportion. " This concept motivates us to represent the linguistic information by means of 2-tuples, which are composed by two proportional linguistic terms. For clarity and generality, we first study proportional 2-tuples under ordinal contexts. Then, under linguistic contexts and based on canonical characteristic values (CCVs) of linguistic labels, we define many aggregation operators to handle proportional 2-tuple linguistic information in a computational stage for CW without any loss of information. Our approach for this proportional 2-tuple fuzzy linguistic representation model deals with linguistic labels, which do not have to be symmetrically distributed around a medium label and without the traditional requirement of having "equal distance" between them. Moreover, this new model not only provides a space to allow a "continuous" interpolation of a sequence of ordered linguistic labels, but also provides an opportunity to describe the initial linguistic information by members of a "continuous" linguistic scale domain which does not necessarily require the ordered linguistic terms of a linguistic variable being equidistant. Meanwhile, under the assumption of equally informative (which is defined by a condition based on the concept of CCV), we show that our model reduces to Herrera and Mart/spl inodot//spl acute/nez's (translational) 2-tuple fuzzy linguistic representation model.
Impact of Prosthesis-Patient Mismatch on the Regression of Secondary Mitral Regurgitation After Isolated Aortic Valve Replacement With a Bioprosthetic Valve in Patients With Severe Aortic Stenosis

Background— Secondary mitral regurgitation (SMR) is generally reduced after isolated aortic valve replacement (AVR), but there is important interindividual variability in the magnitude of this reduction. Prosthesis-patient mismatch (PPM) may hinder normalization of left ventricular geometry and pressure overload following AVR, therefore we aimed to investigate the relationship between PPM and regression of SMR following AVR for aortic valve stenosis. Methods and Results— A total of 419 patients with AS who underwent isolated AVR at 2 institutions and presenting moderate SMR (mitral regurgitant volume 30 to 45 mL/beat) not considered for surgical correction were included in this study. Clinical and echocardiographic follow-up were completed at a median follow-up time of 37 months. PPM was defined as an indexed effective orifice area ⩽0.85 cm2/m2 and was found in 170/419 patients (40.6%). There were no significant differences in baseline and operative characteristics between patients with or without PPM. Patients with PPM had less regression of SMR following AVR compared with those with no PPM (change in mitral regurgitant volume:−11±4 versus −17±5 mL, respectively; P<0.0001). Variables significantly associated with postoperative change in mitral regurgitant volume on univariable analysis were entered in a multivariable linear regression model, which showed indexed effective orifice area (P<0.0001) and left atrial diameter (P=0.006) to be independently associated with mitral regurgitant volume improvement. Patients with PPM also had less postoperative improvement in 6-minute walking test distance (80±78 versus 42±41 m, P<0.0001). Conclusions— PPM is associated with lesser regression of SMR following AVR. This unfavorable effect was associated with worse functional capacity. These findings emphasize the importance of operative strategies aiming to prevent PPM in patients with aortic valve stenosis and concomitant SMR.
The resilience of Czech regions to economic crisis

Annotation The concept of the regional resilience is defined as an ability of the region to restore the original level after the incident that causes significant negative deviation from equilibrium. As an example of the negative step change it could be considered not only the impact of the global economic crises but also natural and anthropogenic disasters. It is obvious that there are regions that are more resistant to such events than the others. The aim of the paper is to present an example of the possible quantification of the regional resilience. There are also four hypotheses evaluated in the article. The analytic part of the work is made upon the CZ-NUTS3 data sets and reflects the impacts of the 2008 economic crises. As a main methodological attitude it is used the correlation analyses. There are described the regional economic resilience pillars that would be able to help to explain the regional disparities in the regional resilience. The results of the analyses confirm the hypothesis that Human Capital, Regional Economic Performance, Innovation and R&D activity are very important determinants.
Structural Basis of Glyphosate Tolerance Resulting from Mutations of Pro101 in Escherichia coli 5-Enolpyruvylshikimate-3-phosphate Synthase*

Glyphosate, the world's most used herbicide, is a massive success because it enables efficient weed control with minimal animal and environmental toxicity. The molecular target of glyphosate is 5-enolpyruvylshikimate-3-phosphate synthase (EPSPS), which catalyzes the sixth step of the shikimate pathway in plants and microorganisms. Glyphosate-tolerant variants of EPSPS constitute the basis of genetically engineered herbicide-tolerant crops. A single-site mutation of Pro101 in EPSPS (numbering according to the enzyme from Escherichia coli) has been implicated in glyphosate-resistant weeds, but this residue is not directly involved in glyphosate binding, and the basis for this phenomenon has remained unclear in the absence of further kinetic and structural characterization. To probe the effects of mutations at this site, E. coli EPSPS enzymes were produced with glycine, alanine, serine, or leucine substituted for Pro101. These mutant enzymes were analyzed by steady-state kinetics, and the crystal structures of the substrate binary and substrate·glyphosate ternary complexes of P101S and P101L EPSPS were determined to between 1.5- and 1.6-Å resolution. It appears that residues smaller than leucine may be substituted for Pro101 without decreasing catalytic efficiency. Any mutation at this site results in a structural change in the glyphosate-binding site, shifting Thr97 and Gly96 toward the inhibitor molecule. We conclude that the decreased inhibitory potency observed for glyphosate is a result of these mutation-induced long-range structural changes. The implications of our findings concerning the development and spread of glyphosate-resistant weeds are discussed.
Development of ultra wideband electromagnetic phantoms for antennas and propagation studies

Ultra wideband (UWB) technologies are expected to be used in ultra-high-speed wireless personal area networks (WPAN) and wireless body area networks (WBAN). UWB human electromagnetic phantoms are useful for performance evaluation of antennas mounted in the vicinity of a human body and channel assessment when a human body blocks a propagation path. No UWB phantom, however, has been realized so far. The UWB phantoms are not intended to evaluate specific absorption rate (SAR) in a human body, because UWB devices are supposed to transmit very low power and thus no human hazard is expected. This present paper describes the development of liquid UWB phantom material and UWB arm and torso phantoms.
Perinatal Subplate Neuron Injury: Implications for Cortical Development and Plasticity

Perinatal brain injury may result in widespread deficits in visual, motor and cognitive systems suggesting disrupted brain development. Neurosensory and cognitive impairment are observed at increasing frequency with decreasing gestational ages, suggesting a unique vulnerability of the developing brain. The peak of human subplate neuron development coincides with the gestational ages of highest vulnerability to perinatal brain injury in the premature infant. At the same time, human thalamocortical connections are forming and being refined by activity‐dependent mechanisms during critical periods. Subplate neurons are the first cortical neurons to mature and are selectively vulnerable to early hypoxic‐ischemic brain injury in animal models. Timing of subplate neuron death determines the resulting defect in thalamocortical development: very early excitotoxic subplate neuron death results in failure of thalamocortical innervation, while later subplate neuron death interferes with the refinement of thalamocortical connections into mature circuits. We suggest that subplate neuron injury may be a central component of perinatal brain injury resulting in specific neurodevelopmental consequences.
Glycol ethers and semen quality: a cross-sectional study among male workers in the Paris Municipality

Objectives: Apparent increases in human male reproductive disorders, including low sperm production, may have occurred because of increased chemical exposure. Various glycol ether-based solvents have pronounced adverse effects on sperm production and male fertility in laboratory animals. The authors investigated the effects of past and current exposure to glycol ether-containing products on semen quality and reproductive hormones among men employed by the Paris Municipality. Methods: Between 2000 and 2001 the authors recruited 109 men who gave semen, blood and urine samples and underwent an andrological examination. Information on lifestyle, occupation, exposure and medical history was obtained by interview. According to their job and chemical products used during the period 1990–2000, men were classified as either occupationally exposed or non-exposed. Current exposure levels to glycol ethers at the time of the study were evaluated by biological monitoring of six urinary metabolites. Results: Previous exposure to glycol ethers was associated with an increased risk for sperm concentration, for rapid progressive motility and for morphologically normal sperm below the World Health Organization semen reference values. No effect of previous glycol ether exposure on hormones levels was observed. By contrast, current glycol ether exposure levels were low and not correlated with either seminal quality or hormone levels. Conclusions: This study suggests that most glycol ethers currently used do not impact on human semen characteristics. Those that were more prevalent from the 1960s until recently may have long lasting negative effects on human semen quality.
94 GHz Substrate Integrated Waveguide Dual-Circular-Polarization Shared-Aperture Parallel-Plate Long-Slot Array Antenna With Low Sidelobe Level

In this paper, a 94 GHz substrate integrated waveguide (SIW) parallel-plate long-slot array antenna is presented, which is able to generate dual-circular-polarization (CP) low sidelobe level (SLL) beams from a single radiating aperture. This antenna consists of two layers of substrates. One is used to construct the unequal feeding network and the other is used to construct a $15 \times 15$ shared-aperture parallel-plate long-slot array antenna. This multilayer topology has a smaller size compared with the single-layer design. A simple and feasible method is applied to control the radiation pattern, which is able to realize dual-CP low SLL beams without a complicated feeding network. Two 1-D sixteen-way unequal dividers are employed to suppress the SLL in two planes of a CP array. Then, a 90° coupler is employed in the feeding network to switch the polarization modes between left-hand circular polarization (LHCP) and right-hand circular polarization (RHCP). Finally, a prototype of SIW parallel-plate long-slot array antenna is fabricated. Simulation and measured results show that SLLs of the fabricated antenna are under −18.5 dB in two planes.
The Role of Mentorship in Shapign Public Library Leaders

THIS STUDY FOCUSES on the role that mentorship plays in the career development of twenty-eight directors of major public libraries. The findings revealed that sixteen of the directors had experienced mentorship. The results also show that mentors were a major factor in sponsoring the directors for major library positions. Finally, the conclusion supports the notion that the context in which public libraries operate provides many opportunities for an individual to cultivate the attention of a potential mentor.
Key role of strategic human resource management (SHRM) in advancing the degree of team learning

Strategic human resource management (SHRM) is the main concern of the managers who are expanding their business at global level. It provides new avenues for the promotion of team learning in the organization. The significance of SHRM in advancement of team learning behaviour is still to be emphasized by scholars and academicians. Less emphasis is laid on the analysis of key role of SHRM in advancing degree of team learning in the globalized business world. The main purpose of this article is to explore literary facts pertaining to this key area. On the basis of review of literature on SHRM, its importance for nurturing the team learning behaviour among the diverse workforce of global business organizations to develop learning organizations and sustaining emotionally intelligent knowledge workers is presented and analyzed. Key words: Strategic human resource management (SHRM), cultural differences, team learning, team effectiveness, learning organization, knowledge workers, emotional intelligence.
Malignant conversion of non-tumorigenic murine skin keratinocytes overexpressing PACE4.

Proprotein convertases (PCs) have been implicated in tumor cell invasion by processing a variety of substrates including matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs). PACE4, a member of the family of PCs was shown to enhance mouse skin carcinoma progression by increasing tumor cell invasiveness. However, the effects of PACE4 on malignant conversion have not been investigated. In the present study we address the possible role of PACE4 as a trigger of malignant conversion by transfecting with a full-length PACE4 cDNA, three keratinocyte cell lines with no or little tumorigenic potential, i.e. non-tumorigenic BALB/MK-2 cells, tumorigenic non-invasive MT1/2 cells and tumorigenic moderately invasive p117 mouse skin keratinocytes. Overexpression of PACE4 led to a significant increase in the processing of stromelysin-3, a well-characterized substrate of this PC. When assayed for invasive ability, the PACE4-transfected cells were invasive both in vitro and in vivo, whereas their control counterparts were not. In addition, an enhanced processing ability of MT2-MMP a known substrate of PCs was detected in the PACE4-transfected cells. This was accompanied by MMP-2 and MMP-9 activation in PACE4 transfectants. Invasion and MMP processing were remarkably reduced when PACE4 was inhibited with a specific antibody. By triggering the processing of crucial invasion-related proteases, PACE4 is not only able to enhance the invasive ability of malignant cells as demonstrated previously, but also played a significant role in converting non-invasive keratinocytes into malignant cells.