Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
1H MR spectroscopy of brain tumours and masses

Accurate diagnosis is essential for optimum management and treatment of patients with brain tumours. Proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H MRS) provides information non‐invasively on tumour biochemistry and has been shown to provide important additional information to that obtained by conventional radiology. We review the current status of 1H MRS in classifying brain tumour type and grade, for monitoring response to therapy and progression to higher grade, and as a molecular imaging technique for determining tumour extent for treatment planning. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Estimation of Vibration and Force Stimulus Thresholds for Haptic Guidance in MIS Training

This manuscript investigates the minimum perception thresholds for force and vibration stimuli in a simple movement pattern and using the same haptic device. The model was model derived from the well-known Up-Down Transformed Response Rule varying the force magnitude and the amplitude of vibration feedback. It was demonstrated that the vibration sensitivity was around ﬁ fteen times smaller than the force threshold. The results were compared with previous published studies for different tasks, experimental conﬁ gurations and devices. We concluded that the type of task signiﬁ cantly affects human detection threshold for force and vibration feedback, and should be adapted for the design of a new haptic-based skill transfer system for minimally invasive surgery (MIS) using haptic guidance.
An examination of early US twentieth century first-year accounting textbooks

This study analyses the first editions of the first-year accounting textbooks published in the United States during the first third of the twentieth century. This was a time of rapidly expanding accounting education and these books were developed to meet this need. The analysis in this study includes a topical overview of the 33 books identified as first-year accounting textbooks as well as a detailed examination of the more successful books. The books were not all the same, differing on such items as their intended audiences, presentation of the accounting cycle, consideration of alternative valuation approaches, and other items such as the amount of emphasis on financial statement analysis. Hence, despite similarities such as a focus on procedures, the type of problem material, and a lack of cost/managerial topics, the books provided a rich set of available texts for instructors of the time.
The pro-apoptotic protein Par-4 facilitates vascular contractility by cytoskeletal targeting of ZIPK

Par‐4 (prostate apoptosis response 4) is a pro‐apoptotic protein and tumour suppressor that was originally identified as a gene product up‐regulated during apoptosis in prostate cancer cells. Here, we show, for the first time, that Par‐4 is expressed and co‐localizes with the actin filament bundles in vascular smooth muscle. Furthermore, we demonstrate that targeting of ZIPK to the actin filaments, as observed upon PGF‐2α stimulation, is inhibited by the presence of a cell permeant Par‐4 decoy peptide. The same decoy peptide also significantly inhibits PGF‐2α induced contractions of smooth muscle tissue. Moreover, knockdown of Par‐4 using antisense morpholino nucleotides results in significantly reduced contractility, and myosin light chain and myosin phosphatase target subunit phosphorylation. These results indicate that Par‐4 facilitates contraction by targeting ZIPK to the vicinity of its substrates, myosin light chain and MYPT, which are located on the actin filaments. These results identify Par‐4 as a novel regulator of myosin light chain phosphorylation in differentiated, contractile vascular smooth muscle.
Computer-Assisted Orthopedic Surgery: Current State and Future Perspective

Introduced about two decades ago, computer-assisted orthopedic surgery (CAOS) has emerged as a new and independent area, due to the importance of treatment of musculoskeletal diseases in orthopedics and traumatology, increasing availability of different imaging modalities, and advances in analytics and navigation tools. The aim of this paper is to present the basic elements of CAOS devices and to review state-of-the-art examples of different imaging modalities used to create the virtual representations, of different position tracking devices for navigation systems, of different surgical robots, of different methods for registration and referencing, and of CAOS modules that have been realized for different surgical procedures. Future perspectives will also be outlined.
Cooperative anchoring in heterogeneous multi-robot systems

Highly heterogeneous robotic systems are becoming increasingly common, as are robotic systems integrated with smart environments. In such distributed systems, there are many different sources and types of information, which need to be coordinated and combined effectively. The problem of cooperative anchoring is (roughly) the problem of, in a distributed system, determining which items of information refer to the same objects, and combining these items accordingly. In this paper, we define a general computational framework for cooperative anchoring inspired by work on conceptual spaces and (single-robot) perceptual anchoring. We also discuss an implementation of this framework which uses tools from fuzzy logic, and we present an illustrative experiment.
A survey on memristor modeling and security applications

With the recent advances in memristors as a potential building block for future hardware, it becomes an important and timely topic to study the role that memristors may play in hardware security. To address this issue, this paper presents a survey on research activities on memristor modelling and potential application of memristors in hardware security. First, we give an overview of the current literature on memristor experimentation, characterization, and modeling which includes Chua's original theoretical prediction model, more detailed models based on recent memristor implementations, and the SPICE simulation models. Then, we report the current research efforts on memristor-based security in three major areas: (1) memristor hardware primitives (e.g., physical unclonable function) that are based on the memristor effective resistance model, (2) encryption schemes that leverage the chaotic behavior of the memristor circuit, and (3) security concerns in memristor-based memory systems. We observe that most of these works have limited scope and are based on simplified memristor models which diminish their practical value in security applications. Security applications have strict demands on repeatability, reliability, robustness, unforgeability, cost, resilience, and so on. To address these deficiencies, we propose a list of research areas that need to be addressed for building memristor-based security applications. We also analyze how memristors, as a new hardware building block, will impact major challenges in hardware security.
Evolutionary Theory and Self-perception: Sex Differences in Body Esteem Predictors of Self-perceived Physical and Sexual Attractiveness and Self-Esteem

Responses to the body esteem scale (Franzoi & Shields, 1984) and multiple regression were used to determine if evolutionary biological theory is relevant to an understanding of self-perceived physical and sexual attractiveness and selfesteem and to determine if physical and sexual attractiveness are the same construct. It was hypothesized that regression models of physical and sexual attractiveness would differ within and across sex groups and that models of self-esteem would differ across sex groups in accordance with evolutionary theory. These hypotheses were supported. Attributes of the body related to fecundity and successful mothering characteristics predicted for women and attributes of the body related to strength and dominance predicted for men. In addition, attributes of the body dealing with sexual maturity were stronger predictors of sexual attractiveness. Physical and sexual attractiveness are not the same constructs. This research indicates that evolutionary bological theory can provide relev.
The Novice-Expert Continuum in Astronomy Knowledge

The nature of expertise in astronomy was investigated across a broad spectrum of ages and experience in China and New Zealand. Five hypotheses (capable of quantification and statistical analysis) were used to probe types of expertise identified by previous researchers: (a) domain-specific knowledge-skill in the use of scientific vocabulary and language and recognising relationships between concepts in linguistic and schematic forms; (b) higher-order theory in terms of conceptual structure and enriched scientific knowledge and reasoning; with an expectation of cultural similarity. There were 993 participants in all, age 3–80 years, including 68 junior school pupils; 68 pre-school pupils; 112 middle-school students; 109 high-school students; 79 physics undergraduates; 60 parents; 136 pre-service primary teachers; 131 pre-service secondary teachers; 72 primary teachers; 78 secondary teachers; 50 amateur astronomers and astronomy educators; and 30 astronomers and physicists; with approximately equal numbers of each group in both cultures; and of boys and girls in the case of children. For them, the methodology utilised Piagetian interviews with three media (verbal language, drawing, play-dough modelling), and for adults a questionnaire inviting responses in writing and drawing was used. The data from each group were categorised into ordinal scales and then analysed by means of Kolmogorov–Smirnov two-sample tests. The findings supported the hypotheses with evidence of all forms of expertise increasing with experience in both cultures (α level 0.05). The relative gains, overlaps and deficits in expertise across the novice-expert continuum are explored in detail.
Identification of elements at risk for a credible tsunami event for Istanbul

Abstract. Physical and social elements at risk are identified for a credible tsunami event for Istanbul. For this purpose, inundation maps resulting from probabilistic tsunami hazard analysis for a 10% probability of exceedance in 50 yr are utilised in combination with the geo-coded inventories of building stock, lifeline systems and demographic data. The built environment on Istanbul's shorelines that is exposed to tsunami inundation comprises residential, commercial, industrial, public (governmental/municipal, schools, hospitals, sports and religious), infrastructure (car parks, garages, fuel stations, electricity transformer buildings) and military buildings, as well as piers and ports, gas tanks and stations and other urban elements (e.g., recreational facilities). Along the Marmara Sea shore, Tuzla shipyards and important port and petrochemical facilities at Ambarli are expected to be exposed to tsunami hazard. Significant lifeline systems of the city of Istanbul such as natural gas, electricity, telecommunication and sanitary and waste-water transmission, are also under the threat of tsunamis. In terms of social risk, it is estimated that there are about 32 000 inhabitants exposed to tsunami hazard.
Mentoring Matters: An Exploratory Survey of Educational Leadership Doctoral Students’ Perspectives

There is limited research on quantitative differences between men and women’s experiences in doctoral programs. We aim to fill that gap by sharing findings from a web-based exploratory survey of perceived gender differences on quality mentoring in educational leadership doctoral programs. According to survey results, there is limited statistical significance in terms of gender differences in programmatic supports and scholarly progress. However, women experience feelings of self-doubt due to negative experiences with advising and mentoring, including difficulties making connections to a quality mentor. Furthermore, both female and male participants shared common definitions of what constitutes quality mentorship and believed mentorship was important, but lacking in varying degrees. Finally, all participants agreed that their educational leadership preparation programs should provide additional support in terms of writing and research development. Participants also shared important recommendations for strengthening mentoring experiences as well as future research methods and foci.
Sarcoplasmic Reticulum Ca2+ Pumping Kinetics Regulates Timing of Local Ca2+ Releases and Spontaneous Beating Rate of Rabbit Sinoatrial Node Pacemaker Cells

Rationale: Sinoatrial node cells (SANCs) generate local, subsarcolemmal Ca2+ releases (LCRs) from sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) during late diastolic depolarization. LCRs activate an inward Na+-Ca2+ exchange current (INCX), which accelerates diastolic depolarization rate, prompting the next action potential (AP). The LCR period, ie, a delay between AP-induced Ca2+ transient and LCR appearance, defines the time of late diastolic depolarization INCX activation. Mechanisms that control the LCR period, however, are still unidentified. Objective: To determine dependence of the LCR period on SR Ca2+ refilling kinetics and establish links between regulation of SR Ca2+ replenishment, LCR period, and spontaneous cycle length. Methods and Results: Spontaneous APs and SR luminal or cytosolic Ca2+ were recorded using perforated patch and confocal microscopy, respectively. Time to 90% replenishment of SR Ca2+ following AP-induced Ca2+ transient was highly correlated with the time to 90% decay of cytosolic Ca2+ transient (T-90C). Local SR Ca2+ depletions mirror their cytosolic counterparts, LCRs, and occur following SR Ca2+ refilling. Inhibition of SR Ca2+ pump by cyclopiazonic acid dose-dependently suppressed spontaneous SANCs firing up to ≈50%. Cyclopiazonic acid and graded changes in phospholamban phosphorylation produced by &bgr;-adrenergic receptor stimulation, phosphodiesterase or protein kinase A inhibition shifted T-90C and proportionally shifted the LCR period and spontaneous cycle length (R2=0.98). Conclusions: The LCR period, a critical determinant of the spontaneous SANC cycle length, is defined by the rate of SR Ca2+ replenishment, which is critically dependent on SR pumping rate, Ca2+ available for pumping, supplied by L-type Ca2+ channel, and ryanodine receptor Ca2+ release flux, each of which is modulated by cAMP-mediated protein kinase A–dependent phosphorylation.
The preservative polyquaternium-1 increases cytoxicity and NF-kappaB linked inflammation in human corneal epithelial cells

Purpose In numerous clinical and experimental studies, preservatives present in eye drops have had detrimental effects on ocular epithelial cells. The aim of this study was to compare the cytotoxic and inflammatory effects of the preservative polyquaternium-1 (PQ-1) containing Travatan (travoprost 0.004%) and Systane Ultra eye drops with benzalkonium chloride (BAK) alone or BAK-preserved Xalatan (0.005% latanoprost) eye drops in HCE-2 human corneal epithelial cell culture. Methods HCE-2 cells were exposed to the commercial eye drops Travatan, Systane Ultra, Xalatan, and the preservative BAK. Cell viability was determined using colorimetric MTT (3-(4,5-dimethyldiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide) assay and by release of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH). Induction of apoptosis was measured with a using a colorimetric caspase-3 assay kit. DNA binding of the nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) transcription factor, and productions of the proinflammatory cytokines, interleukins IL-6 and IL-8, were determined using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) method. Results Cell viability, as measured by the MTT assay, declined by up to 50% after exposure to Travatan or Systane Ultra solutions which contain 0.001% PQ-1. BAK at 0.02% rather than at 0.001% concentration evoked total cell death signs on HCE-2 cells. In addition, cell membrane permeability, as measured by LDH release, was elevated by sixfold with Travatan and by a maximum threefold with Systane Ultra. Interestingly, Travatan and Systane Ultra activated NF-κB and elevated the secretion of inflammation markers IL-6 by 3 to eightfold and IL-8 by 1.5 to 3.5 fold, respectively, as analyzed with ELISA. Conclusions Eye drops containing PQ-1 evoke cytotoxicity and enhance the NF-κB driven inflammation reaction in cultured HCE-2 cells. Our results indicate that these harmful effects of ocular solutions preserved with PQ-1 should be further evaluated in vitro and in vivo.
One Improved Collaborative Filtering Method Based on Information Transformation

Abstract-In this paper, we propose a novel method combined classical collaborative filtering (CF) and bipartite network structure. Different from the classical CF, user similarity is viewed as personal recommendation power and during the recommendation process, it will be redistributed to different users. Furthermore, a free parameter is introduced to tune the contribution of the user to the user similairty. Numerical results demonstrates that decreasing the degree of user to some extent in method performs good in rank value and hamming distance. Furthermore, the correlation between degree and similarity is concerned to sovle the drastically change of our method performance.
Effects of enteral feeding with eicosapentaenoic acid, γ-linolenic acid, and antioxidants in mechanically ventilated patients with severe sepsis and septic shock*

Objectives:Enteral diets enriched with eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), γ-linolenic acid (GLA), and antioxidants have previously been shown to improve outcomes in patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome. Several studies using animal models of sepsis demonstrate that enteral nutrition enriched with omega-3 fatty acids reduces mortality rate. This study investigated whether an enteral diet enriched with EPA, GLA, and antioxidant vitamins can improve outcomes and reduce 28-day all-cause mortality in patients with severe sepsis or septic shock requiring mechanical ventilation. Design:Prospective, double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized trial. Setting:Three different intensive care units of a tertiary hospital in Brazil. Patients:The study enrolled 165 patients. Interventions:Patients were randomized to be continuously tube-fed with either a diet enriched with EPA, GLA, and elevated antioxidants or an isonitrogenous and isocaloric control diet, delivered at a constant rate to achieve a minimum of 75% of basal energy expenditure × 1.3 during a minimum of 4 days. Measurements and Main Results:Patients were monitored for 28 days. Patients who were fed with the study diet experienced a significant reduction in mortality rate compared with patients fed with the control diet, the absolute mortality reduction amounting to 19.4% (p = .037). The group who received the study diet also experienced significant improvements in oxygenation status, more ventilator-free days (13.4 ± 1.2 vs. 5.8 ± 1.0, p < .001), more intensive care unit (ICU)-free days (10.8 ± 1.1 vs. 4.6 ± 0.9, p < .001), and a lesser development of new organ dysfunctions (p < .001). Conclusions:In patients with severe sepsis or septic shock and requiring mechanical ventilation and tolerating enteral nutrition, a diet enriched with EPA, GLA, and elevated antioxidants contributed to better ICU and hospital outcomes and was associated with lower mortality rates.
Ageing and traumatic brain injury: Age, decline in function and level of assistance over the first 10 years post-injury

Objectives: To understand the course of changes in function and need for assistance in the chronic stages of TBI; and to identify factors associated with these changes. Design: Longitudinal review of participants in the TBI Model Systems Database, who have been prospectively followed for at least 10 years. Participants: Four hundred and seventy-eight individuals with TBI that occurred between 25 October 1988 and 31 December 1998, enrolled in the TBI Model Systems National Database, eligible for 10-year follow-up when data was extracted, with completed data collection at either year 1 or 2 and year 10. Results: Significant between age group differences were found for FIM toileting, bladder, bowel, toilet transfers, locomotion, problem-solving and memory; SRS; DRS level of functioning, employability and total; and GOS. With regard to functional independence, there were significant differences by age category for all FIM components except memory. Significant differences were noted for age category and level of dependence as measured by the DRS (LOF 1.5–5) and GOS (GOS 2–4). Supervision needs significantly increased as a function of age. Significant differences were found for diminished function over time. Significant differences were noted for residence at 10 years post-injury. Conclusions: For those individuals that survive to 10 years post-TBI, age is a major factor in requiring assistance of another person for supervision as well as assistance in basic self-care, continence and mobility.
Utility of portable monitoring in the diagnosis of obstructive sleep apnea

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a common but underdiagnosed sleep disorder, which is associated with systemic consequences such as hypertension, stroke, metabolic syndrome, and ischemic heart disease. Nocturnal laboratory-based polysomnography (PSG) is the gold standard test for diagnosis of OSA. PSG consists of a simultaneous recording of multiple physiologic parameters related to sleep and wakefulness including electroencephalography (EEG), electrooculography (EOG), surface electromyography (EMG), airflow measurement using thermistor and nasal pressure transducer, pulse oximetry and respiratory effort (thoracic and abdominal). Multiple alternative and simpler methods that record respiratory parameters alone for diagnosing OSA have been developed in the past two decades. These devices are called portable monitors (PMs) and enable performing sleep studies at a lower cost with shorter waiting times. It has been observed and reported that comprehensive sleep evaluation coupled with the use of PMs can fulfill the unmet need for diagnostic testing in various out-of-hospital settings in patients with suspected OSA. This article reviews the available medical literature on PMs in order to justify the utility of PMs in the diagnosis of OSA, especially in resource-poor, high-disease burden settings. The published practice parameters for the use of these devices have also been reviewed with respect to their relevance in the Indian setting.
Race and Job Dismissal

This study combines data from 8 years (1991 to 1997 and 1999) of the Panel Study of Income Dynamics to assess predictions from the compositional and particularistic perspectives concerning the determinants of job dismissal among African American and White males during 3 years of the early work career. The findings from logistic regression analyses provide most support for the particularistic perspective. Specifically, dismissal for African Americans, relative to Whites, is widespread. Compared to Whites, African Americans are susceptible to dismissal across categories of traditional stratification-based causal factors—namely, human capital credentials (e.g., education, job absences), background socioeconomic status, and job/labor market characteristics (e.g., union status, economic sector, industry). In addition, analyses indicate that particularism as a determinant of dismissal is more pronounced in working-class than middle-class occupations.