Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Thrombolyse-Therapie beim akuten Schlaganfall

Zusammenfassung Der pathophysiologische Hintergrund der Thrombolyse beim akuten Schlaganfall besteht in einer raschen Wiederherstellung des Blutflusses, um die zerebrale Ischämie hinsichtlich Dauer und Ausprägung so gering als möglich zu halten. Mit der medikamentösen Fibrinolyse (Streptokinase, Urokinase, GewebeplasminogenAktivator) stehen Substanzen zur Verfügung, die proteolytisch wirksam sind und mehr oder weniger selektiv zur Aktivierung von Plasmin führen, das wiederum fibrinreiche Thromben auflöst. Zur Fibrinolyse beim akuten Schlaganfall wurden zahlreiche klinische Studien durchgeführt, die allerdings auf Grund der Anwendung verschiedener Substanzen und der Wahl unterschiedlicher Zeitfenster nicht verglichen werden können. Für die derzeitige Entscheidung am Krankenbett wird daher überwiegend auf die Datenlage einer Metaanalyse dreier Studien (NINDS, ECASS I, ECASS II) zurückgegriffen. Unter Studienbedingungen zeigte sich ein OddsRatio von 1,4 (Konfidenzintervall: 1,1-1,9) bis 2,8 (Konfidenzintervall: 1,8-4,5) im Hinblick auf die Verhinderung von Tod oder schwerer körperlicher Behinderung bei der Anwendung einer Fibrinolyse mit rt-PA (0,9 mg/kg Körpergewicht) abhängig vom Zeitfenster (Symptombeginn bis maximal 3 Stunden). Allerdings ist das Blutungsrisiko deutlich erhöht (13,9% bei lysebehandelten Patienten versus 4,3% bei nicht-lysebehandelten Patienten), das unter Studienbedingungen nicht mit einer erhöhten Letalität einherging. Aktuelle Beobachtungsstudien zur Fibrinolyse im klinischen Alltag unter Nicht-Studienbedingungen weisen aber auf eine deutlich erhöhte Rate an Komplikationen und eine erhöhte Letalität hin, vor allem wenn die Einrichtungen über eine geringe Lyse-Expertise verfügen. Derzeit soll eine Lyse-Behandlung daher nur an Einrichtungen mit entsprechender Erfahrung, zum Beispiel Stroke Units oder neurologische Intensivstationen, durchgeführt werden. In der weiteren Zukunft können Fortschritte durch die Entwicklung neuer sicherer Lyse-Substanzen, durch die adjuvante Ultraschallbehandlung im Sinne einer Thrombotripsie und die Analyse des individuellen Zeitfensters des Patienten durch Vergleich der Befunde der multimodalen Bildgebung mit MR oder CT erwartet
Applying therapies and technologies to the treatment of dysgraphia: combining neuropsychological techniques and compensatory devices to enhance use of writing via the internet

Effective writing rehabilitation for people with acquired dysgraphia following a stroke could lead to more opportunities to communicate, reduce isolation and improve quality of life. Previous research has suggested that both impairment-focused spelling therapies and assistive technologies can support writing rehabilitation, although the strength of the evidence is limited. The central aim of this PhD study was to investigate whether a combined approach to writing therapy, including impairment-based therapies and assistive technologies, could improve the email writing of participants with varying severity of acquired dysgraphia. An email writing assessment was developed for outcome measurement and data from 42 control participants were collated to determine the neuro-typical range of email writing performance on this task. A within-participants, multiple case design was used to evaluate the effects of two different approaches to therapy with participants with dysgraphia. In the first study, two impairment-based therapies (uni-modal and multi-modal) were compared with eight participants with dysgraphia and the effects of these on spelling accuracy of treated and untreated words were measured. The functional outcomes (email writing, written picture description, writing frequency and perception of disability) of these therapies were also investigated in a second study. The third study evaluated the effects of training eight participants with dysgraphia (six of whom had participated in the first two studies) to use an assistive writing technology for functional writing. There was a wide range of performance in neuro-typical participants on email writing, with both age and education emerging as determinants of performance. Within the clinical studies, there were no significant differences between uni-modal and multi-modal therapies with respect to spelling accuracy, but these lexical therapies led to significant improvements to accuracy of treated and untreated words, written picture description and word length within emails. Training and use of assistive writing software resulted in significant improvements in spelling accuracy and word length within emails. All participants with dysgraphia showed some responsiveness to intervention. Both impairment-based and compensatory approaches to writing rehabilitation were found to have benefit, although the effects varied across participants and outcome measures. This study has highlighted the need for further research into assessments and therapies for writing in aphasia, specifically focusing on candidacy for specific approaches to writing rehabilitation.
Utility of therapeutic drug monitoring in the management of HIV-infected pregnant women in receipt of lopinavir

The pharmacokinetics of antiretroviral drugs in pregnancy is poorly understood. We reviewed the use of therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) in clinical settings to document plasma concentrations of lopinavir during pregnancy and investigated how clinicians acted upon TDM results. A retrospective review was carried out of all HIV-infected pregnant women taking boosted lopinavir-based highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) at five National Health Service (NHS) centres in the UK between May 2004 and March 2007. Seventy-three women in receipt of lopinavir were identified, of whom 89% had plasma lopinavir concentrations above the suggested minimum recommended for wild-type HIV. Initial TDM results prompted dosage change in 10% and assessment of adherence and/or pharmacist review in 11%. TDM was repeated in 29%. TDM can play an important role in the clinical management of HIV-positive pregnant women, allowing informed dose modification and an alternative measure of adherence.
Sline: Seamless Line Illustration for Interactive Biomedical Visualization

In medical visualization of surface information, problems often arise when visualizing several overlapping structures simultaneously. There is a trade-off between visualizing multiple structures in a detailed way and limiting visual clutter, in order to allow users to focus on the main structures. Illustrative visualization techniques can help alleviate these problems by defining a level of abstraction per structure. However, clinical uptake of these advanced visualization techniques so far has been limited due to the complex parameter settings required. To bring advanced medical visualization closer to clinical application, we propose a novel illustrative technique that offers a seamless transition between various levels of abstraction and detail. Using a single comprehensive parameter, users are able to quickly define a visual representation per structure that fits the visualization requirements for focus and context structures. This technique can be applied to any biomedical context in which multiple surfaces are routinely visualized, such as neurosurgery, radiotherapy planning or drug design. Additionally, we introduce a novel hatching technique, that runs in real-time and does not require texture coordinates. An informal evaluation with experts from different biomedical domains reveals that our technique allows users to design focus-and-context visualizations in a fast and intuitive manner.
Development of a New Isogenic Cell-Xenograft System for Evaluation of NAD(P)H:Quinone Oxidoreductase-Directed Antitumor Quinones

Purpose: The purpose of our study was to develop and validate an isogenic cell line pair that differs only in the expression of NAD(P)H:quinone oxidoreductase (NQO1) that can be used to examine the in vitro and in vivo role of NQO1 in the bioactivation of the antitumor quinone RH1 (2,5-diaziridinyl-3-(hydroxymethyl)-6-methyl-1,4-benzoquinone), a compound currently in Phase I clinical trials. Experimental Design: MDA-MB-468 (MDA468) human breast adenocarcinoma cells, homozygous for a polymorphism in NQO1 (NQO1*2/*2) and with low levels of NQO1 activity, were stably transfected with human NQO1 to generate a clone (NQ16) expressing very high NQO1 activity. We examined levels of other reductases and looked at biochemical systems that might influence response to antitumor quinones to validate that the isogenic cell line pair differed only in the expression of NQO1. The 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2,5-diphenyl)tetrazolium (MTT) assay was used to determine the differential toxicity of various quinones, including the most recent NQO1-directed antitumor quinone, RH1, between the two cell lines. Human tumor xenografts were established from both MDA468 and NQ16 cells, and the antitumor activity of RH1 was evaluated. Results: Levels of cytochrome P450 reductase, cytochrome b5 reductase, soluble thiols, and superoxide dismutase in the NQ16 line were unchanged from the parental line. The functional significance of wild-type NQO1 expression was confirmed by measurement of the differential toxicity of compounds activated or deactivated by NQO1 in the two cell lines. The toxicity of the NQO1-directed antitumor quinones RH1 and streptonigrin were markedly greater and the toxicity of menadione, which is detoxified by NQO1, was ameliorated in the NQ16 line. High levels of NQO1 expression were observed throughout xenograft tumors established from the NQ16 cell line. RH1 treatment was effective at statistically reducing tumor volume in NQ16 xenografts at all of the doses tested [0.1, 0.2, 0.4 mg/kg every day for 5 days), whereas only the highest dose of RH1 resulted in a significant reduction in tumor volume in MDA468 xenografts. Conclusions: The MDA468/NQ16 isogenic cell line pair is a useful model system for evaluating the role of NQO1 in the bioactivation of antitumor quinones in both cell lines and xenografts. In addition, our data demonstrate that the novel antitumor quinone RH1, is effectively activated by NQO1 both in vitro and in vivo.
Histopathological and Bacteriological Study on Hepatic Abscesses of Herrik Sheep

Background: Liver abscesses constitute a major economic problem and there exists very less information in association with liver abscesses in ovine. Although studies in several countries have reported on the incidence of ovine hepatic abscesses at abattoirs, few surveys have identified the etiology and pathological characteristics of these abscesses. Aim: The aim of this research is histopathological and bacteriological study on hepatic abscesses of Herrik sheep. Methods: The lesion specimens of 5000 condemned sheep livers were collected from four provinces (Western Azerbaijan, Eastern Azerbaijan, Kordestan and Kermanshah) abattoirs for bacteriological (aerobic and anaerobic) culture and pathologic examination. Results: Grossly, 230 liver abscesses (4.6%) found that 110 cases were in female sheep (47.8%) and 120 cases were in male sheep (52.1%). Most of the abscesses were found in diaphragmatic surface (23.48%), visceral surface (22.1%) and right lobes (21.3%) of the livers. Regarding the presence of abscesses, there was no significant difference between sexes, lobes and surfaces of livers (p>0.05). The following bacteria were isolated: from 120 of which, Corynebacterium (52.4%) was isolated, and from 26 of which, Pasteurella (11.3%), from 25 of which, Escherichia coli (11.1%), from 16 of which, Proteus (7.2%), from 16 of which, Pseudomonas aeruginosa (7.2%), from 13 of which, streptococcus (5.5%), from 12 of which, staphylococcus (5.3%) were isolated and no bacteria were isolated from the remaining 2 liver abscesses. Conclusions: Our study suggested that Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis is the most prevalent bacterium incriminated for hepatic abscesses in sheep. Histologically, these lesions had a core of caseous necrosis, encircled by a zone of necrotic phagocytic cells and bacteria with cellular characteristics of Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis and a connective tissue capsule with calcification
A localization algorithm for wireless sensor networks on power grid cables

Wireless sensor networks (WSN), as a cutting-edge techniques in information acquisition and processing, can be widely used in many areas. WSN used in fault localization system on power grid cables is the research focus of intelligent power grid. We improve the traditional DV_Hop algorithm and propose a feasible method of failure localization which can be applied on power grid cables.
Poliovirus empty capsid morphogenesis: evidence for conformational differences between self- and extract-assembled empty capsids

In this paper we describe the use of specific proteinases, surface-specific radioiodination, and antigenic reactivity in conjunction with isoelectric focusing for probing the conformations of different polioviral empty capsid species. Naturally occurring empty capsids (called procapsids) with an isoelectric point of 6.8 were resistant to proteolytic digestion by trypsin or chymotrypsin, as were empty capsids assembled in vitro in the presence of a cytoplasmic extract prepared from poliovirus-infected HeLa cells. In contrast, self-assembled empty capsids (isoelectric point, 5.0) were sensitive to both proteinases. Capsid proteins VP0 and VP1 were attacked predominantly, whereas VP3 was resistant to cleavage. Unpolymerized 14S particles possessed a trypsin sensitivity which was qualitatively similar to that of self-assembled empty shells. Surface-specific iodination of virions and procapsids labeled VP1 exclusively. In contrast, radioiodination of self-assembled empty capsids labeled predominantly VP0. After radioiodination the sedimentation coefficient corrected to water at 20 degrees C, the isoelectric point, and the trypsin resistance of the procapsids remained unchanged. Procapsids and extract-assembled empty capsids were N antigenic, whereas self-assembled empty capsids were H antigenic. Self-assembled empty capsids were not converted to pH 6.8 trypsin-resistant structures by incubation with a virus-infected cytoplasmic extract. However, 14S particles assembled in the presence of a mock-infected extract formed empty capsids, 20% of which resembled extract-assembled empty shells as determined by the above-described criteria. These and related findings are discussed in terms of empty capsid structure and morphogenesis.
Pain attacks in non-complicated and complicated gallstone disease have a characteristic pattern and are accompanied by dyspepsia in most patients: The results of a prospective study

Objective. The cardinal indication for surgical treatment of gallstones is pain attacks. However, following cholecystectomy, 20% of patients remain symptomatic. It is unclear to what extent post-cholecystectomy symptoms can be ascribed to persistence of preoperative symptoms or to new pathology. The pain and digestive pattern in gallstone patients has not been defined in a recent setting with ultrasonography as the diagnostic method. The aim of this study was to characterize a pain pattern that is typical for gallstone disease and to describe the extent of associated dyspepsia. Material and methods. A total of 220 patients with symptomatic gallstone disease including complicated disease (acute cholecystitis and common bile duct stones) were interviewed using detailed questionnaires to disclose pain patterns and symptoms of indigestion. Results. All patients had pain in the right upper quadrant (RUQ) including the upper midline epigastrium. The pain was localized to the right subcostal area in 20% and to the upper epigastrium in 14%, and in the rest (66%) it was more evenly distributed. An area of maximal pain could be defined in 90%. Maximal pain was located under the costal arch in 51% of patients and in the epigastrium in 41%, but in 3% behind the sternum and in 5% in the back. The pain was referred to the back in 63% of the patients. The mean visual analogue scale (VAS) score was very high: 90 mm on a 0–100 scale. A pattern of incipient or low-grade warning pain with a subsequent relatively steady state until subsiding in the same fashion was present in 90% of the patients. An urge to walk around was experienced by 71%. Pain attacks usually occurred in the late evening or at night (77%), with 85% of the attacks lasting for more than one hour and almost never less than half an hour. Sixty-six percent of the patients were intolerant to at least one kind of food, but only 48% to fatty foods. Symptoms of functional indigestion (gastroesophageal reflux, dyspepsia or irritable bowel symptoms) were seen in the vast majority in association with attacks. Conclusions. Gallstone-associated pain follows a certain pattern in the majority of patients. The pain is located in a defined area with a point of maximum intensity, is usually referred, and occurs mainly at night with duration of more than one hour. The majority of patients experience functional indigestion, mainly of the reflux type or dyspepsia.
Marker-controlled segmentation: an application to electrical borehole imaging

An application of marker-controlled segmentation in petroleum engineering is presented. The images to be segmented originate from high-resolution conductivity measurements of borehole walls. These measurements reflect the composition and structure of the rock formation through which the well was drilled. In this application, we detect and measure small cavities, or vugs, in the walls. We use the tools provided by mathematical morphology. Our strategy is based on gradient image modification using markers and on the watershed transformation. First, the vugs are automatically marked, as well as the background. These markers together delineate areas of interest in which we know there is one contour per vug. To find the vug contour and perform measurements, we modify the gradient image in such a way that only a single edge is kept between the vug and the background markers. We perform the final step of edge detection using the watershed transformation of the modified gradient image. The final result is one closed contour per marked vug. This strategy is presented in detail, experimental results are shown, and artifact elimination is discussed.
Direction of arrival estimation using nested vector-sensor arrays via tensor modeling

We propose a new class of nested vector-sensor arrays, via tensor modeling, which is capable of increasing the number of degrees of freedom (DOFs) for direction-of-arrival (DOA) estimation, compared with the uniform linear array (ULA). By using one component's information of the interspectral tensor, the proposed nested vector-sensor array can provide O(N2) DOFs with only N physical sensors. To utilize the increased DOFs, a novel spatial smoothing approach is proposed, which preserves the data structure and avoids reorganization via tensor modeling. Further, we propose corresponding direction of arrival (DOA) estimation strategies. Based on the analytical results, we consider two main applications: electromagnetic (EM) vector sensors and acoustic vector sensors. We show that the DOA estimation performance is greatly improved due to the combination of the nested-array strategy and tensor modeling. The effectiveness of the proposed methods is verified through numerical examples.
Expression of human cytokines dramatically improves reconstitution of specific human-blood lineage cells in humanized mice

Adoptive transfer of human hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) into mice lacking T, B and natural killer (NK) cells leads to development of human-blood lineage cells in the recipient mice (humanized mice). Although human B cell reconstitution is robust and T cell reconstitution is reasonable in the recipient mice, reconstitution of NK cells and myeloid cells is generally poor or undetectable. Here, we show that the poor reconstitution is mainly the result of a deficiency of appropriate human cytokines that are necessary for the development and maintenance of these cell lineages. When plasmid DNA encoding human IL-15 and Flt-3/Flk-2 ligand were delivered into humanized mice by hydrodynamic tail-vein injection, the expression of the human cytokine lasted for 2 to 3 weeks and elevated levels of NK cells were induced for more than a month. The cytokine-induced NK cells expressed both activation and inhibitory receptors, killed target cells in vitro, and responded robustly to a virus infection in vivo. Similarly, expression of human GM-CSF and IL-4, macrophage colony stimulating factor, or erythropoietin and IL-3 resulted in significantly enhanced reconstitution of dendritic cells, monocytes/macrophages, or erythrocytes, respectively. Thus, human cytokine gene expression by hydrodynamic delivery is a simple and efficient method to improve reconstitution of specific human-blood cell lineages in humanized mice, providing an important tool for studying human immune responses and disease progression in a small animal model.
THE DYNAMICS AND DECISION MAKING PROCESS OF CONDUCTING POST-GRADUATE STUDY IN SCHOOL OF MANAGEMENT

This research is officially intended to investigate the dynamic alteration relating to the knowledge of management fields, particularly in responding the unpredictable changes of either internal or external environments. Besides, we employ the quantitative and qualitative approaches in discovering the triggering factors cause the non-management students conducting their study in the graduate, and post graduate school of management. We use 80 respondents comprise of 30 students who study in Doctoral program and 50 students from Master program. This sample is meticulously selected by implementing judgement sampling method and involving students who have nonlinear background referring to management studies. Hereby, we note that there are various types of reasons from the respondents to commence their study in management program (Master and Doctoral). These all factors are regarding to students’ decisions, process, tuition fee, social economics background, motivation, facilities, references, reputations, and the products offered by the service provider. We inferred that the main factor which makes the management program become more interesting and remarkably growth than the other fields of study, is relating to its ability in responding the significant changes of internal or external needs of users. Also, the social science knowledge obviously performs the dynamics alteration in various perspectives, especially in terms of human resource management, operational and production, marketing, finance, information system, and service sector. Therefore, management program seems to be more interesting and shows promising progress with respect to the origin of social science. Keywords: Management, decisions, quality, process, motivation, reputation. JEL Classification: M10
Characterization and Modeling of an SiGe HBT Technology for Transceiver Applications in the 100–300-GHz Range

This paper describes a methodology for extracting and verifying the high-frequency model parameters of the HICUM L0 and L2 models of a silicon-germanium HBT from device and circuit measurements in the 110-325-GHz range. For the first time, the non-quasi-static effects, missing in the HICUM/L0 model, are found to be essential in accurately capturing the frequency dependence of the transistor maximum available power gain beyond the inflection frequency for unconditional stability. Furthermore, it is demonstrated that the optimal partitioning of the area and periphery components of the junction base-emitter, base-collector, and collector-substrate capacitances, and of the internal and external base and collector resistances can only be determined from S -parameter measurements beyond 200 GHz. The extracted models are validated on state-of-the-art linear and nonlinear circuits (amplifier, voltage-controlled oscillator (VCO), and VCO + divider chain) operating at frequencies as high as 240 GHz.