Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The treatment of chondral lesions of the knee with the microfracture technique and platelet-rich plasma

Abstract Purpose: to assess the efficacy of associating the microfracture technique with platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections in the treatment of chondral lesions to promote acceleration and optimization of the healing process compared with the traditional microfracture approach. Methods: from September 2011 to August 2012, 20 patients (9 males and 11 females, aged 30-55 years) were treated. All presented with chondral lesions of the medial femoral condyle of the knee and a pain duration ranging from 8 to 12 months. The patients were randomized into two groups (A and B). Group A was treated with the microfracture technique and a total of three intra-articular injections of PRP. Group B was treated with microfractures alone. Clinical follow-up was performed at 3, 6 and 12 months after treatment. Clinical function was assessed on the basis of the International Knee Documentation Committee (IKDC) score. Pain was evaluated using a visual analogue scale (VAS) Results: the patients in group A had a mean baseline IKDC score of 31.2, which rose to 84.2 at 12 months. The IKDC scores in group B were at 30.1 at baseline and 81 at 12 months. Conclusions: the results of our study suggest that functional recovery and resolution of pain are obtained more quickly in PRP-treated patients. We also observed a better functional outcome in the patients treated with the combination of PRP and microfractures, even at 12 months, although the difference was not statistically significant. Level of evidence: level II, randomized clinical study.
COMPREHENSIVE INCOME IN EUROPE : VALUATION , PREDICTION AND CONSERVATIVE ISSUES

The IASB comprehensive income project extends the ‘fair value’ measurement concept from the balance sheet into the income statement. This article extends prior research, primarily based on Anglo-Saxon countries, by using a comprehensive data set of 56,700 European firm years over sixteen countries. We find that other comprehensive income provides incremental information to investors – due to unrealised available-for-sale securities component – and affects analysts’ decision to revise price estimates. On the other hand, traditional operating net income dominates aggregated comprehensive income as a valuation metric and in predicting cash flows. Results are robust to pooled and country specific regressions, controls for non-linearities, impact of reporting incentives, and the underlying accounting framework (local GAAP, US GAAP, IFRS). We also find that aggregated comprehensive income switches the conservative attributes of income towards a more timely recognition of good news over bad news, reducing the conservative agency contracting role. One possible explanation is the mixing of different concepts of operating capital increments with unrealised gains and realised historic net income. An agenda item for the IASB is how income reporting should be disaggregated with a clear delineation on capital increments, conservative operating income, and unrealised financial gains. This is especially important in Continental Europe which relies to a greater extent on debt capital and has an under-developed corpus of equity financial analysts.
Clustering Categorical Data based on Information Loss Minimization

As the size of databases continues to grow, understanding their structure gets more difficult. This, together with the lack of documentation and the unavailability of the original designers of the database adds further difficulty to the job of researchers and professionals to understand the structure of large and complex databases. At the same time, data sources are distributed over several sites and their integration introduces anomalies and often results in “dirty” databases, i.e., databases that contain erroneous or duplicate data records. Our research focuses on the application of data mining, and in particular clustering techniques, to aid the process of recovering and understanding high-level views of data sets.
Mode resolved density of atmospheric aerosol particles

In this study, we investigate the mode resolved density of ultrafine atmospheric particles measured in boreal forest environment. The method used here enables us to find the distinct density information for each mode in atmospheric fine particle population: the density values for nucleation, Aitken, and accumulation mode particles are presented. The experimental data was gained during 2 May 2005–19 May 2005 at the boreal forest measurement station "SMEAR II" in Hyytiala, Southern Finland. The density values for accumulation mode varied from 1.1 to 2 g/cm 3 (average 1.5 g/cm 3 ) and for Aitken mode from 0.4 to 2 g/cm 3 (average 0.97 g/cm 3 ). As an overall trend during the two weeks campaign, the density value of Aitken mode was seen to gradually increase. With the present method, the time dependent behaviour of the particle density can be investigated in the time scale of 10 min. This allows us to follow the density evolution of the nucleation mode particles during the particle growth process following the nucleation burst. The density of nucleation mode particles decreased during the growth process. The density values for 15 nm particles were 1.2–1.5 g/cm 3 and for grown 30 nm particles 0.5–1 g/cm 3 . These values are consistent with the present knowledge that the condensing species are semi-volatile organics, emitted from the boreal forest.
Vascular Steal Explains Early Paradoxical Blood Oxygen Level-Dependent Cerebrovascular Response in Brain Regions with Delayed Arterial Transit Times

Introduction: Blood oxygen level-dependent (BOLD) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) during manipulation of inhaled carbon dioxide (CO2) can be used to measure cerebrovascular reactivity (CVR) and map regions of exhausted cerebrovascular reserve. These regions exhibit a reduced or negative BOLD response to inhaled CO2. In this study, we sought to clarify the mechanism behind the negative BOLD response by investigating its time delay (TD). Dynamic susceptibility contrast (DSC) MRI with the injection of a contrast agent was used as the gold standard in order to provide measurement of the blood arrival time to which CVR TD could be compared. We hypothesize that if negative BOLD responses are the result of a steal phenomenon, they should be synchronized with positive BOLD responses from healthy brain tissue, even though the blood arrival time would be delayed. Methods: On a 3-tesla MRI system, BOLD CVR and DSC images were collected in a group of 19 patients with steno-occlusive cerebrovascular disease. For each patient, we generated a CVR magnitude map by regressing the BOLD signal with the end-tidal partial pressure of CO2 (PETCO2), and a CVR TD map by extracting the time of maximum cross-correlation between the BOLD signal and PETCO2. In addition, a blood arrival time map was generated by fitting the DSC signal with a gamma variate function. ROI masks corresponding to varying degrees of reactivity were constructed. Within these masks, the mean CVR magnitude, CVR TD and DSC blood arrival time were extracted and averaged over the 19 patients. CVR magnitude and CVR TD were then plotted against DSC blood arrival time. Results: The results show that CVR magnitude is highly correlated to DSC blood arrival time. As expected, the most compromised tissues with the longest blood arrival time have the lowest (most negative) CVR magnitude. However, CVR TD shows a noncontinuous relationship with DSC blood arrival time. CVR TD is well correlated to DSC blood arrival time (p < 0.0001) for tissue of positive reactivity, but fails to maintain this trend for tissue of negative reactivity. Regions with negative reactivity have similar CVR TD than healthy regions. Conclusion: These results support the hypothesis that negative reactivity is the result of a steal phenomenon, lowering the BOLD signal as soon as healthier parts of the brain start to react and augment their blood flow. BOLD CVR MRI is capable of identifying this steal distribution, which has particular diagnostic significance as it represents an actual reduction in flow to already compromised tissue.
Using linguistic predictability and the lombard effect to increase the intelligibility of synthetic speech in noise

In order to predict which words in a sentence are harder to understand in noise it is necessary to consider not only audibility but also semantic or linguistic information. This paper focuses on using linguistic predictability to inform an intelligibility enhancement method that uses Lombard-adapted synthetic speech to modify low predictable words in Speech Perception in Noise (SPIN) test sentences. Word intelligibility in the presence of speech-shaped noise was measured using plain, Lombard and a combination of the two synthetic voices. The findings show that the Lombard voice increases intelligibility in noise but the intelligibility gap between words in a high and low predictable context still remains. Using a Lombard voice when a word is unpredictable is a good strategy, but if a word is predictable from its context the Lombard benefit only occurs when other words in the sentence are also modified. Index Terms: intelligibility enhancement, speech in noise, HMM-based speech synthesis, SPIN test
Evolution and function of CAG/polyglutamine repeats in protein–protein interaction networks

Expanded runs of consecutive trinucleotide CAG repeats encoding polyglutamine (polyQ) stretches are observed in the genes of a large number of patients with different genetic diseases such as Huntington's and several Ataxias. Protein aggregation, which is a key feature of most of these diseases, is thought to be triggered by these expanded polyQ sequences in disease-related proteins. However, polyQ tracts are a normal feature of many human proteins, suggesting that they have an important cellular function. To clarify the potential function of polyQ repeats in biological systems, we systematically analyzed available information stored in sequence and protein interaction databases. By integrating genomic, phylogenetic, protein interaction network and functional information, we obtained evidence that polyQ tracts in proteins stabilize protein interactions. This happens most likely through structural changes whereby the polyQ sequence extends a neighboring coiled-coil region to facilitate its interaction with a coiled-coil region in another protein. Alteration of this important biological function due to polyQ expansion results in gain of abnormal interactions, leading to pathological effects like protein aggregation. Our analyses suggest that research on polyQ proteins should shift focus from expanded polyQ proteins into the characterization of the influence of the wild-type polyQ on protein interactions.
Facial Recognition Technology A Survey of Policy and Implementation Issues

Facial recognition technology (FRT) has emerged as an attractive solution to address many contemporary needs for identification and the verification of identity claims. It brings together the promise of other biometric systems, which attempt to tie identity to individually distinctive features of the body, and the more familiar functionality of visual surveillance systems. This report develops a socio-political analysis that bridges the technical and social-scientific literatures on FRT and addresses the unique challenges and concerns that attend its development, evaluation, and specific operational uses, contexts, and goals. It highlights the potential and limitations of the technology, noting those tasks for which it seems ready for deployment, those areas where performance obstacles may be overcome by future technological developments or sound operating procedures, and still other issues which appear intractable. Its concern with efficacy extends to ethical considerations. For the purposes of this summary, the main findings and recommendations of the report are broken down into five broad categories: performance, evaluation, operation, policy concerns, and moral and political considerations. These findings and recommendations employ certain technical concepts and language that are explained and explored in the body of the report and glossary, to which you should turn for further elaboration.
Final Project for 6 . 881 Interaction Detection in Far-Field Visual Surveillance

In this paper, we propose a framework to detect interactions between two objects in far-field visual surveillance. A set of simple interactions are first defined using trajectory analysis, which allows the description of long-range interactions based on the knowledge on the history of object movements. Complicated interactions are composed of simple interactions using the interval temporal logic. Two approaches are proposed to detect abnormal and intentional interactions. In the first approach, trajectories with attributes are extracted as features to describe interactions. Using a novel trajectory similarity measure, the similarity between two interactions is defined. Abnormal interactions are detected as outlier samples of the interaction set. In the second approach, the activity of each object is modeled as a Hidden Markov Model (HMM). We detect intentional interactions, by computing the mutual information between the two HMMs.
Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor-Mediated Neuroprotection of Adult Rat Retinal Ganglion Cells In Vivo Does Not Exclusively Depend on Phosphatidyl-Inositol-3′-Kinase/Protein Kinase B Signaling

The neurotrophin brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) serves as a survival, mitogenic, and differentiation factor in both the developing and adult CNS and PNS. In an attempt to identify the molecular mechanisms underlying BDNF neuroprotection, we studied activation of two potentially neuroprotective signal transduction pathways by BDNF in a CNS trauma model. Transection of the optic nerve (ON) in the adult rat induces secondary death of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs). Repeated intraocular injections of BDNF prevent the degeneration of RGCs 14 d after ON lesion most likely by inhibition of apoptosis. Here, we report that BDNF activates both protein kinase B (PKB) via a phosphatidyl-inositol-3′-kinase (PI-3-K)-dependent mechanism and the mitogen-activated protein kinases extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1 (ERK1) and ERK2. Furthermore, we provide evidence that BDNF suppresses cleavage and enzymatic activity of the neuronal cell death effector caspase-3. Distinct from our recent study in which inhibition of the PI-3-K/PKB pathway attenuated the survival-promoting action of insulin-like growth factor-I on axotomized RGCs (Kermer et al., 2000), it does not in the case of BDNF. Thus, we assume that BDNF does not depend on a single signal transduction pathway exerting its neuroprotective effects on lesioned CNS neurons.
Effects of rat anti-VEGF antibody in a rat model of corneal graft rejection by topical and subconjunctival routes

Purpose To compare the effect of a rat anti-VEGF antibody, administered either by topical or subconjunctival (SC) routes, on a rat model of corneal transplant rejection. Methods Twenty-four rats underwent corneal transplantation and were randomized into four treatment groups (n=6 in each group). G1 and G2 received six SC injections (0.02 ml 10 µg/ml) of denatured (G1) or active (G2) anti-VEGF from Day 0 to Day 21 every third day. G3 and G4 were instilled three times a day with denatured (G3) or active (G4) anti-VEGF drops (10 µg/ml) from Day 0 to Day 21. Corneal mean clinical scores (MCSs) of edema (E), transparency (T), and neovessels (nv) were recorded at Days 3, 9, 15, and 21. Quantification of neovessels was performed after lectin staining of vessels on flat mounted corneas. Results Twenty-one days after surgery, MCSs differed significantly between G1 and G2, but not between G3 and G4, and the rejection rate was significantly reduced in rats receiving active antibodies regardless of the route of administration (G2=50%, G4=66.65% versus G1 and G3=100%; p<0.05). The mean surfaces of neovessels were significantly reduced in groups treated with active anti-VEGF (G2, G4). However, anti-VEGF therapy did not completely suppress corneal neovessels. Conclusions Specific rat anti-VEGF antibodies significantly reduced neovascularization and subsequent corneal graft rejection. The SC administration of the anti-VEGF antibody was more effective than topical instillation.
μFLU12-133 CONTROL OF FLOW AND PROTEIN ADSORPTION ON PLASMA NANOTEXTURED POLYMERIC MICROFLUIDICS

Plasma processing is demonstrated as a generic technology to fabricate, roughen, control the wetting properties, create well controlled passive hydrophobic valves, and finally also control the protein adsorption in polymeric microfluidic channels. Lithography and deep anisotropic O2 plasma etching directly on polymeric substrates were utilized to pattern microchannels, at conditions where very controllably rough bottom walls were obtained. Alternatively, hot embossing of a polymer with a master followed by plasma nanotexturing was used to controllably roughen the microchannels. Where desirable, the rough surfaces were hydrophobized by means of a C4F8 plasma deposition step through a stencil mask creating hydrophobic/superhydrophobic stripes / patches. The superhydrophobic patch plays the role of an on/off valve with predesigned threshold pressure for opening determined by the channel dimensions and roughness of the patch. In such microchannels, protein adsorption was controlled by the surface roughness showing null adsorption on superhydrophobic stripes and greatly enhanced adsorption on rough superhydrophilic stripes. Such control inside microchannels can be applied in autonomous microfluidic lab on chip systems for bio analysis. *evgog@imel.demokritos. gr MICROFLUIDICS2012 Proceedings of the 3 European Conference on Microfluidics Microfluidics 2012 Heidelberg, December 3-5, 2012 © SHF 2012 2
Tackling the Cognitive Processes That Underlie Brands' Assessments Using Artificial Neural Networks and Whole Brain fMRI Acquisitions

This exploratory study proposes the use of artificial neural networks to analyze whole brain fMRI data. Because fMRI data is dimensionally exorbitant, the first step is to reduce the amount of data to a tractable size, which is accomplished using probabilistic independent component analysis (PICA). Then data enters a simple back propagation feed forward neural network. This network outputs correct predictions above chance level in a different sample of subjects. More interestingly, it is found that hidden nodes segregate and concentrate different, but coherent, brain networks, which are the target of interpretations to support cognitive processes during the assessment of brands' logos.
FISHING DOWN MARINE FOOD WEB: IT IS FAR MORE PERVASIVE THAN WE THOUGHT

The widespread call for a transition toward “ecosystem-based” fisheries manage ment implies the development and testing of sustainability indicators suitable for inferences on the status of the ecosystems within which fisheries resource species are embedded. The mean trophic level (TL) of fisheries catches has been shown to allow for such inferences, leading in the process to the identification of global trends toward catches being increasingly dominated by low-TL species, a process now known as “fishing down marine food webs. ” However, for inferences from TL trends to be accurate, taxonomic and especially geographic over-aggregation of the underlying catch data must be avoided. Accounting for these strong sources of bias suggests that the fishing down effect is far more pervasive than previously thought, and in fact occurs in areas where initial analyses failed to detect it. This confirms the common verdict of absent sustainability for most fisheries of the world. This is il lustrated here by five brief case studies, of which three also document a new method for estimating ecosystem transfer efficiency, under a set of specific conditions, from time series of catches and their corresponding mean TL. Some suggestions are given on how work in this area might proceed.
Role of the bga1-Encoded Extracellular β-Galactosidase of Hypocrea jecorina in Cellulase Induction by Lactose

ABSTRACT Lactose is the only soluble and economically feasible carbon source for the production of cellulases or heterologous proteins regulated by cellulase expression signals by Hypocrea jecorina (Trichoderma reesei). We investigated the role of the major β-galactosidase of H. jecorina in lactose metabolism and cellulase induction. A genomic copy of the bga1 gene was cloned, and this copy encodes a 1,023-amino-acid protein with a 20-amino-acid signal sequence. This protein has a molecular mass of 109.3 kDa, belongs to glycosyl hydrolase family 35, and is the major extracellular β-galactosidase during growth on lactose. Its transcript was abundant during growth on l-arabinose and l-arabinitol but was much less common when the organism was grown on lactose, d-galactose, galactitol, d-xylose, and xylitol. Δbga1 strains grow more slowly and accumulate less biomass on lactose, but the cellobiohydrolase I and II gene expression and the final cellulase yields were comparable to those of the parental strain. Overexpression of bga1 under the control of the pyruvate kinase promoter reduced the lag phase, increased growth on lactose, and limited transcription of cellobiohydrolases. We detected an additional extracellular β-galactosidase activity that was not encoded by bga1 but no intracellular β-galactosidase activity. In conclusion, cellulase production on lactose occurs when β-galactosidase activity levels are low but decreases as the β-galactosidase activities increase. The data indicate that bga1-encoded β-galactosidase activity is a critical factor for cellulase production on lactose.
Particular aspects in the cytogenetics and molecular biology of salivary gland tumours – current review of reports

Salivary gland tumours are a group of lesions whose heterogeneity of biological and pathological features is widely reflected in the molecular aspect. This is demonstrated by an increasing number of studies in the field of genetics of these tumours. The aim of this study was to collect the most significant scientific reports on the cytogenetic and molecular data concerning these tumours, which might facilitate the identification of potential biomarkers and therapeutic targets. The analysis covered 71 papers included in the PubMed database. We focused on the most common tumours, such as pleomorphic adenoma, Warthin tumour, mucoepidermoid carcinoma, and others. The aim of this study is to present current knowledge about widely explored genotypic alterations (such as PLAG1 gene in pleomorphic adenoma or MECT1 gene in mucoepidermoid carcinoma), and also about rare markers, like Mena or SOX10 protein, which might also be associated with tumourigenesis and carcinogenesis of these tumours.
Conically shaped remote center-of-motion mechanism for single-incision surgery

In this paper, we introduce a remote center-of-motion (RCM) mechanism with a conical shape for laparoscopic surgeries that involve a single incision. The mechanism, which has two revolute joints and one prismatic joint, is designed to maintain a stationary point at the apex of the conical shape. By aligning the stationary point with the incision area, the mechanism allows a surgical instrument to explore the abdominal area through a small incision point. We have previously analyzed the reachable workspace of this mechanism. Here, we arrange two RCM mechanisms on a single conical structure but separated in space to avoid mutual interference, so as to enable the entire system to manipulate two surgical instruments through a single incision point without colliding. We describe the operational principle of this system, in addition to comparisons of various RCM mechanisms and the kinematics for parameter design and motion control. Finally, we describe preliminary experiments on peg transfer and suture motion by using the proposed RCM mechanism.