Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Head and neck squamous cell cancer – the role of computed tomography enhanced with perfusion imaging in tumour staging

ded value of computed tomography perfusion (CTP) images combined with contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CECT) images in staging of head and neck squamous cell cancer (SCC). Material and methods: Forty-seven consecutive patients with histologically proven squamous cell cancer of the head and neck and qualified for surgical treatment were prospectively evaluated in 2 groups: based on CECT multiplanar reformations (axial, coronal and sagittal), and separately, based on CTP images combined with CECT data. Tumour stage was assessed in each group separately, with special emphasis on T4 stage, and results were compared with histological findings. Five patients underwent endoscopic laser tumour resection, 11 underwent other tumour resection (glossectomy, pharyngectomy) and 31 patients underwent en-bloc resection of the hypopharynx and larynx, allowing detailed pathological evaluation of possible tumour infiltration into surrounding structures. Two experienced head and neck radiologists evaluated the images. Inter-observer agreement was tested with the modified κ test. The χ2 test was applied to compare the number of correctly staged tumours for the two methods and readers. Results: Inter-observer agreement was high (k = 0.88-0.90). Significant differences between the two groups were observed; with added CTP assessment more anatomical structures were rated positive for tumour infiltration and diagnostic accuracy of this method was significantly higher when compared to CECT images. Sole evaluation of CECT images in less advanced cases led to overestimation of the disease, since inflammation and slight oedema could not be differentiated from tumour. Conclusions: Contrast-enhanced computed tomography multi-planar images enhanced with CTP images were proven to improve accuracy in head and neck cancer staging. The added value of CTP may help to avoid overestimation of the malignant process and at the same time may facilitate depiction all infiltrated structures.
Lectures on Mixing Times

These lecture notes correspond to a graduate course I taught at Cambridge University in 2008. I would like to thank in particular Ismael Bailleul, Richard Pymar, and Perla Sousi for their contributions. The notes were extensively revised and extended to include representation theory in 2011 when I taught part of this material again at Ecole Polytechnique in Paris, and further after a mini-course in Edinburgh at the occasion of a workshop on probability theory and representation theory. I wish to express my thanks to the organisers for the opportunity to present this material.
Changes in Organic Acid Contents and Related Metabolic Enzyme Activities at Different Stages of Growth of Two Tangerine Cultivars

Citric acid accumulation and decline and its related enzymes were studied at different stages of growth of two tangerine cultivars, ‘Sai Num Phueng’ and ‘See Thong’. Citric acidcontent increased to the peak at early growth stage (16-24 weeks after full bloom, WAF), then decreased rapidly for 28-34 WAFand slightly decreased during maturation (35-37 WAF). ‘Sai Num Phueng’ had higher citric acid content than ‘See Thong’. The activities of enzymes citrate synthase in mitochondrial fraction, aconitase in both mitochondrial and cytosolic fractions and NADP-isocitrate dehydrogenase (IDH) in cytosolic fraction were determined. The changes in these three enzyme activities followed similar patterns in both cultivars. For 16-24 WAF, citrate synthase activity increased and aconitase activity decreased in mitochondrial fraction, which accelerated the increasingin citric acid content of both cultivars. Therefore, citrate synthase and aconitase enzymes in mitochondria were essential forcitric acid accumulation at early growth stage. During 28-34 WAF, aconitase and NADP-IDH activities in cytosolic fraction were induced with the concomitant decrease of citric acid content. Thus, aconitase in cytosol played a key role in the reduction of citric acid. NADP-IDH could be consisted with aconitase for enhancement the reduction of citric acid in cytosol. Aconitase activity could account for the difference in citric acid contentbetween ‘Sai Num Phueng’ and ‘See Thong’. It was also found that the level of citrate synthase activity was quite similar between the two cultivars but aconitase activity was lower in ‘Sai Num Phueng’ than in ‘See Thong’.
PRONIOSOMAL GEL AS A CARRIER FOR TRANSDERMAL DRUG DELIVERY OF CLOTRIMAZOLE Research Article

Niosomes are non-ionic based surfactant vesicles that have potential application in the delivery of hydrophobic and hydrophilic drugs. Clotrimazole is an antifungal drug widely used in the treatment of fungal infections such as ring worm, tenia pedis, tenia cruriris, jock itch etc. It’s oral route is associated with severe side effects in the g.i. t. Transdermal drug delivery has been recognized as an alternative route to oral delivery. Proniosomal gel offers a versatile delivery concept with the potential for drug delivery via the transdermal route. In this study different proniosomal gel bases were prepared using different non-ionic surfactants such as Span 60, Span 40, Brij 72 and Tween 80 and characterized by light microscopy, S.E. M, assessed for their rate of spontaneity, drug entrapment, and stability. The release through cellulose membrane and hairless mice skin was also carried out. The proniosomes prepared from Span 60: Cholesterol (9:1) proved to be stable with high entrapment and release efficiencies as compared to Span 40, Brij 72 and Tween 80. Proniosomal gel may be a promising carrier for the transdermal delivery of the antifungal drug Clotrimazole.
Screening for Plasmid-Mediated Multidrug Resistant Bacteria in Ikpoba River Water Samples

The abuse and extensive use of antimicrobial agents by humans may increase resistant bacteria populations in the aquatic environment. The discharge of untreated wastewater into rivers and other non-point sources of pollution have led to the antibiotic resistant bacteria in the environment, particularly in surface waters. Studies on river water pollution and their implication to public health has been ongoing. Screening for multi-drug resistant bacterial status of Ikpoba River in Benin City, Nigeria was carried out using standard microbiological and physicochemical procedures. The bacteria isolated from the river water samples were E. coli, Salmonella sp, Vibrio sp, Staphylococcus aureus, and Streptococcus faecalis. The antibiotics susceptibility testing of the isolates revealed a multi-drug resistant status for Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus faecalis. The plasmid profile of these multi-drug resistant isolates was determined and results revealed that both isolates harboured plasmid of size 4.5kb. Antibiotic susceptibility of the isolates when cured of plasmid revealed loss of resistance to over 75% of the antibiotics they were originally resistant to. The microbial and physicochemical properties of the river showed that it is unfit for human consumption. The Plasmid mediated multidrug resistant status of some of the isolates is a threat to chemotherapy and is a cause for public health concern.
Clean Agents in Explosion Inerting

The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) observed during explosion tests that at low concentrations candidate halon replacement agents increased the explosion severity instead of mitigating the event. At UTC Aerospace Systems a test program was developed to assess the behaviour of alternative agents at values below inerting concentration. Two agents were selected, C2HF5 (Pentafluoroethane, HFC-125) and C6F12O (FK-5-1-12, Novec™1230). Baseline tests were performed with unsuppressed C3H8 (propane)/air mixtures and C3H8/air mixtures with CF3Br (Halon 1301) and N2 (nitrogen). Using CF3Br or N2 at below inerting concentrations mitigated the explosion. C2HF5 was tested against C3H8 at stoichiometric (4 vol%) and lower explosion limit (LEL) (2 vol%). Against 4 vol% C3H8 the combustion was mitigated, proportional to agent concentration; however, low concentrations of C2HF5with 2 vol% C3H8 enhanced the explosion. Tests with N2 against a volatile mixture of C3H8 with C2HF5 showed that N2 mitigated the events. Final tests were performed with low concentrations of C6F12O against C3H8/air mixtures. This showed similar behaviour to that observed with the C2HF5 tests. Normally during qualification tests for new agents the stoichiometric concentration of a fuel is deemed to be the worst case scenario and the baseline against which agents are tested. The above described test results show that this assumption may need to be reconsidered. This work shows that contrary to common assumption the agents investigated did not act chemically at the flame front, but mainly cooled the flame and changed the stoichiometry, i.e. the ratio of components of the flammable mixture.
Designing a Luminescence Assay to Measure In Vitro Binding of the Fibronectin Attachment Protein (FAP) of Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis to Fibronectin

The attachment and penetration of epithelial cells by Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis (MAP) requires a bacterial fibronectin (FN) attachment protein FAP-P, which facilitates binding of FN by MAP. The region of FAP-P that interacts with FN is known, however, the region of FN that is bound by FAP-P is to be determined. Identification of the region of FN to which FAP-P binds would enable the synthesis of a competing peptide that could prevent FN binding by MAP. The first step toward locating this binding site is the design of a reliable FN binding assay. The purpose of this investigation was to determine the optimal conditions (time, temperature, probe concentration, specificity, and color of assay plates) necessary for sensitive, specific binding of FN by FAP-P. Biotinylated peptides representing the FN binding domain of FAP-P and a control peptide were used as probes in a chemiluminescence assay to evaluate the binding of FAP-P to FN. The FAP-P probe bound specifically to FN when probes were incubated for 30 minutes at 37C in black 96-well microtiter plates. A 10fold increase in specific FN binding by the FAP-P probe resulted when incubation was increased from 30 minutes to 60 minutes in combination with the use of white microtiter plates over black microtiter plates. A dose dependent binding of FN by the FAP-P probe was observed with increasing probe concentrations (1.0 μg FAP-P, 2.0 μg FAP-P, and 4.0 μg FAP-P) using optimized conditions. The assay thus described can be used to locate the FAP-P binding site on FN in protease-generated FN fragments. This, in turn will enable the design of peptides that could be incorporated into calf management programs that could block FN binding by MAP and reduce the reduce the incidence of Johne’s disease. Table of
LACTOBACILLUS PLANTARUM ST16Pa - ARE WE READY TO USE IT AS BIO-PROTECTIVE CULTURE?

TODOROV, Sv. , M. WACHSMAN, Ts. IGNATOVA-IVANOVA and I. IVANOVA, 2014. Lactobacillus plantarum ST16Pa – are we ready to use it as bio-protective culture? Bulg. J. Agric. Sci., Supplement 1: 55–58
Role and recent advances in genetic engineering & biotechnology for improvement of fruit crops

The main problem of genetic improvement of most fruit crops is their long juvenile period. This problem further aggravates by seedlessness, inter and intra specific incompatibility, high heterozygosity, sterility etc. Conventional breeding method of genetic improvement would not be a better option owing to its difficult, expensive and time consuming breeding techniques. Alternatively, non-conventional breeding method like recombinant DNA, a genetic engineering approach, is more precise in correcting the deficiencies in commercial cultivars or root stocks without disturbing their desirable genetic makeup. Transgenic plants develop through a number of gene delivery methods, the most common of which is Agrobacterium and particle bombardment mediated gene transfer. Generally, two tissue culture methods have been used for regeneration of transgenic plants: organogenesis and somatic embryogenesis. Genetic engineering technique has been used for resistance of a number of important diseases and pests. One successful example is transgenic papaya expressing coat protein of papaya ring spot virus (PRSV) against PRSV developing two cultivars ‘SunUp’ and ‘Rainbow’. Despite the usefulness of genetic engineering in many aspects, public of many countries are reluctant to adopt such technique on the ground of their risk to health and environment linked to the introduction of transgene into crop species of genetic material derived from alien organisms. To overcome the notorious aversion against transgenic, new genetic engineering approach, namely ‘cisgenesis’ and ‘intragenesis’ has been proposed. The acceptance of science-based approaches like cisgenesis or intragenesis or use of selection marker free transgenic will encourage confidence, and bring the benefits of GM-products to consumers.
A Cost-Benefit Analysis of Basel III: Some Evidence from the UK

This paper provides a long-term cost–benefit analysis for the United Kingdom of the Basel III capital and liquidity requirements proposed by the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision (BCBS, 2010a). We provide evidence that the Basel III reforms will have a significant net positive long-term effect on the United Kingdom economy. The estimated optimal tangible common equity capital ratio is 10% of risk-weighted assets, which is larger than the Basel III target of 7%. We also estimate the maximum net benefit when banks meet the Basel III long-term liquidity requirements. Our estimated permanent net benefit is larger than the average estimates of the BCBS. This significant marginal benefit suggests that UK banks need to increase their reliance on common equity in their capital base beyond the level required by Basel III as well as boosting customer deposits as a funding source.
Leadership and Its Place in Organisations: A Theoretical Synthetic Analysis (Note 1)

The issue of leadership in the context of its place in our organisation and, in various human terrains has elicited series of scholarly attentions over the years. Leadership has become a key concern in organisations within both the private and public sectors of polities and corporate settings in today’s world where everything begins and ends with the issue of leadership and its types. In fact, leadership determines the successes or failures of any human endeavour. Against this premise, this paper deals with the issue of leadership using a synthetic analytical approach. It seeks a further retooling of the hitherto mutually inclusive components of leadership and its various types. In the process, while examining the linkage between the concepts of leadership and power and, the latter’s transformation into legitimate authority; the concept of change leadership and its currency within the matrix of organisational and management studies was examined. The paper concludes with the emphasis that the evocation of the concept of leadership, its types and/or styles, to alter the behaviours of others in groups and organisations will infinitely continue in our world, particularly at this period of the planetary phenomenon of globalization.
Cloud Gaming

With a high rate of internet penetration, many developer kept trying to innovate using Internet as the backbone. One innovation that is under a microscope of every technology observer is Cloud Gaming. In order to play a new game, player need to check their computer specification before even try to install the game. Cloud Gaming can solve that solution by using internet connection. Unfortunately Indonesia does not have a supporting infratructure in order to fully support Cloud Gaming.
The impact of core job characteristics and critical psychological state on job satisfaction of the academic staff members in the SLIATE

The qualified workers are interested to do more challenging jobs. Dull and repetitive work is more frustrating. This kind of frustration can lead to the increase of less quality outputs. Therefore, it is important to fit the job to the employee in order to have both qualified and satisfied workforce. This study investigated the impact of job design on job satisfaction of the lecturers in Sri Lanka Institute of Advanced Technological Education. The research conducted using job characteristic model developed by Hackman and Oldham and five hypotheses were developed. The data were analyzed through the path analysis in structural equation modeling (SEM). The outcome of the results concluded that the certain core job characteristics of ―skill variety‖ and ―task significance‖ were not able to predict the critical psychological state of ―experience meaningfulness‖, and these critical psychological states in turn were able to predict job satisfaction. Core job characteristics―feedback‖ and ―skill Varity‖ have the highest impact on job satisfaction. ―Experience meaningfulness‖ was determined by the core job characteristic of ―task identity‖ and ―experience responsibility‖ was determined by the core job characteristics of ―Autonomy‖ and ―feedback‖.
An emerging infectious pathogen endangers an ancient lineage of common carp by acting synergistically with conspecific exotic strains

Anthropogenic introduction of non‐native species and the subsequent spread of their accompanying pathogens can cause serious declines in native wildlife populations. The common carp Cyprinus carpio, which is distributed worldwide due to intensive human introduction, is of little concern for conservation. However, the recent discovery of its ancient lineage endemic to the Japanese Archipelago has brought awareness of the conservation significance of the Japanese strain because this strain appears to be threatened by non‐native Eurasian strains that heavily colonize Japanese freshwater bodies. Another threat has been recently posed by a lethal emerging pathogen, Cyprinid herpesvirus 3 (CyHV‐3), which has spread to Japanese populations of common carp since 2003. Here, we report a significant decline in the frequency of Japanese native carp mtDNA haplotypes in two of the five subpopulations in Lake Biwa, one of the major habitats of the Japanese strain, after mass mortality caused by an outbreak of CyHV‐3. It is likely that the less susceptible non‐native strains may have competitively eliminated the native strain. Our results suggest that the emerging pathogen and invasion of Eurasian strains may pose synergistic threats to Japanese native common carp.
Time-Dependent Distributed Afterslip on and Deep below the İzmit Earthquake Rupture

Surface deformation transients measured with the Global Positioning System during the 87 days between the 17 August 1999 Izmit earthquake and the 12 November 1999 Duzce earthquake indicate rapidly decaying aseismic fault slip on and well below the coseismic rupture. Elastic model inversions for time-dependent distributed fault slip, using a network inversion filter approach, show that afterslip was highest between and below the regions of maximum coseismic slip and propa- gated downward to, or even below, the base of the crust. Maximum afterslip rates decayed from greater than 2 m/yr, immediately after the I zmit earthquake to about 1.2 m/yr just prior to the Duzce earthquake. Maximum afterslip occurred below the eastern Karadere rupture segment and near the I zmit hypocenter. Afterslip in the upper 16 km decayed more rapidly than that below the seismogenic zone. These observations are consistent with a phase of rapid aseismic fault slip concentrated near the base of the seismogenic zone. Continued loading from the rapid deep afterslip along the eastern rupture zone is a plausible mechanism that helped trigger the nearby, Mw 7.2, 12 November Duzce earthquake.
An introduction to GODAE OceanView

Real-time operational predictions of the major ocean basins which resolve the ocean mesoscale at mid-latitudes have become established in more than a dozen countries over the last 15 years. These predictions depend on the global ocean observing system (particularly satellite altimeters and the Argo profiling float system), high performance computers and sophisticated ocean models and data assimilation systems. They support an expanding range of information services for operations at sea, weather forecasts and protection of the environment. GODAE Oceanview (GOV) assists the groups developing these predictions. This paper provides an introduction to GOV and the papers in this special issue.
Did the anchor of inflation expectations in the euro area turn adrift

Survey evidence indicates that inflation expectations increased after HICP inflation rose markedly in the course of 2007 and the first half of 2008, underpinning a general view that inflation expectations may have become unanchored from the ECB's target. However, until now there has been no formal test of whether this has in fact been the case. We fill this gap by testing the reaction of financial market-based measures of long-term expectations inflation expectations to news about inflation and other macroeconomic variables in the main euro area economies. If long-term inflation expectations are anchored, they should not react to the arrival of news. We find evidence that long-term inflation expectations have started to drift away from the ECB's anchor in the course of 2007.
Distribution Patterns of Methicillin Resistance Genes (mecA) in Staphylococcus aureus Isolated from Clinical Specimens

There is a growing concern about the application of molecular methods in epidemiological studies of infectious diseases. The objective of this study was to determine the genetic stability of methicillin resistance genes in Staphylococcus aureus for the evaluation of resistance strain distribution. One hundred and fifteen S. aureus isolates from patients with staphylococcal infection were collected. The isolates were screened for methicillin resistance by minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) examination. The stability of methcillin resistance genes was examined by physical curing and PCR screening methods. The results showed that methicillin resistance Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) had risen up to 43% in Nemazi Hospital (Shiraz, Iran). Indeed, the incidence of MRSA in our hospital was 10% during the last four years. The ability to lose (curability) of methicillin resistance genes (mecA) was examined by physical curing method in 49 isolates with MIC ≥ 16 µg ml -1 . No sign of curability of mecA gene was observed where 500 colonies from each strain have been studied and exhibited by the same MIC values before and after curing test. Positive PCR results for isolates with MIC ≥ 16 µg ml -1 before and after curing experiment have been achieved. These data confirm the results of curing method, indicating that stable genetic determinants confer methicillin resistance. These results support the hypothesis that resistance isolates may be selected due to clonal selection under antibiotic pressure used in clinics rather than transmission of mobile genetic determinant. The high prevalence of MRSA immerged in our Hospital could be originated due to antibiotic pressure and poor control measures.