Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
T1-Weighted Dynamic Contrast-Enhanced MR Perfusion Imaging Characterizes Tumor Response to Radiation Therapy in Chordoma

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Chordomas notoriously demonstrate a paucity of changes following radiation therapy on conventional MR imaging. We hypothesized that dynamic contrast-enhanced MR perfusion imaging parameters of chordomas would change significantly following radiation therapy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Eleven patients with pathology-proved chordoma who completed dynamic contrast-enhanced MR perfusion imaging pre- and postradiation therapy were enrolled. Quantitative tumor measurements were obtained by 2 attending neuroradiologists. ROIs were used to calculate vascular permeability and plasma volume and generate dynamic contrast-enhancement curves. Quantitative analysis was performed to determine mean and maximum plasma volume and vascular permeability values, while semiquantitative analysis on averaged concentration curves was used to determine the area under the curve. A Mann-Whitney U test at a significance level of P < . 05 was used to assess differences of the above parameters between pre- and postradiation therapy. RESULTS: Plasma volume mean (pretreatment mean = 0.82; posttreatment mean = 0.42), plasma volume maximum (pretreatment mean = 3.56; posttreatment mean = 2.27), and vascular permeability mean (pretreatment mean = 0.046; posttreatment mean = 0.028) in the ROIs significantly decreased after radiation therapy (P < .05); this change thereby demonstrated the potential for assessing tumor response. Area under the curve values also demonstrated significant differences (P < .05). CONCLUSIONS: Plasma volume and vascular permeability decreased after radiation therapy, suggesting that these dynamic contrast-enhanced MR perfusion parameters may be useful for monitoring chordoma growth and response to radiation therapy. Additionally, the characteristic dynamic MR signal intensity–time curve of chordoma may provide a radiographic means of distinguishing chordoma from other spinal lesions.
Modélisation cognitive computationnelle de trajets oculomoteurs lors d'une tâche de recherche d'information. (Computational cognitive modeling of eye movements during information seeking task)

Ce travail de these etudie la combinaison des processus visuels et semantiques dans le traitement d'interfaces textuelles, comme des pages web. La methodologie employee est la simulation de modeles cognitifs, une approche visant a concevoir un programme informatique s'inspirant de modeles cognitifs theoriques et reproduisant au mieux le comportement humain. Notre modele simule les trajets oculomoteurs d'un utilisateur moyen lors d'une recherche d'information. Les processus mis en jeu dans ce type de tâche sont modelises afin de reproduire les mouvements oculaires humains enregistres lors de differentes experimentations. Aux modeles des processus visuels et semantiques est ajoute un modele des processus mnesiques sous-jacents a la recherche d'information. Pour la partie visuelle, le modele s'inspire des cartes de saillance qui predisent les zones de l'ecran susceptibles d'attirer l'attention, en fonction des informations a bas niveau (couleur, orientation et contraste), ainsi que des proprietes physiologiques de l'œil humain. Pour la partie semantique, la technique de mesure de similarites semantiques entre le but de l'utilisateur et les differentes parties de la page employee est LSA (Latent Semantic Analysis) (Landauer, 1998). Pour la partie mnesique, le mecanisme d'Inhibition of Return (Klein, 1999) et le Variable Memory Model (Horowitz, 2006) sont utilises. Le travail de these integre trois parties: conception d'un modele theorique d'interaction, conception de l'outil de simulation, et mise en place d'experimentations psychophysiques de releves oculometriques permettant de valider et d'affiner le modele propose.
Environmentally friendly treatment alternatives to Bordeaux mixture for controlling bacterial apical necrosis ( BAN ) of mango

J. A. Gutiérrez-Barranquero, E. Arrebola, N. Bonilla, D. Sarmiento, F. M. Cazorla and A. de Vicente* Instituto de Hortofruticultura Subtropical y Mediterránea ‘‘La Mayora’’ (IHSM-UMA-CSIC), Departamento de Microbiologı́a, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Málaga, Unidad Asociada al CSIC, Campus de Teatinos s ⁄ n, E-29071 Málaga; Instituto de Hortofruticultura Subtropical y Mediterránea ‘‘La Mayora’’ (IHSM-UMA-CSIC), Estación Experimental ‘‘La Mayora’’, A ⁄ garrobo costa, E-29750, Málaga; and SAT 2803 TROPS, Vélez-Málaga, Málaga, E-29700, Spain
Pitx1 directly modulates the core limb development program to implement hindlimb identity

Forelimbs (FLs) and hindlimbs (HLs) develop complex musculoskeletal structures that rely on the deployment of a conserved developmental program. Pitx1, a transcription factor gene with expression restricted to HL and absent from FL, plays an important role in generating HL features. The genomic mechanisms by which Pitx1 effects HL identity remain poorly understood. Here, we use expression profiling and analysis of direct Pitx1 targets to characterize the HL- and FL-restricted genetic programs in mouse and situate the Pitx1-dependent gene network within the context of limb-specific gene regulation. We show that Pitx1 is a crucial component of a narrow network of HL-restricted regulators, acting on a developmental program that is shared between FL and HL. Pitx1 targets sites that are in a similar chromatin state in FL and HL and controls expression of patterning genes as well as the chondrogenic program, consistent with impaired chondrogenesis in Pitx1−/− HL. These findings support a model in which multifactorial actions of a limited number of HL regulators redirect the generic limb development program in order to generate the unique structural features of the limb. Summary: A small set of limb type-restricted genes among the broadly conserved Pitx1 gene regulatory network, including components of the chondrogenic program, establishes hindlimb identity in mouse.
Enhanced performance of spatial modulation with angular diversity receiver for indoor visible light communication

Multi-input-multi-output (MIMO) technique is adapted to achieve high speed transmission in visible light communication (VLC) system. In MIMO VLC system, spatial modulation (SM) is employed to avoid inter-channel interference (ICI). However, the performance of SM MIMO indoor VLC system is restricted by the high channel response correlation. In this paper, we propose an angular diversity receiver approach for SM MIMO VLC system. By varying the receivers' normal vectors, the correlation of the channel transfer matrix is effectively reduced, which leads to 7 ~ 8dB signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) gains at BER level of 10-3 compared to the conventional SM in MIMO VLC system. Additionally, the horizontal rotation and vertical shift invariance verified by the simulation results makes the proposed scheme more practical and easier to be implemented.
Spatially Constrained Mixture Model and Image Segmentation: A Review

The mixture model is a commonly used approach for image segmentation. However, it doesn’t consider the spatial information. In order to overcome this disadvantage, several spatially constrained mixture models have been proposed. In this paper, these spatially constrained mixture models and their experimental results on synthetic and real world images are presented. These experimental results demonstrate that the spatially constrained mixture models can achieve competitive performance compared to the standard mixture model.
Design of UWB filter -antenna with notched band at 5.8GHz

In this paper, an UWB integrated filter-antenna system with notched band at 5.8 GHz has been presented. The design of the proposed integrated filter-antenna is based on cascading an UWB notched filter with an UWB antenna. The two parts of the system have already been matched to each others. The antenna-filter has a small size (68 × 27mm2). The system bandwidth meets the UWB requirements.
Location of chloride and its possible functions in oxygen-evolving photosystem II revealed by X-ray crystallography

The chloride ion, Cl−, is an essential cofactor for oxygen evolution of photosystem II (PSII) and is closely associated with the Mn4Ca cluster. Its detailed location and function have not been identified, however. We substituted Cl− with a bromide ion (Br−) or an iodide ion (I−) in PSII and analyzed the crystal structures of PSII with Br− and I− substitutions. Substitution of Cl− with Br− did not inhibit oxygen evolution, whereas substitution of Cl− with I− completely inhibited oxygen evolution, indicating the efficient replacement of Cl− by I−. PSII with Br− and I− substitutions were crystallized, and their structures were analyzed. The results showed that there are 2 anion-binding sites in each PSII monomer; they are located on 2 sides of the Mn4Ca cluster at equal distances from the metal cluster. Anion-binding site 1 is close to the main chain of D1-Glu-333, and site 2 is close to the main chain of CP43-Glu-354; these 2 residues are coordinated directly with the Mn4Ca cluster. In addition, site 1 is located in the entrance of a proton exit channel. These results indicate that these 2 Cl− anions are required to maintain the coordination structure of the Mn4Ca cluster as well as the proposed proton channel, thereby keeping the oxygen-evolving complex fully active.
The Type IV Secretion System of Sinorhizobium meliloti Strain 1021 Is Required for Conjugation but Not for Intracellular Symbiosis

ABSTRACT The type IV secretion system (T4SS) of the plant intracellular symbiont Sinorhizobium meliloti 1021 is required for conjugal transfer of DNA. However, it is not required for host invasion and persistence, unlike the T4SSs of closely related mammalian intracellular pathogens. A comparison of the requirement for a bacterial T4SS in plant versus animal host invasion suggests an important difference in the intracellular niches occupied by these bacteria.
Status of Childhood Asthma in the United States, 1980–2007

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data were used to describe 1980–2007 trends among children 0 to 17 years of age and recent patterns according to gender, race, and age. Asthma period prevalence increased by 4.6% per year from 1980 to 1996. New measures introduced in 1997 show a plateau at historically high levels; 9.1% of US children (6.7 million) currently had asthma in 2007. Ambulatory care visit rates fluctuated during the 1990s, whereas emergency department visits and hospitalization rates decreased slightly. Asthma-related death rates increased through the middle 1990s but decreased after 1999. Recent data showed higher prevalence among older children (11–17 years), but the highest rates of asthma-related health care use were among the youngest children (0–4 years). After controlling for racial differences in prevalence, disparities in adverse outcomes remained; among children with asthma, non-Hispanic black children had greater risks for emergency department visits and death, compared with non-Hispanic white children. For hospitalizations, for which Hispanic ethnicity data were not available, black children had greater risk than white children. However, nonemergency ambulatory care use was lower for non-Hispanic black children. Although the large increases in childhood asthma prevalence have abated, the burden remains large. Potentially avoidable adverse outcomes and racial disparities continue to present challenges. These findings suggest the need for sustained asthma prevention and control efforts for children.
A New Look at the Measurement and Interpretation of Enzyme Assays

Some methodological problems in clinical enzymology, including instability of enzymes in the incubation mixture and requirements for optimal reaction conditions, are highlighted. The importance of a knowledge of fundamental enzyme biochemistry and physiology as the basis for their diagnostic application is stressed, and the different behaviour of some hepatic enzymes—namely, GOT, GPT, γ-GT, and OCT, in various pathological conditions is traced back to their characteristic biochemical and physiological properties. In the field of urinary enzymes a knowledge of the ideal requirements for the enzyme investigation of the various renal functions and of the properties of potentially valuable enzymes permits a critical selection of the really useful ones.
Large eddy numerical simulation of flows over a backward-facing step

Large eddy simulation cooperated with a physical fractional-step method was applied to simulate steady flows over a backward-facing step. Comparisons with experimental and other model results indicate that the present model is capable of simulating turbulent flows. The simulated results by the proposed model agree well with the experimental data. The research shows that the large eddy simulation theory has powerful capacity in simulation of microstructures of turbulent flows, and can be widely applied to the solution of real engineering problems.
Nitrate and oxalate in germplasm collections of spinach and other leafy vegetables.

Accumulation of nitrate and oxalate is a concern in the production and marketing of leafy vegetables. High nitrate levels can be related to fertilization regime, light conditions and plant factors. Plant factors are of major importance for oxalate content. Plant breeding has been reported as one way of reducing the content of nitrate and oxalate. In this study we have examined germplasm collections of spinach (Spinacia oleracea), orache (Atriplex hortensis) and rocket (Eruca sativa). For spinach contents were related to morphological characters and to breeding method. Across accessions, rocket showed significantly higher nitrate levels than spinach and orache. No clear differences were detected between spinach and orache with regard to either nitrate or oxalate content. However, oarche showed higher dry matter content. A general strong positive correlation was found between nitrate and oxalate. The mechanism behind such a relationship is discussed but not fully understood. No differences were detected between old and new spinach cultivars or between open-pollinated cultivars and F1-hybrids, but potential interesting accessions for future breeding of low-nitrate/low-oxalate spinach were identified.
Sharpening of topographical projections and maturation of geniculocortical axon arbors in the hamster

During specification of orderly neural maps, axons correctly navigate to their targets and form terminal arbors in topographically correct positions. To learn more about this mapping process, the patterns of geniculocortical topography were correlated with growth of axon arbors in the hamster visual cortex. Topography was studied by retrograde transport of WGA‐HRP from area 17 to the dorsal lateral geniculate nucleus (LGd) and visualized with TMB histochemistry. In separate experiments, geniculocortical axon arbors were filled with HRP deposited extracellularly into the optic radiations and stained with cobalt‐intensified DAB.
Tree based object matching using multi-scale covariance descriptor

Object matching is the process of determining the presence and the location of a reference object inside a scene image. Matching accuracy requires robust image description and efficient similarity measures. In this paper, we present a tree based object matching approach using a descriptor proposed in a previous work [1]. Visual objects are described by a collection of multi-scale covariance matrices structured in a tree form. Tree matching is then performed to match visual objects. With this approach, matching accuracy considerably increases compared to traditional image matching techniques. The proposed matching approach is evaluated on CAVIAR dataset. Overall, our approach is an important contribution to a complete system for object reidentification and tracking over different camera views.
Management of malignant pleural effusions

Malignant pleural effusion is a common problem in respiratory medicine and oncology and in some series accounts for up to 50% of all pleural effusions.1 2 The median survival following diagnosis ranges from three to 12 months and is largely dependent upon the underlying malignancy. Currently, lung cancer is the most common metastatic tumour to the pleura in men and breast cancer in women. Both malignancies account for 50–65% of all malignant effusions while lymphomas, genitourinary, and gastrointestinal tumours account for a further 25%, and 7–15% of all malignant effusions have no identifiable primary.3-5 Malignant effusions result predominantly from obstruction and disruption of lymphatic channels by malignant cells. However, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), a potent angiogenic mediator and promoter of endothelial permeability, is produced in significant amounts by diseased pleural tissue and is thought to play a part in the formation of malignant effusions and local tumour growth.6 7 The general approach to managing malignant effusions is determined by symptoms (dyspnoea, exercise tolerance limitation, and chest discomfort), performance status of the patient, expected survival, and response of the known primary tumour to systemic treatment. Intervention options range from observation in the case of asymptomatic effusions through simple thoracentesis to more invasive methods such as thoracoscopy, pleuroperitoneal shunting, and pleurectomy. Repeated aspiration is favoured in patients with limited survival and poor performance status and obviates lengthy hospitalisation. In the patient with reasonable survival expectancy and good performance status, every attempt should be made to prevent recurrence of the effusion. Intercostal tube drainage with instillation of a sclerosing agent, resulting in the obliteration of the pleural space, is the most widely used and cost effective method to control recurrent symptomatic malignant effusions. Over the last two decades several new developments have modified the method originally described by Adler …
An On-Chip Fluorogenic Enzyme Assay Using a Multilayer Microchip Interconnected With a Nanocapillary Array Membrane

Microfluidic devices allow manipulation of reagents and fluids in a semi-automated fashion, ideal for performing multiple measurements or conditioning various reagents. Here, an enzyme assay has been performed in a multilayer poly(methyl methacrylate)-based microfluidic device, where the layers are fluidically connected via a nanocapillary array membrane serving as an effective injector and valve. As a model system, beta-glucuronidase from Escherichia coli and fluorescein di(beta-D-glucuronide) are used for the assay; offline mixing and online incubation of substrate and enzyme allow determination of the initial hydrolysis rates of the substrate under catalysis by beta-glucuronidase. The Michaelis constant Km was determined to be ~4.0 muM for the enzyme of 83 units/mL at ambient temperature. The 50% inhibitory concentration IC50 of D-saccharic acid-1,4-lactone to 167 units/mL was estimated to be 3.0 muM. These results demonstrate added functionality for a poly(methyl methacrylate)-based nanocapillary array membrane-containing microfluidic device for following enzyme reaction kinetics.
Notice of RetractionThe Sprayable Agarose/Gelatin as Wound Skin Dressing

Rapid and exact healing of skin wound, such as severe burns, trauma, diabetic, decubitus or venous stasis ulcers, is desirable in clinical. In this paper, the degraded agarose was mixed with gelatin as sprayable wound skin dressing. Agarose with different molecular weight was obtained through the degradation of agarose with hydrogen peroxide for different intervals. The formation of agarose gel was monitored by scattered light turbidimeter. The degraded agarose was activated by epichlorohydrin. The activated agarose/gelatin solution was sprayed to form gel coating rabbit wound skin. The gel dressing was not toxic and had a good repair effect on rabbit skin lesion without infection and liquid exudation. H&E staining results showed that the repair tissue was similar to the normal one. The activated low molecular agarose /gelatin gels are promising biomaterials as wound dressings for healing burns or ulcers.
Assessing the association of taurodontism with numeric dentition anomalies in an adult central Indian population

Aim: To study the association between taurodontism and numeric anomalies in adult population. Materials and Methods: Out of 1,012; 946 panoramic radiographs and dental records were retrospectively assessed to determine the presence of dental agenesis and supernumerary and taurodont teeth. Results: Taurodontism of one or more teeth was observed in 164 cases (97 females and 67 males). Hypodontia was observed in 148 patients (84 females and 64 males) with 62 patients having associated taurodontism (38 females, 24 males), oligodontia in 12 patients (five females and seven males) of whom nine patients also had taurodontism of one or more teeth (five females and four males). Forty-five patients (32 females and 13 males) presented with 57 supernumerary teeth (ST) with 12 patients having simultaneous presence of taurodontic tooth (seven females and five males). Conclusion: Our study suggests a preferential association between tooth agenesis and taurodontism; however, such association was not observed in individuals with hyperdontia. Understanding the nature of this preferential association may be of importance in determining the etiology of both conditions. This association may also define a subphenotype for future genetic studies on dental development. Further molecular studies are necessary to verify the etiology and mechanism of taurodontism associated with tooth agenesis.
The Effects of Antiangiogenic Compound SU5416 in a Rat Model of Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension

Several lines of evidence indicate that vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) plays a prosurvival and antiapoptotic role in endothelial cells. SU5416 is the first VEGF receptor 2 inhibitor to enter clinical development for cancer therapy. A phase I/II study of SU5416 has been completed, and the results show that SU5416 is well tolerated in patients with terminal cancers. It has been shown that VEGF receptor blockade using SU5416 combined with chronic hypoxia results in severe angioproliferative pulmonary hypertension (PAH) with neointimal changes in adult rats. Although classic animal models of pulmonary hypertension (that is, the monocrotaline and hypoxic models) do not form obstructive intimal lesions in the peripheral pulmonary arteries, the SU5416 model has shown pulmonary arterial changes resembling plexiform lesions. Therefore, the SU5416 model of PAH has been used for some time, and it has thus contributed to a better understanding of the pulmonary hypertensive process. However, the mechanism by which SU5416 combined with chronic hypoxia can result in PAH with plexiform-like lesions in adult rats is complex and still remains to be fully elucidated. The most likely explanation is that there is increased apoptosis of endothelial cells in response to the loss of the survival signaling, creating conditions favoring the emergence of apoptosis-resistant cells with increased growth potential, that is, the endothelial cell hyperproliferation that might characterize the plexiform lesions of human PAH. The aim of the present review is to provide information useful for understanding a potent inhibitor of VEGF receptor tyrosine kinase, SU5416, and to better understand its use for generating animal models of PAH.