Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Detecting centroid for hand gesture recognition using morphological computations

With the evolution of computing technologies the current user computer interaction devices like mouse, keyboard, joysticks, pen etc. are getting replaced by touch screen and hand gesture recognition based user interfaces etc. Hand Gesture Recognition Systems are gaining importance as they provide a new ways to extract meaningful information from the gesture. The meaningful information is utilized to solve various problems in virtual reality, playing games, perform analysis of sign language etc. When using hand gestures to develop new user computer interaction method it is necessary to identify the correct gesture from the hand gesture image. In this paper using morphological operations we prepare the hand gesture image which can be used to recognize the correct hand gesture. The method is implemented to detect the centroid of hand gesture by removing the unwanted objects, noise and black holes if any in a static true color image whose background is uniform.
Contribution of murine bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells to pancreas regeneration after partial pancreatectomy in mice

The implantation of BMSCs (bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells) has emerged as a potential method of treating tissue damage, but the in vivo differentiation of BMSCs in an injured pancreas and its therapeutic effects have not been determined. Our aim has been to investigate the potential of BMSCs to contribute to the parenchyma and mesenchymal components of the pancreas during rapid regeneration, with preliminary exploration of the molecular mechanisms of this process. GFP+ (green fluorescent protein+) BMSCs were intravenously infused into the tail veins of mice that had received a 65–70% partial pancreatectomy, while mice that had only received a partial pancreatectomy and mice that had only been injected with BMSCs served as controls. Four weeks later, the injected GFP+ BMSCs were diffusely engrafted in the pancreatic parenchyma and mesenchyma of the recipient mice with pancreatic injuries and had differentiated into pancreatic ductal epithelial cells (accounting for 1.7±0.3%), vascular endothelial cells (3.2±0.6%) and PSCs (pancreatic stellate cells) (5.2±1.6%), but no β or neural cells. Significantly, more engrafted and differentiated GFP+ BMSCs were observed in the regenerating pancreas than in the normal pancreas. For the mice that received a partial pancreatectomy, the pancreatic weight/body weight of the mice with BMSC treatment was greater than mice without BMSC treatment (P<0.05). In addition, real‐time RT—PCR (reverse transcription—PCR) showed that the expression levels of miR‐9 (microRNA 9) and miR‐204 in the engrafted BMSCs (5.2‐ and 2.6‐fold, P<0.05, respectively) were increased compared with wild‐type BMSCs. We also observed a significant reduction in the expression of miR‐375 (0.71‐fold, P<0.05) in engrafted GFP+ BMSCs compared with wild‐type BMSCs. BMSCs can therefore be a potential cell bank for treating pancreatic injuries by contributing to a variety of cell types. This process might be related to the expression of miR‐9, miR‐204 and miR‐375.
WALU - Eine Annotations- und Lern-Umgebung für semantisches Texten

A walking aid such as a walking stick, crutch or walking frame comprises a body, a ground engaging member mounted at one end of the body, the body being movable relative to the ground engaging member, and a lever pivotably mounted on said ground engaging member, the body having means to actuate the lever so as to cause pivotal movement of the lever when the body moves relative to the ground engaging member. This pivotal movement of the lever can be utilized for retrieving objects on the ground, with the lever and ground engaging member acting as gripping members. A locking ring may be provided for preventing relative movement of the body and ground engaging member when the object retrieving facility is not required.
The Chlamydia trachomatis plasmid deletion mutant--what does it mean to us?

In an article in this issue of Sexually Transmitted Diseases , Ripa and Nilsson describe the detection of a Chlamydia trachomatis serovar E variant that has a 377-base pair deletion in the virtually ubiquitous cryptic plasmid. 1 Although the function of the plasmid is not known, the fact that it is almost universal among C. trachomatis strains, and is present at multiple copies, has made it an attractive target for nucleic acid ampliﬁ- cation tests (NAATs). Several of the tests that have been made commer-cially available have had regions in the plasmid DNA as targets. In Sweden, the existence of the deletion mutant was discovered because they were doing different NAATs on the same specimens. Discrepant results were seen between tests. Their routine test had a target in the plasmid, and results were often negative when a second NAAT, which had a chromosomal DNA (ompA) target, was positive. Over several months, approximately 20% of the chlamydial infections diagnosed with the ompA target were negative with the plasmid target. DNA sequencing studies identiﬁed the cause; a deleted region in the plasmid contained the target for the test yielding false-negative results. Ripa and Nilsson have 2 Thus, currently this observation not seem to be important to C. trachomatis diagnostics in other settings. But potential implications for the future obvious. This a performing
mRNA and miRNA analyses in cytologically positive endobronchial ultrasound‐guided transbronchial needle aspiration: Implications for molecular staging in lung cancer patients

Lung cancer is highly aggressive and tends to metastasize early. Therefore, accurate mediastinal staging is important for therapeutic decision making. Endobronchial ultrasound‐guided transbronchial needle aspiration (EBUS‐TBNA) has emerged as a minimally invasive procedure for mediastinal lymph node sampling and cancer staging. Classical EBUS‐TBNA cytology has been combined with molecular staging techniques to improve sensitivity and specificity. This study aimed to assess mRNA integrity in samples acquired by EBUS‐TBNA in the clinics. As proof‐of‐principle experiments, we also investigated whether stable miRNA could be detected in these samples.
Cost-effective cleaning solutions based on H2O/NH3/H2O2 mixtures for ALD Al2O3 passivated IBC c-Si solar cells

In this work we study cost-effective cleaning solutions applied to interdigitated back-contacted solar cells (IBC), which are passivated by means of atomic layer deposited Al<inf>2</inf>O<inf>3</inf> films. The cleaning baths must guarantee very clean surfaces as well as relatively low etching Al<inf>2</inf>O<inf>3</inf> rates to avoid excessive undercutting at the edges of strip-like regions. We compare the standard high-cost cleaning procedure used in the microelectronic industry (RCA1/2) with simpler cleaning baths based on H<inf>2</inf>O/NH<inf>3</inf>/H<inf>2</inf>O<inf>2</inf> mixtures considering different temperatures. The best option is the RCA1/2 sequence yielding surface recombination velocities below 4 cm/s but with a total Al<inf>2</inf>O<inf>3</inf> etch around 500 nm after the cleaning stage. Nevertheless very simple and less aggressive cleaning baths performed at only 45 °C obtain a relatively good surface passivation quality, achieving S<inf>eff</inf> values of 20 ± 5 cm/s reducing the under etch to only 80 nm.
Effect of Cytochrome c Peroxidase on the Corneal Epithelial Healing Process after Excimer Laser Photo-Ablation in Transgenic Mice

Aim: To evaluate the role of commercially prepared cytochrome c peroxidase eye drops in corneal epithelial healing of transgenic B6(A)-Rpe65rd12/J mice after excimer laser photo-ablation. Materials and Methods: In our prospective animal series, 72 eyes of 36 mice had uneventful bilateral excimer laser photo-ablation. In each mouse, one eye received standard topical postoperative therapy with tobramycin, diclofenac, and dexamethasone eye drops plus cytochrome c peroxidase eye drops (two drops three times a day for 1 week or until corneal re-epithelialization was complete, corresponding to 15,000 IU/day). The fellow eye served as the control and received standard postoperative therapy plus placebo. The mice were monitored daily, commencing on the day after surgery, for 7 days to evaluate the corneal re-epithelialization rate using a video slit lamp camera with cobalt blue light. The mean diameter of the corneal wounds was measured. Videotaped images were recorded and analyzed by computer planimetry. Results: All eyes treated with cytochrome c peroxidase eye drops healed completely before day 5 after surgery, with a mean re-epithelialization time of 92 ± (SD) 10 h; the mean re-epithelialization time was 121 ± 8 h in the eyes receiving placebo (p < 0.05). There were no statistically significant differences between the two groups in corneal haze presentation during the follow-up period (p = 0.70), perhaps because the observation period was too short (7 days). However, the corneal clarity, on slit lamp biomicroscopy, in the study group was higher than that in the control group. No side effects or toxic effects were observed. Conclusions: These data suggest that cytochrome c peroxidase significantly accelerates epithelial healing after phototherapeutic keratectomy. Further clinical studies should be performed to prove the results obtained in this study and the long-term efficacy of cytochrome c peroxidase to prevent corneal haze.
Transforming growth factor-beta in benign and malignant prostate.

BACKGROUND The present review summarizes the cellular action of TGF-beta in benign and malignant growth of the prostate. METHODS TGF-beta is a pleiotropic growth factor. It plays an important role in the regulation of growth and differentiation in many cells. In benign prostatic epithelia, its action is mediated through a paracrine mechanism. It inhibits proliferation and induces apoptosis in prostatic epithelia. It provides a mechanism to maintain epithelial homeostasis in the prostate. In prostatic stroma, its continual action leads to smooth muscle differentiation. This effect of TGF-beta may regulate the development of prostatic smooth muscle nodules in benign prostatic hyperplasia. RESULTS As prostatic epithelial cells undergo malignant transformation, two major events occur regarding TGF-beta action. These include the loss of expression of functional TGF-beta receptors and overproduction of TGF-beta in malignant cells. The loss of expression of functional TGF-beta receptors provides a growth advantage to cancer cells over their benign counterparts. The overproduction of TGF-beta by cancer cells has a multitude of adverse consequences. TGF-beta can promote extracellular matrix production, induce angiogenesis, and inhibit host immune function. The biological consequence of these activities is an enhanced tumorigenicity in prostate cancer. Results of our recent studies with a rat prostate cancer model suggest that the immunosuppressive effect of TGF-beta seems to be the primary cause of tumor progression. This is because, if these cancer cells were engineered to reduce the production of TGF-beta, tumor growth was inhibited in syngeneic hosts but not in immune compromised hosts. CONCLUSIONS Our future research should take advantage of this knowledge to devise therapeutic strategies aimed at eradicating prostate cancer.
Metabolism of acetylene and acetaldehyde by Rhodococcus rhodochrous.

We studied the ability of a soil bacterium, identified as Rhodococcus rhodochrous, to grow on acetylene and to accumulate acetaldehyde. Its maximum growth rate on acetylene was obtained at about 30 degrees C (mu = 0.11 h-1) and was independent of the concentration of this gas in air from 0.14 to 16% (v/v). During growth, acetylene was quantitatively transformed to acetaldehyde, ethanol, acetate, CO2, and biomass in proportions which varied with culture age and temperature. Growth was completely inhibited by acetaldehyde at a concentration of 10 mM. The inhibitory effect was relieved by addition of acetate. Growth on ethanol up to 140 mM did not result in acetaldehyde accumulation. Acetylene consumption was constitutive with apparent Km and Vmax equal to 250 microM and 800 nmol.min-1. (mg protein)-1, respectively. In resting cell suspensions, acetylene consumption rates decreased more rapidly under air than under nitrogen. The inhibitory effect of acetaldehyde was enhanced in the presence of oxygen. Acetaldehyde accumulation in aerobic resting cell conditions did not exceed 10 mM (440 mg/L), but under anaerobic conditions it attained more than 70 mM (3.08 g/L).
ChemR23, a putative chemoattractant receptor, is expressed in monocyte‐derived dendritic cells and macrophages and is a coreceptor for SIV and some primary HIV‐1 strains

Leukocyte chemoattractants act through a rapidly growing subfamily of G protein‐coupled receptors. We report the cloning of a novel human gene encoding an orphan receptor (ChemR23) related to the C3a, C5a and formyl Met‐Leu‐Phe receptors, and more distantly to the subfamilies of chemokine receptors. ChemR23 transcripts were found to be abundant in monocyte‐derived dendritic cells and macrophages, treated or not with LPS. Low expression could also be detected by reverse transcription‐PCR in CD4+ T lymphocytes. The gene encoding ChemR23 was assigned by radiation hybrid mapping to the q21.2 – 21.3 region of human chromosome 12, outside the gene clusters identified so far for chemoattractant receptors. Given the increasing number of chemoattractant receptors used by HIV‐1, HIV‐2 and SIV as coreceptors, ChemR23 was tested in fusion assays for potential coreceptor activity by a range of viral strains. None of the tested HIV‐2 strains made use of ChemR23 as a coreceptor, but several SIV strains (SIVmac316, SIVmac239, SIVmac17E‐Fr and SIVsm62A), as well as a primary HIV‐1 strain (92UG024‐2) used it efficiently. ChemR23 therefore appears as a coreceptor for immunodeficiency viruses that does not belong to the chemokine receptor family. It is also a putative chemoattractant receptor relatively specific for antigen‐presenting cells, and it could play an important role in the recruitment or trafficking of these cell populations. Future work will be required to identify the ligand(s) of this new G protein‐coupled receptor and to define its precise role in the physiology of dendritic cells and macrophages.
Anxiety and quality of life of women who receive radiation or chemotherapy for breast cancer.

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVES To examine quality of life (QOL) and anxiety in a sample of women receiving radiation or chemotherapy for breast cancer. DESIGN Longitudinal, descriptive. SETTING A cancer center in the southeastern United States. SAMPLE 48 women participated; 17 received radiation and 31 received chemotherapy. METHODS The Ferrans and Powers Quality of Life Index (QLI) and Speilberger's State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) were administered. The QLI was administered at the start of treatment and one year later. The STAI was administered at the start of treatment. The state portion of the STAI also was administered 4 weeks and 12 weeks after the start of treatment. MAIN RESEARCH VARIABLES QOL and anxiety. FINDINGS Total QOL improved significantly over time for the entire sample, as did scores on the health/functioning, psychological/spiritual, and family subscales of the QLI. No significant differences existed for total QOL or any subscales by treatment. Trait anxiety was significantly higher for women receiving chemotherapy, and state anxiety was significantly higher at all three measurement times for the women. State anxiety did not decrease significantly over the course of the treatment for either group. Trait anxiety and state anxiety at the start of treatment were significantly negatively correlated with total QLI score and the psychological/spiritual subscale. State anxiety at the start of treatment also was significantly negatively correlated with total QOL and the health/functioning and psychological/spiritual QLI subscales both at the start of treatment and one year later. CONCLUSIONS QOL improves over time for women who have received radiation or chemotherapy. Women receiving chemotherapy have higher anxiety scores, and higher anxiety at the start of treatment is associated with decreased QOL at the start of treatment and postdiagnosis. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING Nursing interventions to reduce anxiety at the start of treatment, especially for chemotherapy recipients, are indicated. Research also should target methods to reduce anxiety at the start of treatment.
Industrial Electronics for Electric Transportation: Current State-of-the-Art and Future Challenges

This paper presents the current research trends and future issues for industrial electronics related to transportation electrification. Specific emphasis is placed on electric and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (EVs/PHEVs) and their critical drivetrain components. The paper deals with industry related EV energy storage system issues, EV charging issues, as well as power electronics and traction motor drives issues. The importance of battery cell voltage equalization for series-connected lithium-ion (Li-ion) batteries for extended life time is presented. Furthermore, a comprehensive overview of EV/PHEV battery charger classification, standards, and requirements is presented. Several conventional EV/PHEV front-end ac/dc charger converter topologies as well as isolated DC/DC topologies are reviewed. Finally, this paper reviews various EV propulsion system architectures and efficient bidirectional DC/DC converter topologies. Novel DC/AC inverter modulation techniques for EVs are also presented. The architectures are based on the battery voltage, capacity, and driving range.
Transmissibility of Bacterial Endosymbionts Between Isolates of Acanthamoeba Spp.

ABSTRACT. Experimental transmission of two bacterial endosymbionts to symbiont‐free isolates of Acanthamoeba spp. was studied to determine specificity of the host‐symbiont relationship. Both symbionts originated from amoebic isolates displaying an identical mitochondrial DNA EcoRI fingerprint (group AcUW II). Symbioses were readily established in one amoebic isolate which displayed a homologous mtDNA fingerprint (group AcUW II). Exposure of a heterologous amoebic isolate (group AcUW IV) to the two symbionts resulted in either cell death or encystation without the establishment of symbioses. While symbioses were established with an amoebic isolate from a second heterologous group (AcUW I), a unique membranous sheath appeared and persisted around one of the symbionts which did not exist in the original host. An isolate representing a third heterologous amoebic group (AcUW VI) was variable in its susceptibility with one symbiont unable to infect the host and the other becoming established only after an initial reaction in which trophozoites rounded‐up and floated off the substrate. These studies suggest that a specific recognition system exists between particular isolates of Acanthamoeba and their symbionts, and that the appearance of a killer phenotype is related to contact between mismatched, though recognized, pairs.
Factors Affecting Lethality of Bisphenol a on Biomphalaria alexandrina Snails

The present study was undertaken to investigate the influence of some environmental factors including temperature, water vegetation, bed mud and pH on LC50, LC90 and LT50 of bisphenol A (BPA) on the snail host of Schistosoma mansoni, Biomphalaria alexandrina. Effects of exposure to the sublethal concentrations of BPA on some biological aspects of the snails and on the cercarial output form S. mansoni infected snails were studied. Results showed that temperature, water vegetation, bed mud and pH markedly affected the lethality of BPA.
Age and Diet Effects on Fecal Populations and Antibiotic Resistance of a Multi-drug Resistant Escherichia coli in Dairy Calves

Dairy calves are colonized at a very young age by a multi-drug resistant Escherichia coli (MDR EC) and research studies indicate that the prevalence is not related to recent use of antimicrobials, but that diet and other environmental factors are likely involved. To further investigate the occurrence of this bacterium, we sampled dairy calves on southwestern United States farms at one week of age through 6 months, and determined not only prevalence, but fecal concentrations of the MDR EC. The influence of feeding pasteurized (PWM) versus non-pasteurized (NPWM) waste milk was examined, and the effect of weaning was investigated. The number of fecal samples positive for MDR EC as well as their populations decreased (P < 0.01) with increasing calf age. Slight differences were observed when comparing PWM and NPWM feeding, with MDR EC concentration and prevalence in the latter group generally decreasing at younger ages. No significant differences were observed in the fecal concentrations of MDR EC due to weaning. No clear differences were observed in resistance when comparing calves fed PWM or NPWM. Approximately 41% of the MDR EC isolates collected throughout the study were resistant to 10 or more antibiotics, with two primary phenotypes: ACSSuT and MDR-AmpC. Based on the results herein, it appears that neither pasteurization of the waste milk or weaning, has a significant effect on the prevalence or concentration of MDR EC, and based on the age-associated decline in prevalence, they survive in an immature digestive system with limited bacterial diversity and competition for resources.
New model for cardiomyocyte sheet transplantation using a virus-cell fusion technique.

AIM To facilitate close contacts between transplanted cardiomyocytes and host skeletal muscle using cell fusion mediated by hemagglutinating virus of Japan envelope (HVJ-E) and tissue maceration. METHODS Cardiomyocytes (1.5 × 10(6)) from fetal rats were first cultured. After proliferation, some cells were used for fusion with adult muscle fibers using HVJ-E. Other cells were used to create cardiomyocyte sheets (area: about 3.5 cm(2) including 2.1 × 10(6) cells), which were then treated with Nile blue, separated, and transplanted between the latissimus dorsi and intercostal muscles of adult rats with four combinations of HVJ-E and/or NaOH maceration: G1: HVJ-E(+), NaOH(+), Cardiomyocytes(+); G2: HVJ-E(-), NaOH(+), Cardiomyocytes(+); G3: HVJ-E(+), NaOH(-), Cardiomyocytes(+); G4: HVJ-E(-), NaOH(-), Cardiomyocytes(-). At 1 and 2 wk after transplantation, the four groups were compared by detection of beating domains, motion images using moving target analysis software, action potentials, gene expression of MLC-2v and Mesp1 by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction, hematoxylin-eosin staining, and immunostaining for cardiac troponin and skeletal myosin. RESULTS In vitro cardiomyocytes were fused with skeletal muscle fibers using HVJ-E. Cardiomyocyte sheets remained in the primary transplanted sites for 2 wk. Although beating domains were detected in G1, G2, and G3 rats, G1 rats prevailed in the number, size, motion image amplitudes, and action potential compared with G2 and G3 rats. Close contacts were only found in G1 rats. At 1 wk after transplantation, the cardiomyocyte sheets showed adhesion at various points to the myoblast layer in the latissimus dorsi muscle. At 2 wk after transplantation, close contacts were seen over a broad area. Part of the skeletal muscle sarcoplasma seemed to project into the myocardiocyte plasma and some nuclei appeared to share both sarcoplasmas. CONCLUSION The present results show that close contacts were acquired and facilitated the beating function, thereby providing a new cellular transplantation method using HVJ-E and NaOH maceration.
Pathology of Paediatric Gastrointestinal Neuromuscular Disease

Congenital and acquired disorders of the enteric neuromusculature are relatively uncommon in childhood, with the exception of Hirschsprung disease. Despite this, a number of histologically well-defined phenotypes of enteric neuromuscular disease are now recognised in paediatric populations, essentially comprising enteric neuropathies and enteric myopathies. This classification is briefly discussed.