Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Multiprojection correlation imaging for improved detection of pulmonary nodules.

OBJECTIVE The purpose of this study was the development and preliminary evaluation of multiprojection correlation imaging with 3D computer-aided detection (CAD) on chest radiographs for cost- and dose-effective improvement of early detection of pulmonary nodules. SUBJECTS AND METHODS Digital chest radiographs of 10 configurations of a chest phantom and of seven human subjects were acquired in multiple angular projections with an acquisition time of 11 seconds (single breath-hold) and total exposure comparable with that of a posteroanterior chest radiograph. An initial 2D CAD algorithm with two difference-of-gaussians filters and multilevel thresholds was developed with an independent database of 44 single-view chest radiographs with confirmed lesions. This 2D CAD algorithm was used on each projection image to find likely suspect nodules. The CAD outputs were reconstructed in 3D, reinforcing signals associated with true nodules while simultaneously decreasing false-positive findings produced by overlapping anatomic features. The performance of correlation imaging was tested on two to 15 projection images. RESULTS Optimum performance of correlation imaging was attained when nine projection images were used. Compared with conventional, single-view CAD, correlation imaging decreased as much as 79% the frequency of false-positive findings in phantom cases at a sensitivity level of 65%. The corresponding reduction in false-positive findings in the cases of human subjects was 78%. CONCLUSION Although limited by a relatively simple CAD implementation and a small number of cases, the findings suggest that correlation imaging performs substantially better than single-view CAD and may greatly enhance identification of subtle solitary pulmonary nodules on chest radiographs.
Determinants of E-Commerce Strategy in Franchising: A Resource-Based View

E-commerce has grown tremendously over the past decade in most business sectors, including the franchising sector. This paper applies the resource-based view to examine e-commerce strategy in franchise networks and to identify the potential determinants of the presence of transactional capabilities on franchisors' Web sites. Our empirical study is based on 486 U.S. franchise networks in the retail and service sectors. When data were collected in 2009, only 20 percent of the sampled franchisors had adopted an e-commerce strategy. Our main findings show that the percentage of company-owned stores and network size have a positive impact on the implementation of e-commerce strategy, whereas network age has a negative effect. Moreover, a franchisor is more likely to launch a transactional Web site in the retail sector and the hotel and restaurant sector. This paper highlights the relevance of using the resource-based view to investigate e-commerce strategy and provides guidance to franchisors on how to implement a transactional Web site.
In vivo glucose metabolism in obese and type II diabetic subjects with or without hypertension.

This study examined whether the presence of hypertension, an insulin-resistant condition, exacerbates the defect in insulin action observed in obesity and type II diabetes mellitus. Glucose metabolism in the basal state and in response to insulin was quantitated by using the euglycemic insulin (20 mU.min-1 x m-2) clamp in combination with 3-[3H]glucose infusion and indirect calorimetry in 20 obese nondiabetic subjects (10 hypertensive and 10 normotensive), 26 type II diabetic subjects (13 hypertensive and 13 normotensive), and 11 normal nondiabetic subjects. The two groups of obese subjects and the two groups of diabetic subjects were matched for sex, age, race, body mass index, and fat distribution. Both in the basal state and during insulin infusion, glucose disposal rates (total, oxidative, and nonoxidative) were similar in obese subjects with or without hypertension. Compared with control subjects, both groups of obese subjects were markedly insulin resistant. Similarly, type II diabetic individuals, whether normotensive or hypertensive, were equally insulin resistant. The severity of insulin resistance was nearly identical in obese and diabetic groups. In diabetic subjects, the inhibitory effect of insulin on hepatic glucose output, lipolysis, and lipid oxidation was blunted compared with normal subjects. In obese subjects the ability of insulin to inhibit lipolysis and lipid oxidation was impaired. However, hypertension did not alter the suppressive effects of insulin on hepatic glucose production, plasma free fatty acid levels, or lipid oxidation in either obese or type II diabetic subjects. These results indicate that hypertension does not confer a greater severity of insulin resistance than that already is present in obesity and type II diabetes mellitus.
Expression of Clostridium difficile Toxins A and B and Their Sigma Factor TcdD Is Controlled by Temperature

ABSTRACT Growth temperature was found to control the expression of toxins A and B in Clostridium difficile VPI 10463, with a maximum at 37°C and low levels at 22 and 42°C in both peptone yeast (PY) and defined media. The up-regulation of toxin A and B mRNA and protein levels upon temperature upshift from 22 to 37°C followed the same kinetics, showing that temperature control occurred at the level of transcription. Experiments with Clostridium perfringens using gusA as a reporter gene demonstrated that both toxin gene promoters were temperature controlled and that their high activity at 37°C was dependent on the alternative sigma factor TcdD. Furthermore, tcdD was found to be autoinduced at 37°C. Glucose down-regulated all these responses in the C. perfringens constructs, similar to its impact on toxin production in C. difficile PY broth cultures. C. difficile proteins induced at 37°C and thus coregulated with the toxins by temperature were demonstrated by two-dimensional sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and identified as enzymes involved in butyric acid production and as electron carriers in oxidation-reduction reactions. The regulation of toxin production in C. difficile by temperature is a novel finding apparently reflecting an adaptation of the expression of its virulence to mammalian hosts.
RNA recognition and signal transduction by RIG‐I‐like receptors

Summary: Viral infection is detected by cellular sensor molecules as foreign nucleic acids and initiates innate antiviral responses, including the activation of proinflammatory cytokines and type I interferon (IFN). Recent identification of cytoplasmic viral sensors, such as retinoic acid‐inducible gene‐I‐like receptors (RLRs), highlights their significance in the induction of antiviral innate immunity. Moreover, it is intriguing to understand how they can discriminate endogenous RNA from foreign viral RNA and initiate signaling cascades leading to the induction of type I IFNs. This review focuses on the current understanding of the molecular machinery underlying RNA recognition and subsequent signal transduction by RLRs.
Information Theory Model for Radiation

Information based models for radiation emitted by a Black Body which passes through a scattering medium are analyzed. In the limit, when there is no scattering this model reverts to the Black Body Radiation Law. The advantage of this mathematical model is that it includes the effect of the scattering of the radiation between source and detector. In the case when the exact form of the scattering mechanism is not known a model using a single scattering parameter is derived. A simple version of this model is derived which is useful for analyzing large data.
Cardiovascular disease in women: Prevention, symptoms, diagnosis, pathogenesis

The significant impact of cardiovascular disease on women is receiving increasing attention, and as a result, we are becoming aware of notable sex differences in the underlying mechanisms, presentation, and response to treatment. This review highlights the importance of continued research focused on women. Notable sex differences exist in the underlying mechanisms, presentation, and response to aspirin, statins, and exercise stress.
Spherical formation enclosing control for second-order agents with an unknown target

This paper deals with the cooperative control problem for second-order agents formation circling along meridian and parallel on a given sphere centered at a target of interest, where the direction of the target's movement is known to each agent but the target's speed is unknown. By using local measurements of relative position, a novel distributed solution is proposed by separatively designing each agent's control input projected onto the spherical normal vector, the direction of spherical meridian and parallel. A second-order coordinated adaptive upgrade law is given to estimate the given target's speed by using adaptive backstepping and consensus. Moreover, a potential function is introduced to avoid the undefined angle coming from the trajectory between the poles of sphere. The theoretical result is proved by the numerical simulation.
Synthesis of quantum arrays with low quantum costs from Kronecker Functional Lattice Diagrams

Reversible logic has many applications such as Quantum computing, low power CMOS circuit design, Optical computing. Hence reversible logic synthesis has attracted attention especially in quantum computing community. A logic function is reversible if it is a one-to-one mapping between input and output vectors. In this paper we present a new approach to synthesis of reversible circuits using Kronecker Functional Lattice Diagrams. Unlike other contemporary algorithms for synthesis of reversible function that use n × n Toffoli gates, our method invariably synthesizes functions using only 3×3 Toffoli gates, Feynman gates and NOT gates. This reduces the quantum cost. Our method adds small cost by adding extra ancilla bits. Moreover, our circuits are always (4-neighbors) regular, which is an asset when they are mapped to 2-Dimensional arrays in Ion Trap (quantum) technology.
Mobile Farm Clinic Outreach to Address Health Conditions Among Latino Migrant Farmworkers in Georgia

ABSTRACT Agricultural labor involves exposure to many occupational hazards, some of which can lead to chronic health conditions. The purpose of this study was to conduct an occupational health needs assessment of illnesses and work-related injuries among a Latino migrant farmworker population (recruited to harvest Vidalia onions) in South Georgia. Study data included survey responses from 100 farmworkers attending mobile farm clinics in 2010 at their worker housing residences, supplemented by medical diagnoses data from the same clinics collected over 3 years (2009–2011) for 1161 farmworkers at six different farms. From the survey, the main health problems reported were hypertension (25%), eye problems (12%), musculoskeletal problems (11%), diabetes (10%), and depression (7%). In multivariate analyses, depression scores were associated with having a history of musculoskeletal problems (p = .002). According to the mobile farm clinic data, the most common medical diagnoses included back pain (11.8%), hypertension (11.4%), musculoskeletal problems (11.3%), gastrointestinal disorders (8.6%), eye problems (7.2%), dermatitis or rash (7.0%), and tinea or fungal skin infections (5.6%). The study identified eye and musculoskeletal problems as the major occupational health conditions for this population of farmworkers.
Interaction of Exercise and Insulin in Type II Diabetes Mellitus

In skeletal muscle, at the level of glucose transport, insulin resistance appears to be a major alteration responsible for decreased glucose disposal rates in non-insulin-dependent (type II) diabetes mellitus. This study focuses on in vitro studies of the glucose transport process in human and rat skeletal muscle. Muscle strips from a group of lean type II diabetic patients demonstrated a 50% decrease in insulin responsiveness for glucose transport when compared with nondiabetic subjects. These findings indicate the presence of postreceptor defects in type II diabetic muscles. Furthermore, in an isolated muscle preparation, it could be demonstrated that epitrochlearis muscles from streptozocin-induced diabetic rats were not only resistant to insulin, but also to exercise-induced increase in glucose transport. However, both regular physical exercise and insulin therapy normalized the decreased capacity for glucose transport in the diabetic rat muscles. Therefore, it appears that regular physical exercise and, in some cases insulin therapy, would be advisable for type II diabetic patients with marked muscular insulin resistance to improve peripheral glucose disposal rates.
Emma Nishimura : The Weight of What Cannot Be Remembered

"This is a library, of sorts. Rather than stories written on paper and bound into books, this library, by Toronto-based artist Emma Nishimura, captures the fleeing nature of family memories. Nishimura cares for these memories, visually wrapping them like 'furoshiki', a traditionnal Japanese bundle used to contain food and gifts. The stories here - memories of the experience and effects of the uprooting, exile and internment of 22,000 Japanese Canadians during the Second World War - are sensitive; Nishimura's use of the 'furoshiki' underscores a need for caretaking of these narratives and their people. " -- p. [2].
Towards a data-intensive approach to named entity recognition

Many difficult natural language and machine learning problems are now yielding to data-intensive solutions made possible by the advent of economical, high-performance computing. In data-intensive computing, complex rules systems and statistical models can often be replaced by the ability to scan large volumes of data to find exact or similar instances in which the solution is known. This paper discusses the problem of named entity recognition in unstructured textual information, a discussion of how data-intensive computing methods have evolved to address this problem, and a comparison of results obtained between different data-intensive methods.
Absence of correlation between skewed X inactivation in blood and serum creatine-kinase levels in Duchenne/Becker female carriers.

The pattern of X inactivation in lymphocyte DNA was investigated in 107 Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) and Becker muscular dystrophy (BMD) carriers (102 asymptomatic and 5 manifesting carriers) and 117 normal female controls of different ages, with the aim: a) to analyze the pattern of X inactivation in blood DNA of a large number of DMD/BMD carriers as compared to normal female controls; b) to determine if there is a decrease in serum creatine kinase (CK) levels with age in obligate DMD/BMD carriers; c) to determine if there is a correlation between X-chromosome inactivation and serum CK among asymptomatic DMD/BMD carriers of different ages or with different clinical manifestations in symptomatic carriers. A high proportion of females showed extremely skewed X inactivation (>90% of one X preferentially inactivated), which was almost the same among carriers and normal controls (19 and 24%, respectively). The mean serum CK was significantly greater among young (<20 years old) than adult (>20 years old) DMD/BMD carriers and it decreased significantly until age 20 with an apparent stabilization afterwards. No statistically significant correlation was found between the proportion of active X(DMD) in blood and serum CK activity in DMD/BMD carriers although it was higher among those less than 20 years old. Our observations suggest that highly skewed X-chromosome pattern in blood (with preferential inactivation of the X(N) chromosome) is not enough to predict that a young DMD carrier will develop muscular weakness.
Elevated Beclin 1 expression is correlated with HIF-1α in predicting poor prognosis of nasopharyngeal carcinoma

Recent studies have suggested that autophagy plays a pivotal role in regulation of cancer development and progression. High expression of the autophagy-related Beclin 1 protein predicted favorable patient outcome in several tumors. Here, a randomized controlled trial (RCT)-derived 128 nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) patients were subjected to analysis of Beclin 1 expression and survival probability. In this RCT, 61 patients treated with induction chemotherapy plus concurrent chemoradiotherapy were used as a training set to generate a Beclin 1 cutoff score for patient outcome by receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis. For validation, the ROC-derived cutoff point was subjected to analysis of the association of Beclin 1 expression with patient outcome and clinical characteristics in testing set. The testing set comprised of 67 patients received induction chemotherapy plus radiotherapy. In the testing set and overall patients, our univariate and multivariate analysis showed that higher Beclin 1 expression, defined by the training set ROC analysis-generated cutoff score, predicted poorer overall survival, progression-free survival and distant metastasis-free survival. However, we failed to detect a correlation between Beclin 1 and local failure-free survival. Moreover, a positive relationship between Beclin 1 and HIF-1α expression was found. Importantly, among patients with elevated HIF-1α expression, a subset with lower Beclin 1 expression displayed a significant overall survival advantage than those with higher expression (p = 0.036). Contrary to previous studies, our results demonstrated that high autophagic Beclin 1 expression was an inferior prognostic marker for NPC. HIF-1α-associated Beclin 1 high expression might facilitate NPC cells surviving from chemoradiotherapy, suggesting a novel therapeutic molecular target for NPC.
Transient Middle Cerebral Artery Occlusion by Intraluminal Suture: II. Neurological Deficits, and Pixel-Based Correlation of Histopathology with Local Blood Flow and Glucose Utilization

We conducted a pixel-based analysis of the acute hemodynamic and metabolic determinants of infarctive histopathology in a reproducible model of temporary (2-hour) middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) produced in rats by an intraluminal suture. Three-dimensional averaged image data sets of local cerebral blood flow (LCBF) and glucose utilization (LCMRglc) acquired in the companion study (Belayev et al., 1997) either at the end of a 2-hour period of MCAO or after 1 hour of recirculation were comapped (using digitized atlas-templates) with data sets depicting the frequency of histological infarction in a matched animal group (n = 8) in which 2 hours of MCAO was followed by 3-day survival, sequential neurobehavioral examinations, and perfusion-fixation and paraffin-embedding of brains for light-microscopic analysis. All rats developed marked postural-reflex and forelimb-placing deficits at 60 minutes of MCAO, signifying high-grade ischemia. Tactile placing deficits persisted during the 72-hour observation period while visual placing and postural-reflex abnormalities variably improved. Comapping of LCBF and histopathology showed that in those pixels destined to undergo infarction, LCBF measured at 2 hours of MCAO showed a sharp distributional peak centered at 0.14 mL/g/min. In 70% of pixels destined to infarct, LCBF at 2 hours of MCAO was 0.24 mL/g/min or below, and in 89% LCBF was below 0.47 mL/g/min (the upper limits of the ischemic core and penumbra, respectively, as defined in the companion study [Belayev et al., 1997]). Local cerebral glucose utilization measured at ~1 hour after 2 hours of MCAO was distributed bimodally in the previously ischemic hemisphere. The major peak, at 22 μmol/100 g/min, coincided exactly with the distribution peak of pixels destined to undergo infarction, while in pixels with a zero probability of infarction, LCMRglc was higher by 12 to 13 μmol/100 g/min. These results indicate that local blood flow at 2 hours of MCAO is a robust predictor of eventual infarction. Pixels with ischemic-core levels of LCBF (0% to 20% of control) have a 96% probability of infarction, while the fate of the penumbra is more heterogeneous: below LCBF of 0.35 mL/g/min, the probability of infarction is 92%, while approximately 20% pixels in the upper-penumbral LCBF range (30% to 40% of control) escape infarction. Our data strongly support the view that the likelihood of infarction within the ischemic penumbra is highly influenced by very subtle differences in early perfusion.
Raphtory: Decentralised Streaming for Temporal Graphs: Poster

Temporal graphs capture the relationships within data as they develop throughout time. Intuition, therefore, suggests that this model would fit naturally within a streaming architecture, where new points of comparison can be inserted directly into the graph as they arrive from the data source. However, the current state of the art has yet to join these two concepts, supporting either temporal analysis on static data or streaming into one-dimensional dynamic graphs. To solve this problem we introduce Raphtory, a temporal graph streaming platform, which maintains a full graph history whilst efficiently inserting new alterations.
Analysis of a Corona-Discharge Based Electrostatic Motor

This paper is aimed at proposing a new design of a corona-discharge based electrostatic motor with a cylindrical rotor made from aluminum foil and multi copper strip stator electrodes. The stator electrodes are alternately stressed positively and negatively. The onset voltage of corona discharge is calculated based on the condition of discharge sustenance at stator electrodes. The corona currents emitted from positively and negatively stressed electrodes are calculated being dependent on the applied voltage and motor geometry. This calls at first for calculation of the spatial distribution of electric field within the motor volume using the accurate charge simulation technique. The calculated corona onset voltage and current-voltage characteristics of the motor agreed reasonably with those measured experimentally for three motors built-in the laboratory. The dependency of the motor speed on the applied voltage is reported for the different investigated motors. Keywords—Electrostatic motor, ionic wind, corona-discharge, field mapping, corona current, motor speed Corresponding author: Mazen Abdel-Salam e-mail address: mazen2000as@yahoo.com Fig. 1. Cross section of the proposed 4-electrode ESM. 60 International Journal of Plasma Environmental Science & Technology, Vol.8, No.1, APRIL 2014
In Vivo Quantification of Myocardial Infarction in Mice Using Micro-CT and a Novel Blood Pool Agent

We herein developed a micro-CT method using the innovative contrast agent ExiTron™ MyoC 8000 to longitudinally monitor cardiac processes in vivo in small animals. Experiments were performed on healthy mice and mice with myocardial infarction inflicted by ligation of the left anterior descending artery. Time-dependent signal enhancement in different tissues of healthy mice was measured and various contrast agent doses were investigated so as to determine the minimum required dose for imaging of the myocardium. Due to its ability to be taken up by healthy myocardium but not by infarct tissue, ExiTron MyoC 8000 enables detection of myocardial infarction even at a very low dose. The signal enhancement in the myocardium of infarcted mice after contrast agent injection was exploited for quantification of infarct size. The values of infarct size obtained from the imaging method were compared with those obtained from histology and showed a significant correlation (R2 = 0.98). Thus, the developed micro-CT method allows for monitoring of a variety of processes such as cardiac remodeling in longitudinal studies.