Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Automatic Detection of Region of Interest Based on Object Tracking in Neurosurgical Video

Automatic detection of region of interest (ROIs) in a complex image or video, such as an angiogram or endoscopic neurosurgery video, is a critical task in many medical image and video processing applications. In this paper, we present a new method that addresses several challenges in automatic detection of ROI of neurosurgical video for ROI coding which is used for neurophysiological intraoperative monitoring (IOM) system. This method is based on an object tracking technique with multivariate density estimation theory, combined with the shape information of the object. By defining the ROIs for neurosurgical video, this method produces a smooth and convex emphasis region within which surgical procedures are performed. A large bandwidth budget is assigned within the ROI to archive high-fidelity Internet transmission. Outside the ROI, a small bandwidth budget is allocated to efficiently utilize the bandwidth resource . We believe this method also can be used to image-guidance surgery (IGS) systems to track the positions of surgical instruments in the physical space occupied by the patient after some improvement
Decreased necrotizing fasciitis capacity caused by a single nucleotide mutation that alters a multiple gene virulence axis

Single-nucleotide changes are the most common cause of natural genetic variation among members of the same species, but there is remarkably little information bearing on how they alter bacterial virulence. We recently discovered a single-nucleotide mutation in the group A Streptococcus genome that is epidemiologically associated with decreased human necrotizing fasciitis (“flesh-eating disease”). Working from this clinical observation, we find that wild-type mtsR function is required for group A Streptococcus to cause necrotizing fasciitis in mice and nonhuman primates. Expression microarray analysis revealed that mtsR inactivation results in overexpression of PrsA, a chaperonin involved in posttranslational maturation of SpeB, an extracellular cysteine protease. Isogenic mutant strains that overexpress prsA or lack speB had decreased secreted protease activity in vivo and recapitulated the necrotizing fasciitis-negative phenotype of the ΔmtsR mutant strain in mice and monkeys. mtsR inactivation results in increased PrsA expression, which in turn causes decreased SpeB secreted protease activity and reduced necrotizing fasciitis capacity. Thus, a naturally occurring single-nucleotide mutation dramatically alters virulence by dysregulating a multiple gene virulence axis. Our discovery has broad implications for the confluence of population genomics and molecular pathogenesis research.
A Relational Frame Theory Account of the Emergence of Sexual Fantasy

Sexual fantasy is common among humans and often serves to facilitate sexual arousal. Although some fantasies may be directly related to a person's past experiences, others may be unrelated to direct history, and these are thus more difficult to explain. Relational frame theory is a comprehensive account of human language and cognition that may assist in understanding the processes involved in the emergence of sexual fantasy. This article presents a primer on relational frame theory, along with examples of how relations between stimuli may influence a person's private experience of sexual fantasy.
Molecular Cloning and Bioinformatics Analysis of Duck MRFs Gene Family Coding Domain Sequences

Myogenesis in skeletal muscle is a cascade of developmental events, whose initiation involves the MRFs family of the myogenic regulatory factors. Comparing the characterization of MRFs family members and their deduced proteins is necessary to know the reasons of their different role in muscle development. In order to investigate the reasons why MRFs members have different roles in duck myogenesis, the genes MyoD1, Myf5, MyoG and MRF4 in the duck were cloned, and were analyzed using bioinformatics knowledge. The result shows that these four sequences share a high homology with other organisms both at the nucleotide level and at the amino acid level. All of the duck four transcription factors have a consensus bHLH domain, and the domain shares a high homology with the other sequences. In addition to the bHLH region, the quantitative distribution of the alpha helixes, random coils, extended strands and phosphorylated sites at the carboxyl-termini and amino-termini are different. We conclude that these differentiations among the duck four myogenic regulatory factors may be linked to their distinct functions.
Application of Data Envelopment Analysis and Performance Indicators to Irrigation Systems in Thessaloniki Plain (Greece)

In this paper, a benchmarking framework is presented for the performance assessment of irrigations systems. Firstly, a data envelopment analysis (DEA) is applied to measure the technical efficiency of irrigation systems. This method, based on linear programming, aims to determine a consistent efficiency ranking of irrigation systems in which known inputs, such as water volume supplied and total irrigated area, and a given output corresponding to the total value of irrigation production are taken into account simultaneously. Secondly, in order to examine the irrigation efficiency in more detail, a cross – system comparison is elaborated using a performance indicators set selected by IWMI. The above methodologies were applied in Thessaloniki plain, located in Northern Greece while the results of the application are presented and discussed. The conjunctive use of DEA and performance indicators seems to be a very useful tool for efficiency assessment and identification of best practices in irrigation systems management. Keywords—Benchmarking, D.E. A, Performance Indicators, Irrigation systems.
Structure of apo-CAP reveals that large conformational changes are necessary for DNA binding

The binding of cAMP to the Escherichia coli catabolite gene activator protein (CAP) produces a conformational change that enables it to bind specific DNA sequences and regulate transcription, which it cannot do in the absence of the nucleotide. The crystal structures of the unliganded CAP containing a D138L mutation and the unliganded WT CAP were determined at 2.3 and 3.6 Å resolution, respectively, and reveal that the two DNA binding domains have dimerized into one rigid body and their two DNA recognition helices become buried. The WT structure shows multiple orientations of this rigid body relative to the nucleotide binding domain supporting earlier biochemical data suggesting that the inactive form exists in an equilibrium among different conformations. Comparison of the structures of the liganded and unliganded CAP suggests that cAMP stabilizes the active DNA binding conformation of CAP through the interactions that the N6 of the adenosine makes with the C-helices. These interactions are associated with the reorientation and elongation of the C-helices that precludes the formation of the inactive structure.
Distributed coverage optimization in a network of static and mobile sensors

This paper proposes efficient schemes to increase sensing coverage in a network composed of both mobile and static sensors. The proposed deployment techniques properly assign a virtual weight to every point in the sensing field, based on the information received from the other sensors regarding their sensing radii, and the location of the static ones. The multiplicatively weighted Voronoi (MW-Voronoi) diagram is used to discover the coverage holes corresponding to different mobile sensors with different sensing ranges. According to the proposed strategies, the mobile sensors move out of the area covered by static sensors, to a point from where it can cover the coverage holes of the static sensors. As a result, under the proposed strategies coverage holes in the network are reduced. Simulation results are provided to demonstrate the effectiveness of the strategies developed in this paper.
Kudzu extract treatment does not increase the intoxicating effects of acute alcohol in human volunteers.

BACKGROUND Isoflavone administration in the form of a purified extract from the herbal medication kudzu root has been shown to reduce, but not eliminate, alcohol consumption in alcohol-abusing and alcohol-dependent men. The precise mechanism of this action is unknown, but 1 possible explanation for these results is that the isoflavones in kudzu might actually increase the intensity or duration of alcohol's effects and thus delay the desire for subsequent drinks. This study was designed to test this hypothesis. METHODS Twelve (12) healthy adult men and women (27.5 ± 1.89 years old) who consumed moderate amounts of alcohol (7.8 ± 0.63 drinks/wk) participated in a double-blinded, placebo-controlled crossover study in which they were treated with either kudzu extract (total isoflavone dose of 750 mg/d) or matched placebo for 9 days. On days 8 and 9, participants received an acute challenge of ethyl alcohol (either 0.35 or 0.7 g/kg alcohol). During the challenges, the following measures were collected: subjective effects, psychomotor (body sway), cognitive performance (vigilance/reaction time), physiological measures (heart rate and skin temperature), and plasma ethanol concentration. RESULTS Alcohol resulted in a dose-related alteration in subjective measures of intoxication, impairment of stance stability, and vigilance/reaction time. Kudzu extract did not alter participants' subjective responses to the alcohol challenge or to alcohol's effects on stance stability or vigilance/reaction time. However, individuals treated with kudzu extract experienced a slightly more rapid rise in plasma ethanol levels, but only after the 0.7 g/kg dose. This transient effect during the first 30 minutes of the ascending plasma alcohol curve lasted only 10-15 minutes; there were no differences in peak plasma alcohol levels or alcohol elimination kinetics. Additionally, kudzu pretreatment enhanced the effects of the 0.7 g/kg dose of alcohol on heart rate and skin temperature. CONCLUSIONS These data suggest that individuals who drink alcohol while being treated with kudzu extract experience no adverse consequences, and furthermore the reported reductions in alcohol intake after kudzu extract treatment are not related to an alteration in alcohol's subjective or psychomotor effects.
Akzent auf die Standardsprachen: Regionale Spuren in "Français fédéral" und "Schweizerhochdeutsch"

Durch ihren fremdsprachlichen Akzent gibt eine Sprecherin ihre Herkunft, ihre Muttersprache preis. So werden die meisten Deutschschweizer beim Sprechen einer Fremdsprache als solche erkannt. Kann aber aufgrund dieses "Deutschschweizer" Akzents auch erkannt werden, aus welchem Dialektgebiet ein Sprecher stammt? Der vorliegende Beitrag stellt eine empirische Studie zur Perzeption dialektaler Akzente vor. Er beschaftigt sich mit dialektalen Akzenten im Standarddeutschen und im Franzosischen und zeigt mit quantitativen Methoden auf, dass dialektal bedingte Akzentunterschiede von native speakers durchaus wahrgenommen und lokalisiert werden konnen. Daruber hinaus und als Basis fur die Auswertung des empirischen Teils leistet die vorliegende Arbeit eine Beschreibung und Kategorisierung der dialektalen Lautlandschaft der Schweiz sowie einen Ansatz zur Beschreibung der Aussprache des Franzosischen durch Schweizer Dialektsprecher.
On the testing of MEMS resonators

This paper discusses the issues related to testing MEMS resonators, and suggests ways to mitigate the associated difficulties. Vacuum test conditions and their effect on the quality factor of a resonator are discussed. A custom-built vacuum system is described to simplify testing, and to avoid packaging at early stages of device characterization. Issues regarding the biasing and power handling of MEMS resonators are investigated, with specific attention given to electrostatic spring softening, and its effect on the response of the resonator. The use of MEMS resonators within an electronic oscillator is also discussed with respect to resonator non-linearity and phase noise performance.
Investigating the potential neurotoxicity of Ecstasy (MDMA): an imaging approach

Human users of 3,4‐methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA, ‘Ecstasy’) users may be at risk of developing MDMA‐induced neuronal injury. Previously, no methods were available for directly evaluating the neurotoxic effects of MDMA in the living human brain. However, development of in vivo neuroimaging tools has begun to provide insights into the effects of MDMA in the human brain. In this review, contributions of brain imaging studies on the potential neurotoxic effects of MDMA and functional consequences are highlighted. An overview is given of PET, SPECT and MR spectroscopy studies, most of which show evidence of neuronal injury in MDMA users. Different neuroimaging tools are discussed that have investigated potential functional consequences of MDMA‐induced 5‐HT neurotoxic lesions. Finally, the contribution of brain imaging in future studies is discussed, emphasising the crucial role it will play in our understanding of MDMA's short‐ and long‐term effects in the human brain. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
One vs three years of adjuvant imatinib for operable gastrointestinal stromal tumor: a randomized trial.

CONTEXT Adjuvant imatinib administered for 12 months after surgery has improved recurrence-free survival (RFS) of patients with operable gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST) compared with placebo. OBJECTIVE To investigate the role of imatinib administration duration as adjuvant treatment of patients who have a high estimated risk for GIST recurrence after surgery. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PATIENTS Patients with KIT-positive GIST removed at surgery were entered between February 2004 and September 2008 to this randomized, open-label phase 3 study conducted in 24 hospitals in Finland, Germany, Norway, and Sweden. The risk of GIST recurrence was estimated using the modified National Institutes of Health Consensus Criteria. INTERVENTION Imatinib, 400 mg per day, orally for either 12 months or 36 months, started within 12 weeks of surgery. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES The primary end point was RFS; the secondary end points included overall survival and treatment safety. RESULTS Two hundred patients were allocated to each group. The median follow-up time after randomization was 54 months in December 2010. Diagnosis of GIST was confirmed in 382 of 397 patients (96%) in the intention-to-treat population at a central pathology review. KIT or PDGFRA mutation was detected in 333 of 366 tumors (91%) available for testing. Patients assigned for 36 months of imatinib had longer RFS compared with those assigned for 12 months (hazard ratio [HR], 0.46; 95% CI, 0.32-0.65; P < .001; 5-year RFS, 65.6% vs 47.9%, respectively) and longer overall survival (HR, 0.45; 95% CI, 0.22-0.89; P = .02; 5-year survival, 92.0% vs 81.7%). Imatinib was generally well tolerated, but 12.6% and 25.8% of patients assigned to the 12- and 36-month groups, respectively, discontinued imatinib for a reason other than GIST recurrence. CONCLUSION Compared with 12 months of adjuvant imatinib, 36 months of imatinib improved RFS and overall survival of GIST patients with a high risk of GIST recurrence. TRIAL REGISTRATION clinicaltrials.gov Identifier: NCT00116935.
Nose tip detection from 3D facial mesh data using a rotationally invariant local shape descriptor

We present a nose tip detection method using a novel 3D local shape descriptor called DF (Distance based Fourier) descriptor that is rotationally invariant. The DF descriptor allows us to control the degree of descriptiveness depending on the complexity of object shape. When combined with SVM (Support Vector Machine), the DF descriptor proves powerful for nose tip detection. The detection method also features prescreening of candidate points for the nose tip using a constraint of being a protuberant point and 3D Harris Corner detection. The preliminary result for nose tip detection shows a great promise towards the detection of other fiducial features such as the eyes and the mouth corners and finally recognition of 3D faces.
Intracellular features of type II procollagen and chondroitin sulfate proteoglycan synthesis in chondrocytes

The intracellular compartments of chondrocytes involved in the synthesis and processing of type II procollagen and chondroitin sulfate proteoglycan (CSPG) monomer were investigated using simultaneous double immunofluorescence and lectin localization reactions. Type II procollagen was distributed in vesicles throughout the cytoplasm, whereas intracellular precursors of CSPG monomer were accumulated in the perinuclear cytoplasm. In this study, cytoplasmic vesicles that stained intensely with antibodies directed against CSPG monomer but did not react with type II collagen antibodies, also were observed. A monoclonal antibody, 5‐D‐4, that recognizes keratan sulfate determinants was used to identify the Golgi complex (the site of keratan sulfate chain elongation). Staining with 5‐D‐4 was restricted to the perinuclear cytoplasm. The vesicles outside the perinuclear cytoplasm that stained intensely with antibodies to CSPG monomer did not react with 5‐D‐4. Fluorescent lectins were used to characterize further subcellular compartments. Concanavalin A, which reacts with mannose‐rich oligosaccharides, did not stain the perinuclear region, but it did stain vesicles throughout the rest of the cytoplasm. Because mannos oligosaccharides are added cotranslationally, the stained vesicles throughout the cytoplasm presumably correspond to the rough endoplasmic reticulum. Wheat germ agglutinin, which recognizes N‐acetyl‐D‐glucosamine and sialic acid (carbohydrates added in the Golgi), stained exclusively the perinuclear cytoplasm. By several criteria (staining with the monoclonal antibody 5‐D‐4 and with wheat germ agglutinin), the perinuclear cytoplasm seems to correspond to the Golgi complex. The cytoplasmic vesicles that react with anti‐CSPG monomer and not with anti‐type II collagen contain precursors of CSPG monomer not yet modified by Golgi‐mediated oligosaccharide additions (because they are not stained with wheat germ agglutinin or with the anti‐keratan sulfate antibody); these vesicles may have a unique function in the processing of CSPG.
Cryopyrin associated periodic syndrome with neurological involvement in a 50‐year‐old patient

A 56-year-old female presented with headache, lymphadenopathy, fever and weight loss for the last 3 months. She reported four episodes of meningitis and bilateral sensorineural hearing loss in the last 3 years. In the last 10 years she presented episodes of non-pruritic erythematous plaques in trunk and limbs suggesting urticaria. Because of Graves’ disease she had received propylthiouracil 5 years before. Familiar history was negative; however, one daughter presented hearing loss. Laboratory results showed neutrophilia and erythrocyte sedimentation rate of 100 mm/h. Hystoplasmosis, cryptococcosis, tuberculosis, Lyme disease and HIV were excluded. Angiotensin converting enzyme activity was normal. Autoantibodies were negative, except for positive perinuclear anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies (pANCA). Whole body CT and whole body PET CT scans were normal. She developed seizures and memory complaints. Brain MRI revealed hydrocephalus and white matter lesions (Fig. 1). Spinal fluid showed 1557 cells/ mm, 52% neutrophils, 92 mg/dl protein and normal glucose. PCR for herpes viruses was negative. Skin biopsy revealed neutrophilic urticarial dermatosis without vasculitis. A positive pANCA test was attributed to propylthiouracil therapy. The finding of hearing loss, meningitis, neutrophilia and neutrophilic dermatosis suggested CAPS. She received anakinra 100 mg/day with resolution of rash, pleocytosis and encephalopathy within a week. Genetic testing for mutations in all exons of NALP3 gene was negative.
Proresolving and Tissue-Protective Actions of Annexin A1–Based Cleavage-Resistant Peptides Are Mediated by Formyl Peptide Receptor 2/Lipoxin A4 Receptor

Endogenous mechanisms regulating the host response during inflammation resolution are critical in ensuring disposal of noxious stimuli and return to homeostasis. In this article, we engineered novel Annexin A1 (AnxA1)–based peptides, AnxA12–50, that displayed specific binding to the AnxA1 receptor (formyl peptide receptor 2/Lipoxin A4 receptor [FPR2/ALX]; IC50 ∼4 nM). Intravenous administration of AnxA12–50 markedly reduced (>60%) leukocyte adhesion to postcapillary venules in wild type and Fpr1−/−, but not Fpr2/Alx−/−, mice. Generation of a metabolically stable form of this peptide (CR-AnxA12–50), engineered by substituting a cleavage site shared by human proteinase 3 and neutrophil elastase, yielded an agonist that was resistant to neutrophil-mediated cleavage and displayed enhanced proresolving actions: accelerated resolution of self-limited inflammation and enhanced macrophage efferocytosis after sterile injury, when compared with AnxA12–50. These actions were retained with human primary leukocytes where CR-AnxA12–50 decreased neutrophil–endothelial interactions (∼25–45%), and stimulated neutrophil apoptosis and macrophage efferocytosis (∼45%). In murine cardiac ischemia/reperfusion injury, CR-AnxA12–50 elicited tissue-protective actions reducing infarct size (∼60%) and incidence of 24-h death. These results identify AnxA12–50 and CR-AnxA12–50 as FPR2/ALX agonists that harness the proresolving actions of AnxA1, and thus may represent therapeutic tools for treatment of inflammatory conditions.
A non-native amphipod consumes eelgrass inflorescences in San Francisco Bay.

ABSTRACT: Intense herbivory can alter habitat characteristics, and grazing on reproductivestructures can reduce plant fitness and long-term population stability. Herbivory on seagrasses isoften limited to epiphytes; however, direct grazing has been observed recently in several systems.In San Francisco Bay, California, we documented extensive damage to leaves and especially inflo-rescences of eelgrass Zostera marina concurrent with blooms of the non-native amphipod Ampi -thoe valida. Field surveys found peaks of A. valida abundance when eelgrass was flowering, andgreater abundance on flowering than vegetative shoots, with particularly high abundances onreproductive structures (spathes) in late developmental stages (with ripe fruits or post seedrelease). Laboratory experiments showed that A. valida consumed leaf and spathe tissue (as wellas whole fruits), but usually preferred spathes to leaves. Spathes are structurally complex andlikely provide better habitat, increasing opportunity for consumption. Low field algal abundancesdo not fully explain eelgrass herbivory, as amphipods grazed eelgrass substantially even whenoffered algae. When presented with eelgrass from both the amphipod’s native (Virginia) andinvaded range (California), the latter was consumed at significantly higher rates. Neither nutrientnor phenolic content adequately explain the tissue preference. Greater size of California eelgrassmay have promoted incidental feeding on spathes used as habitat, but does not explain a Califor-nia bias during consumption of structurally simple leaves. Field densities and laboratory consump-tion rates suggest that this non-native amphipod could remove all seeds in a California eelgrassmeadow in 1−3 wk, thus challenging maintenance of genetic diversity and long-term meadowpersistence.KEY WORDS: Seagrass · Zostera marina · Ampithoe valida · Herbivory · Seed predation