Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Melanocytic Tumors of Uncertain Malignant Potential: Results of a Tutorial Held at the XXIX Symposium of the International Society of Dermatopathology in Graz, October 2008

Several reports demonstrated the difficulties and lack of agreement in the histopathologic diagnosis of particular melanocytic tumors (atypical Spitz tumors, atypical blue nevi, deep penetrating nevi). These lesions are often referred to as “melanocytic tumors of uncertain malignant potential” (MELTUMP). We studied a large number of such tumors to find out whether repeatable histopathologic criteria for distinction of benign from malignant cases exist. Fifty-seven cases of MELTUMP were classified within 3 groups according to behavior as follows: (a) favorable (no evidence of metastatic disease after a follow-up of ≥5 y), (b) unfavorable (tumor-related death and/or large metastatic deposits in the lymph nodes and/or visceral metastases), (c) borderline (small nodal deposits of tumor cells ≤0.2 mm). There were no significant differences in tumor thickness and presence or absence of ulceration between the different groups. The only 3 histopathologic criteria that were statistically different between the groups of favorable and unfavorable cases were presence of mitoses, mitoses near the base, and an inflammatory reaction, all of them found more frequently in cases with unfavorable behavior. The major outcome of this study of a series of “MELTUMPs” suggests as a preliminary observation that these lesions as a group exist and that they may be biologically different from conventional melanoma and benign melanocytic nevi. The terminology remains highly controversial, reflecting the uncertainty in classification and interpretation of these atypical melanocytic tumors.
Big Data Analytics in Operations Management

Big data analytics is critical in modern operations management (OM). In this study, we first explore the existing big data‐related analytics techniques, and identify their strengths, weaknesses as well as major functionalities. We then discuss various big data analytics strategies to overcome the respective computational and data challenges. After that, we examine the literature and reveal how different types of big data methods (techniques, strategies, and architectures) can be applied to different OM topical areas, namely forecasting, inventory management, revenue management and marketing, transportation management, supply chain management, and risk analysis. We also investigate via case studies the real‐world applications of big data analytics in top branded enterprises. Finally, we conclude the study with a discussion of future research.
Comparison of naturally acquired and vaccine-induced antibodies to Haemophilus influenzae type b capsular polysaccharide

The objective of this study was to assess qualitative differences in the types of Haemophilus influenzae type B (Hib) capsular polysaccharide (polyribosylribitol phosphate [PRP]) antibodies induced in children 15 to 27 months of age by (i) natural exposure, (ii) PRP vaccine, and by (iii) PRP-diphtheria toxoid conjugate vaccine, (iv) PRP-group B Neisseria meningitidis outer membrane vesicle conjugate vaccine, and (v) Haemophilus type B oligosaccharide conjugate vaccine (HbOC). The highest levels of total Hib-PRP antibody measured by radioimmunoassay and immunoglobulin G (IgG) measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay were seen after HbOC immunization. IgG1 Hib-PRP antibodies predominated in all groups, and there were no differences between the groups in the proportion of IgG and IgA Hib-PRP antibodies. However, the proportions of IgM differed significantly by group. The highest proportions of IgM occurred in naturally acquired antibody and after PRP vaccine, and the lowest proportion occurred after HbOC vaccine. IgG light-chain V kappa type alpha PRP antibody was present in all groups, and the level correlated with the total IgG Hib-PRP antibody level. Therefore, HbOC induced the highest concentrations of V kappa II type alpha PRP antibody, and the naturally acquired antibody group had the lowest levels. IgG light-chain V kappa III antibody levels were also highest in the HbOC group, but there was no correlation between V kappa III antibody levels and total amount of IgG Hib-PRP antibody. These data demonstrate qualitative differences in the antibody repertoires induced by natural exposure, the Hib-PRP vaccine, and each of the different Hib conjugate vaccines. We doubt that there are major differences in the protection afforded by these different antibody repertoires, because these differences do not appear to correlate with differences in protective efficacy in older children.
Understanding How Transformational Servant Leadership Affects Student Leadership Development in a Higher Education Program in China.

Transformational leadership and servant leadership are both dominant theories in leadership studies. In this article, we conducted a bounded case study of eight graduates from a Masters in Leadership Program in China to examine how transformational leadership and servant leadership have significant effects on leadership development. This study reported a subset of findings (two research questions, six interview questions, and 33 codes that clustered into eight themes) from a larger study and showed that the eight participants’ self-directed and other-directed attitudes and behavior did change because of the combined focus of both transformational and servant leadership principles presented in the Master’s program. Although Transformational Servant Leadership is not an established concept, the results of this study provide a foundation for propositions about Transformational Servant Leadership and future theory development.
BorreliaSpirochetes Upregulate Release and Activation of Matrix Metalloproteinase Gelatinase B (MMP-9) and Collagenase 1 (MMP-1) in Human Cells

ABSTRACT Borrelia burgdorferi, the spirochetal agent of Lyme disease, stimulated human peripheral blood monocytes to release pro-matrix metalloproteinase-9 (gelatinase B; pro-MMP-9) and active matrix metalloproteinase-1 (collagenase-1; MMP-1). Human neutrophils also released pro-MMP-9 and a 130-kDa protein with gelatinolytic activity in response to live B. burgdorferi. In addition, U937 cells and human keratinocyte cells were also stimulated to release pro-MMP-9 under the same conditions. However, human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) released pro-MMP-9 and pro-MMP-2 in a constitutive manner and were not influenced by live spirochetes. MMPs produced by human monocytes also enhanced the penetration of B. burgdorferi through extracellular matrix component barriers in vitro. Plasmin stabilized on the surface of the Lyme disease spirochete was shown to activate pro-MMP-9 to its active form. This active form was also observed in the plasma of mice infected with a relapsing fever borrelia. These results suggest that borreliae can upregulate MMPs and possibly mediate an activation cascade initiated by plasmin bound to the microbial surface. MMPs may play a role in dissemination of the Lyme disease spirochete and in the pathogenesis ofBorrelia infection.
Ramsey numbers of cycles versus general graphs

Abstract The Ramsey number $R(F,H)$ is the minimum number N such that any N-vertex graph either contains a copy of F or its complement contains H. Burr in 1981 proved a pleasingly general result that, for any graph H, provided n is sufficiently large, a natural lower bound construction gives the correct Ramsey number involving cycles: $R(C_n,H)=(n-1)(\chi (H)-1)+\sigma (H)$ , where $\sigma (H)$ is the minimum possible size of a colour class in a $\chi (H)$ -colouring of H. Allen, Brightwell and Skokan conjectured that the same should be true already when $n\geq \lvert H\rvert \chi (H)$ . We improve this 40-year-old result of Burr by giving quantitative bounds of the form $n\geq C\lvert H\rvert \log ^4\chi (H)$ , which is optimal up to the logarithmic factor. In particular, this proves a strengthening of the Allen–Brightwell–Skokan conjecture for all graphs H with large chromatic number.
Efficacy of bosentan in a small cohort of adult patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension related to congenital heart disease.

OBJECTIVES This study was designed to assess the tolerability and efficacy of the oral endothelin receptor antagonist bosentan in adult patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) related to congenital heart disease (CHD). BACKGROUND Severe PAH in the setting of CHD is a debilitating syndrome for which there are limited treatment options. This is the first long-term study experience in adults reporting on the tolerability and efficacy of therapy with bosentan for this patient population. METHODS A 12-month single-center experience with 19 women and 5 men with PAH associated with CHD (79% in New York Heart Association [NYHA] class III) was analyzed. Hemodynamic responses, exercise capacity, and Borg dyspnea index were assessed prior to the administration of bosentan, and again at 3, 6, and 12 months after the study began. Clinical assessments were performed monthly for up to 12 months. The change from baseline was tested using the Wilcoxon pairs test. RESULTS There was significant improvement in hemodynamics from baseline to 12 months (mean [+/- SD] systolic pulmonary arterial pressure, 99 +/- 30 to 87 +/- 28 mm Hg [p </= 0.001]; mean pulmonary arterial pressure, 60 +/- 18 to 52 +/- 17 mm Hg [p </= 0.001]; mean right atrial pressure, 12 +/- 6 to 8 +/- 5 mm Hg [p </= 0.001]; mean pulmonary vascular resistance, 663 +/- 386 to 504 +/- 307 dyne . s . cm(-5) [p < 0.01]; pulmonary capillary wedge pressure, 15 +/- 5 to 11 +/- 3 mm Hg [p < 0.001]). NYHA functional class also improved from baseline to 12 months (NYHA class I/II range, 17 to 71%; p < 0.001). There was a marginally significant trend toward improvement in the mean 6-min walk test distance at 12 months (299 +/- 85 to 330 +/- 95 m; p = 0.05). Three patients needed to discontinue bosentan therapy because of elevated liver function test results. There were no deaths or hospitalizations, and no significant change in arterial oxygen saturation had occurred at 12 months. CONCLUSIONS Bosentan therapy improved hemodynamics and NYHA class in patients with PAH that was associated with CHD. These effects were seen after 3 to 6 months. Bosentan therapy may provide an effective alternative to current therapies in this patient population.
Oxidation of plasma low-density lipoprotein accelerates its accumulation and degradation in the arterial wall in vivo.

BACKGROUND The aim of the present study was to investigate whether oxidized LDL (ox-LDL) in the arterial intima could be derived from LDL already oxidized in plasma. METHODS AND RESULTS Rabbits received an intravenous injection of 125I-labeled normal LDL (N-LDL) mixed with 131I-labeled LDL that had been mildly oxidized through exposure to Cu2+. The aortic accumulation of undegraded labeled LDL was expressed as plasma equivalents and cakulated as radioactivity in the intima/inner media (cpm/cm2) divided by the time-averaged concentration of radioactivity in plasma (cpm/nL): for the thoracic aorta, the accumulation of undegraded ox-LDL in the intima/ inner media exceeded that of undegraded N-LDL by 286% (n = 6, P < .04), 863% (n = 7, P < .02), and 364% (n = 8, P < .01) after 1, 3, and 24 hours of exposure, respectively. There was a strong positive association between the extent of oxidation and the excess accumulation of undegraded ox-LDL compared with N-LDL (thoracic aorta; 3 hours of exposure: r = .97, n = 14, P < .00001). To measure degradation of N-LDL and ox-LDL, 125I-LDL labeled with 131I-tyramine cellobiose was injected intravenously 24 hours before the aortic intima/inner media was removed: for the thoracic aorta, the accumulation of degradation products from ox-LDL (n = 6) exceeded that from N-LDL (n = 6) by 301% (P < .04). CONCLUSIONS The present data suggest a novel mechanism: mildly oxidized LDL may circulate in plasma for a period sufficiently long to enter, accumulate, and be degraded in the arterial intima in preference to N-LDL.
Glucose Stimulation of Cytochrome C Reduction and Oxygen Consumption as Assessment of Human Islet Quality

Background. An in vitro method to assess human islets could prevent transplantation of nonviable islets and facilitate the optimization of islet preparation. We hypothesize that glucose-stimulated cytochrome c reduction and oxygen consumption by human islets can be used as predictors of transplant success. Methods. Isolated human islets were obtained from research-grade pancreata. Using a previously developed islet flow culture system, the response of cytochrome c reduction and oxygen consumption to glucose was compared to the ability of islets transplanted into nondiabetic NOD-SCID mice to secrete C-peptide in response to a glucose tolerance test conducted 7 days following transplant (n=10). Results. In vitro responses by human islets were qualitatively similar to those seen in rat islets: glucose increased both oxygen consumption and cytochrome c reduction. However, the responses were smaller in magnitude and quite variable. Scatter plots of C-peptide and quantiles for ln(C-peptide) indicated that 12 ng/ml could be used as threshold of transplant success with which to evaluate the diagnostic potential of cytochrome c and oxygen consumption. Data was analyzed by generating receiver operating curves and the area under the curve was 0.889 (95% CI: 0.645–1.000) and 0.738 (95% CI: 0.413–1.000) for cytochrome c reuction and oxygen consumption respectively (1 indicates absolute predictive capability and 0.5 indicates no predictive capability). Conclusions. The detection of glucose-stimulated cytochrome c reduction and oxygen consumption may have utility as criteria for the assessment of human islet quality.
Annotating real time Twitter's images/videos basing on tweets

Nowadays, online social network “Twitter” represents a huge source of unrefined information in various formats (text, video, photo), especially during events and abnormal cases/incidents. New features for Twitter mobile application are now available, allowing user to publish direct photos online. This paper is focusing on photos/videos taken by user and published in real time using only mobile devices. The aim is to find candidates for annotation from Tweet stream, then to annotate them by taking into accounts several features based only on tweets. A preprocessing step is necessary to exclude all useless tweets, we then process textual content of the rest. As a final step, we consider an additional characterization (spatio-temporal and saliency) to get outcome of the annotation as RDF triples.
A novel photometric stereo method with nonisotropic point light sources

This paper presents a photometric stereo method with nonisotropic point light sources. Subject to the non-uniform lighting conditions produced by the nonisotropic point sources, each incident light ray should be precisely determined so as to realize an accurate calculation of surface normal. In the proposed method, radiance model of the light source is firstly introduced to the classical photometric stereo framework. By considering the distance and angular attenuations of incident light rays, a precise description for the lighting field can be established. Based on the initial 3D reconstruction result, an iterative process is introduced to optimize the primary light model parameters with respect to the unknown distance factor. The experimental setup is quite simple, which only consists of some LEDs and one camera. And the experimental results show that, with the proposed method, accuracy of the reconstructed surface normal can be greatly improved in comparison with some conventional light models.
Membrane properties of the granule cells of the islands of Calleja of the rat studied in vitro.

1. Using patch‐clamp techniques, we have studied granule neurones from the islands of Calleja in vitro: as isolated cells or as groups of varying numbers following enzymic digestion, or within untreated slices of approximately 100 microns thickness. 2. Recordings were made with patch pipettes in conventional or nystatin‐perforated whole‐cell mode. Current‐clamp recordings indicated that these granule cells are excitable and at resting potential produce irregular spontaneous activity. In voltage clamp the transient inward current underlying these action potentials could be evoked. This current had a threshold for activation of about ‐50 mV and was sensitive to TTX. In some cells a TTX‐resistant transient inward current was observed with a threshold for activation of about ‐70 mV. 3. Island of Calleja granule cells also exhibited outward currents. A rapidly activating transient current was observed that was resistant to TEA and sensitive to 4‐AP, and therefore resembled IA. The current was half‐maximally activated at ‐6 mV and steady‐state inactivation was half‐complete at ‐65 mV. 4. More sustained outward currents were also observed. Although some cells appeared to express a Ca(2+)‐activated K+ current, the most common finding was a rapidly activating, slowly inactivating, voltage‐dependent K+ current that was sensitive to TEA and Ba2+. This current resembled M‐current more than delayed rectifier but displayed a number of idiosyncratic kinetic properties. Chief amongst these was the accumulation of an inactivating process when the current was repeatedly evoked from potentials near the cells’ resting value by voltage steps that by themselves produced no observable inactivation during the voltage command; this behaviour was similar to the ‘C‐terminal’ inactivation exhibited by lymphocytes and certain expressed K+ channel clones (Kv1.3). 5. These results indicate that the granule cells of the islands of Calleja are excitable and contain a number of additional regulatory conductances. The implications of these findings in, and the usefulness of this preparation to, the elucidation of the function(s) of the islands of Calleja are discussed.
Screening for Hepatocellular Carcinoma in Patients With Hepatitis C Cirrhosis: A Cost-Utility Analysis

OBJECTIVE:Screening for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is advocated in cirrhotic patients to optimize early detection and treatment. However, the cost-effectiveness is not well defined. Our objective was to perform a cost-utility analysis from a third-party payer's perspective of no screening, α-fetoprotein (AFP) concentration measurement alone, abdominal ultrasound (US) and AFP, abdominal three-phase CT and AFP, and abdominal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and AFP.METHODS:A Markov model was constructed simulating the natural history of hepatitis C-related cirrhosis in a cohort of patients age 50 yr over a time horizon of their remaining life expectancy. Transition probabilities were obtained from published data and U.S. vital statistics. Costs represented Medicare reimbursement data. Costs and health effects were discounted at a 3% annual rate.RESULTS:Screening with ultrasonography and AFP concentration measurement was associated with an incremental cost-utility ratio of $26,689 per quality-adjusted life year, whereas screening with abdominal three-phase CT and AFP concentration measurement was associated with an incremental cost-utility ratio of $25,232 per quality-adjusted life year compared with no screening. Compared with three-phase CT and AFP, magnetic resonance and AFP imaging costs $118,000 per quality-adjusted life year. Sensitivity analysis demonstrated that the results are most sensitive to the annual incidence of HCC, proportion of tumors amenable to treatment, and to transplant candidacy, whereas the choice of screening strategy is most sensitive to the test characteristics and cost.CONCLUSIONS:Screening for HCC with CT is a cost-effective strategy in transplant-eligible patients with cirrhosis secondary to chronic hepatitis C viral (HCV) infection, comparable with other commonly accepted screening interventions such as mammography and colonoscopy.
Development of an Analog Maximum Power Point Tracker for Photovoltaic Panel

Maximum power point trackers (MPPT) are used to operate a solar photovoltaic (PV) panel at its maximum power point (MPP). A number of tracking algorithms have been used in the past. A simple and cheap analog MPPT has been simulated and constructed. The MPP tracking algorithm is based on the fact that the MPP voltage is approximately a fixed percentage of the open circuit voltage of the PV panel. The PV panel is usually disconnected from the load after regular intervals, to record the open circuit voltage. In the present work, an unloaded pilot PV panel, with characteristics similar to those of the main PV panel and installed under similar conditions, is used to measure the open circuit voltage. The main PV panel is never disconnected from the load, resulting in increased energy output. The simulation and experimental results show that the panel tracks the MPP under changing atmospheric and load conditions
Surgery for colorectal liver metastases with hepatic lymph node involvement: a systematic review

Liver resection for colorectal metastases is the only known treatment associated with long‐term survival; extrahepatic disease is usually considered a contraindication to such treatment. However, some surgeons do not regard spread to the hepatic lymph nodes as a contraindication provided that these nodes can be excised adequately. A systematic review of the literature was undertaken to address this issue.
Ventricular mass and electrocardiographic criteria of hypertrophy: evaluation of new score.

BACKGROUND The left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) is an important and independent cardiovascular risk factor. There is a scarcity of studies in Brazil designed to test the efficacy of the electrocardiogram (ECG) in the diagnosis of this important pathological process. OBJECTIVE To evaluate a new electrocardiographic score for the diagnosis of LVH by ECG: the sum of the highest amplitude of the S wave and the highest amplitude of the R wave on the horizontal plane, multiplied by the result of the QRS duration [(S+R) X QRS)] and comparing it with the classic electrocardiographic criteria. METHODS The echocardiograms and ECG of 1,204 hypertensive patients receiving outpatient care were evaluated. The left ventricular mass index (LVMI) was assessed by the echocardiogram, with a diagnosis of LVH when the LVMI was > or = 96 g/m(2) for women and > or = 116 g/m(2) for men. Four classic criteria of LVH were analyzed at the ECG, in addition to the new score to be tested. RESULTS In general, the studied ECG-LVH criteria showed significant statistical correlation to the echocardiographic LVMI. The (R+S) X QRS index, using 2.80 mm.s as the cutoff value, provided test accuracy regarding sensibility and specificity of 35.2% and 88.71%, respectively, representing the best correlation to LVMI (r=0.564) when compared to the other indexes: Romhilt-Estes (r=0.464); Sokolow-Lyon (r=0.419); Cornell voltage (r=0.377); Cornell product r=0.444). CONCLUSION All the electrocardiographic criteria used for the assessment of the LV mass presented low sensitivity. The new score presented the best correlation with LVMI when compared to the other indexes.
Predicting U.S. Bank Failures with MIDAS Logit Models

We propose a new approach based on a generalization of the logit model to improve prediction accuracy in U.S. bank failures. Mixed-data sampling (MIDAS) is introduced in the context of a logistic regression. We also mitigate the class-imbalance problem in data and adjust the classification accuracy evaluation. In applying the suggested model to the period from 2004 to 2016, we show that it correctly classifies significantly more bank failure cases than the classic logit model, in particular for long-term forecasting horizons. Some of the largest recent bank failures in the United States that had been previously misclassified are now correctly predicted.