gebhart/patrepeval huggingface dataset:
Voxel classification based airway tree segmentation (2008)

This paper presents a voxel classification based method for segmenting the human airway tree in volumetric computed tomography (CT) images. In contrast to standard methods that use only voxel intensities, our method uses a more complex appearance model based on a set of local image appearance features and K-th nearest neighbor (KNN) classification. The optimal set of features for classification is selected automatically from a large set of features describing the local image structure at several scales. The use of multiple features enables the appearance model to differentiate between airway tree voxels and other voxels of similar intensities in the lung, thus making the segmentation robust to pathologies such as emphysema. The classifier is trained on imperfect segmentations that can easily be obtained using region growing with a manual threshold selection. Experiments show that the proposed method results in a more robust segmentation that can grow into the smaller airway branches without leaking into emphysematous areas, and is able to segment many branches that are not present in the training set.
Investigation of glucocorticoid receptor polymorphisms in relation to metabolic parameters in Addison's disease (2012)

Alterations in lipids, BMI and hydrocortisone dose were associated with two polymorphisms. Further larger studies are warranted to corroborate these findings.
Treatment of agitation in dementia (1997)

Agitation occurs commonly in patients with dementia. Before symptomatic pharmacotherapy is undertaken, it is imperative to perform a sequence of evaluations and interventions to establish whether simpler and safer, nonpharmacologic approaches will be beneficial. When psychotropic medications are used they should be used judiciously, in the lowest effective doses and for the shortest period of time necessary. Ineffective medications should be stopped, and even effective medications should be empirically tapered in most patients to learn whether treatment is still necessary. Antipsychotics probably show the greatest benefit for agitation associated with psychotic features; they have less demonstrated efficacy for agitation not associated with psychotic features. The side effects of typical agents are legion; data are pending regarding atypical agents. The available evidence regarding nonneuroleptic medications ranges from case reports to well-designed, double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized, parallel group studies. Literature exists describing the use of anticonvulsants, anxiolytics, serotonergic antidepressants, and other agents to manage agitation. Carbamazepine and divalproex sodium (valproate) have demonstrated efficacy in uncontrolled studies, whereas the use of carbamazepine has produced negative results in one small controlled study and positive results in two larger controlled studies. Buspirone has shown benefit in some open trials. Encouraging early findings have been reported for trazodone, including from one controlled trial. Varying results have been obtained using selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, but with consistently encouraging anecdotes. In the aggregate, the evidence suggests but does not prove that alternatives to traditional antipsychotics exist. Again, none of these agents has yet been approved for this purpose by the FDA. As more studies become available we will have a better idea about which classes of agents are most efficacious. It is likely that there may be a role for "rational" polypharmacy in the management of this distressing complication of dementia. However, no studies that we know of address combination therapy, so the clinician must contemplate this option on a case-by-case basis. Clinical trials data are pending from studies with divalproex sodium, carbamazepine, haloperidol versus trazodone versus placebo, risperidone, olanzapine, quetiapine, donepezil, xanomeline, tacrine, buspirone, and sertraline, at the very least. These data will undoubtedly have a major impact on how we care for our patients and lead to revisions of current practice guidelines.
The First International Workshop on Multi-Scale Movement Technologies (2020)

Multimodal interfaces pose the challenge of dealing with the multi-ple interactive time-scales characterizing human behavior. To dothis, innovative models and time-adaptive technologies are needed,operating at multiple time-scales and adopting a multi-layered ap-proach. The first International Workshop on Multi-Scale MovementTechnologies, hosted virtually during the 22nd ACM InternationalConference on Multimodal Interaction, is aimed at providing re-searchers from different areas with the opportunity to discuss thistopic. This paper summarizes the activities of the workshop andthe accepted papers
Capsular Tissue (1993)

Capsular tissue, the interface that forms between an implanted device and the body's own soft tissues, has recently been shown to develop its own unique blood supply. This capsular tissue with its extensive vascular plexus has not been described previously as an isolated flap. The purpose of our study was to determine whether an isolated flap of capsular tissue would survive as a local pedicle flap and provide enough inherent vascularity to support a skin graft. Isolated expanded and nonexpanded capsular flaps were compared by using 20 expanders (10 expanded and 10 nonexpanded) in two mixed-breed female pigs. Expanded and nonexpanded capsular flaps were elevated 8 weeks following expander placement. These flaps were raised on their capsular bases alone, and skin grafts were placed onto the capsular surfaces. All the expanded capsular flaps and their skin grafts had 100 percent survival. Skin grafts on the nonexpanded flaps survived an average of 28 percent, with graft survival corresponding to flap survival. This study confirms that flaps of isolated expanded capsular tissue survive and provide enough inherent vascularity to support a split-thickness skin graft.
With a different approach it is possible to develop commercially useful antimicrobial products from plants (2011)

Many compounds from plants play a major role as pharmaceutical products in several therapeutic applications in human and animal health. Despite thousands of publications in the field there has been a remarkable absence of therapeutic products from plants to combat microbial infections. Data will be presented to show that the following factors play a role in this absence: the extractant used, the bioassay used, the unexpectedly low activity of isolated antimicrobial compounds, the presence of synergism in crude extracts and focussing on plants traditionally used. The antibacterial activity of acetone leaf extracts of more than 700 South African tree species on four important nosocomial pathogens Staphylococcus aureus, Enterococcus faecalis, Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa were determined. A high proportion of these extracts had antibacterial activities with MICs lower than 0.08mg/ml. Unfortunately in many cases the extracts are toxic to mammalian cells. Many of these species have a good potential to be used as crude extracts to treat topical infections in humans. Examples will be demonstrated where these extracts have been as effective as commercial products in controlling microbial infections in animals and plants. The limitations associated with commercializing plant extracts as antimicrobials such as quality control, availability of material and potentising the extracts to yield patentable products will also be discussed. It appears that if the focus is on using extracts rather than isolated pure compounds there is a considerable opportunity to use the compounds present in plants to combat microbial infections.
A vascular smooth muscle cell X-box binding protein 1 and transglutaminase 2 regulatory circuit limits neointimal hyperplasia (2019)

Neointimal hyperplasia, stimulated by injury and certain vascular diseases, promotes artery obstruction and tissue ischemia. In vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMCs), multiple modulators of protein handling machinery regulate intimal hyperplasia. These include elements of the VSMC unfolded protein response to endoplasmic reticulum stress (UPRER), and transglutaminase 2 (TG2), which catalyzes post-translational protein modification. Previous results for deficiency of UPRER-specific mediator XBP1, and of TG2, have been significant, but in multiple instances contradictory, for effects on cultured VSMC function, and, using multiple models, for neointimal hyperplasia in vivo. Here, we engineered VSMC-specific deficiency of XBP1, and studied cultured VSMCs, and neointimal hyperplasia in response to carotid artery ligation in vivo. Intimal area almost doubled in Xbp1fl/fl SM22α-CRE+ mice 21 days post-ligation. Cultured murine Xbp1 deficient VSMCs migrated more in response to platelet derived growth factor (PDGF) than control VSMCs, and had an increased level of inositol-requiring enzyme 1α (Ire1α), a PDGF receptor-binding UPRER transmembrane endonuclease whose substrates include XBP1. Cultured XBP1-deficient VSMCs demonstrated decreased levels of TG2 protein, in association with increased TG2 polyubiquitination, but with increased TG transamidation catalytic activity. Moreover, IRE1α, and TG2-specific transamidation cross-links were increased in carotid artery neointima in Xbp1fl/fl SM22α-CRE+ mice. Cultured TG2-deficient VSMCs had decreased XBP1 associated with increased IRE1α, and increased migration in response to PDGF. Neointimal hyperplasia also was significantly increased in Tgm2fl/fl SM22α-CRE+ mice at 21 days after carotid ligation. In conclusion, a VSMC regulatory circuit between XBP1 and TG2 limits neointimal hyperplasia in response to carotid ligation.
Ionic Liquid Functionalized Gel Polymer Electrolytes for Stable Lithium Metal Batteries (2021)

Metallic lithium (Li) is regarded as the ideal anode material in lithium-ion batteries due to its low electrochemical potential, highest theoretical energy density and low density. There are, however, still significant challenges to be addressed such as Li-dendrite growth and low interfacial stability, which impede the practical application of Li metal anodes. In order to circumvent these shortcomings, herein, we present a gel polymer electrolyte containing imidazolium ionic liquid end groups with a perfluorinated alkyl chain (F-IL) to achieve both high ionic conductivity and Li ion transference number by fundamentally altering the solubility of salt within the gel electrolyte through Lewis-acidic segments in the polymer backbone. Moreover, the presence of F-IL moieties decreased the binding affinity of Li cation towards the glycol chains, enabling a rapid transfer of Li cation within the gel network. These structural features enabled the immobilization of anions on the ionic liquid segments to alleviate the space-charge effect while promoting stronger anion coordination and weaker cation coordination in the Lewis-acidic polymers. Accordingly, we realized a high Li ion conductivity (9.16×10<sup>-3</sup> S cm<sup>-1</sup> ) and high Li ion transference number of 0.69 simultaneously, along with a good electrochemical stability up to 4.55 V, while effectively suppressing Li dendrite growth. Moreover, the gel polymer electrolyte exhibited stable cycling performance of the Li|Li symmetric cell of 9 mAh cm<sup>-2</sup> for more than 1800 hours and retained 86.7 % of the original capacity after 250 cycles for lithium-sulfur (Li-S) full cell.
A Cloud design for user-controlled storage and processing of sensor data (2012)

Ubiquitous sensing environments such as sensor networks collect large amounts of data. This data volume is destined to grow even further with the vision of the Internet of Things. Cloud computing promises to elastically store and process such sensor data. As an additional benefit, storage and processing in the Cloud enables the efficient aggregation and analysis of information from different data sources. However, sensor data often contains privacy-relevant or otherwise sensitive information. For current Cloud platforms, the data owner looses control over her data once it enters the Cloud. This imposes adoption barriers due to legal or privacy concerns. Hence, a Cloud design is required that the data owner can trust to handle her sensitive data securely. In this paper, we analyze and define properties that a trusted Cloud design has to fulfill. Based on this analysis, we present the security architecture of SensorCloud. Our proposed security architecture enforces end-to-end data access control by the data owner reaching from the sensor network to the Cloud storage and processing subsystems as well as strict isolation up to the service-level. We evaluate the validity and feasibility of our Cloud design with an analysis of our early prototype. Our results show that our proposed security architecture is a promising extension of today's Cloud offers.
Aflavinines and other antiinsectan metabolites from the ascostromata of Eupenicillium crustaceum and related species (1995)

This report describes the distribution of antiinsectan metabolites present in sclerotioid ascostromata produced by representative strains of Eupenicillium crustaceum and fungal taxa that are considered to be closely related. The hexane and chloroform extracts of E. crustaceum NRRL 3332 displayed significant antiinsectan activity in assays against the corn earworm, Helicoverpa zea. The major metabolite accounting for this antiinsectan activity was a known aflavinine analog, 10,23-dihydro-24,25-dehydroaflavinine, occurring at approximately 2.8 mg/g of dry ascostromata. In dietary assays at ca. 3,000 ppm, a 79% reduction in weight gain and a 42% reduction in feeding rate were observed in H. zea and Carpophilus hemipterus larvae, respectively. A new aflavinine analog, 10,23,24,25-tetrahydro-24-hydroxyaflavinine, was also identified. These aflavinine compounds are the first to be reported from a fungal genus other than Aspergillus. New macrophorin-type metabolites accounted for the antiinsectan activity of ascostromata produced by E. crustaceum NRRL 22307, which produced no aflavinines, while Eupenicillium molle NRRL 13062 produced both aflavinines and macrophorins. Sclerotia produced by Penicillium gladioli NRRL 938, NRRL 939, and QM 2743, a fungus reported to be conspecific with the anamorph of E. crustaceum, produced neither aflavinines nor macrophorins. Eupenicillium reticulisporum NRRL 3446 produced the aflavinine analog 10,23-dihydro-24,25-dehydroaflavinine and an unrelated compound called pyripyropene A, a potent inhibitor of acyl-coenzyme A-cholesterol acyltransferase. Eupenicillium abidjanum NRRL 5809, reported to be conspecific with E. reticulisporum, produced neither of these compounds. The Eupenicillium species that produced aflavinines are also known for their ability to grow rapidly with reduced water activity.
Towards online real-time strain estimation in volumetric us data: Feasibility study and initial clinical validation (2013)

Strain-based functional indices have been shown to provide superior performance in assessing global cardiac function when compared with classical volume-based metrics, such as ejection fraction. As in clinical practice global strain is typically used as an index of overall cardiac performance, local tracking algorithms, which are typically computationally intensive, could be substituted by more global approaches. We therefore propose to take advantage of a fast tracking method which uses an optical-flow algorithm on an anatomical ROI to estimate the global cardiac (affine) motion between consecutive frames. The proposed approach was tested in 19 RT3DE exams by assessing the global area strain (GAS), which combines both longitudinal and circumferential deformation. The agreement between the automatic tracking results and the reference show moderate correlation (r=0.698), while Bland-Altman analysis ([μ±1.96σ]=6.0±9.29%) revealed a significant bias, although having competitive limits of agreement when compared with the inter-observer variability ([μ±1.96σ]=0.85±9.52%). The proposed approach takes less than 1 second to perform the tracking between two subsequent frames, in a MATLAB implementation. These preliminary results point towards the feasibility of online estimation of global deformation parameters without any user intervention and near real-time.
Luminescence and Respiratory Activities of Photobacterium phosphoreum (1977)

Luminescent activity of spheroplasts of the cells of Photobacterium phosphoreum was stimulated by Rb+ and K+ and inhibited by Na+ in the medium. Opposite effects of these ions were observed on the rate of O2 consumption of the spheroplasts through the cytochrome and luciferase electron transfer systems. In vitro activities of NADH-FMN reductase and luciferase were only slightly stimulated by Rb+, K+, and Na+, while Na+ exhibited significant activation of the NADH-oxidizing activity of the cells. The redox level of cytochrome b in the spheroplasts during steady-state respiration in an Na+ medium was more reduced, while that of NAD(P) was more oxidized, than those in an Rb+ or K+ medium. Na+ activates the cytochrome electron transfer system at a point between NADH and cytochrome b, and thus has a stimulative effect on cellular O2 consumption. Rb+ and K+ do not show similar activation, but the cellular NAD(P) was brought to a more reduced level, so that in vivo luminescence is stimulated in an Rb+ or K+ medium.
The therapeutic benefits of combined sorafenib and transarterial chemoembolization for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (2020)

Combined sorafenib and TACE therapy has significant better outcomes than sorafenib alone in patients with stage C HCC, particularly those with MVI.
TLK-199 (Telik). (2005)

Telik Inc is developing TLK-199, an intravenous inhibitor of glutathione S-transferase P1-1, for the potential prevention of myelosuppression in blood diseases, namely myelodysplastic syndrome.
Matched transaural synthesis with probe microphones for psychoacoustical experiments (2019)

Transaural synthesis using loudspeaker signals determined through contemporaneous ear canal calibration is proposed as an alternative to headphone presentation for critical psychoacoustical experiments. The proposed technique can afford greater accuracy, improved reproducibility, and continuous signal monitoring. It allows the experimenter to compare listener responses to real and virtual presentations. In this article, the advantages of transaural (three or four loudspeakers) compared to crosstalk cancellation (two loudspeakers) are shown through computer modeling and manikin measurements in a moderately reverberant room. Measurements employ binaurally challenging signals and speech from a distant source. Transaural synthesis is shown to be a better solution to the essential inverse problem resulting in reduced average synthesis amplitudes, fewer large-amplitude outliers, improved amplitude and phase accuracy for real and imagined sources, and improved noise immunity. Immunity to inadvertent listener head rotation depends sensitively on loudspeaker placement and is not an advantage in general. Appendixes review the relevant mathematical foundation and extend it to the relationship between ear canal signals and eardrum signals.
Highly Bioavailable Curcumin Derivative Ameliorates Crohn’s Disease Symptoms: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Multicenter Study (2020)

UMIN000015770.
MtrR Modulates rpoH Expression and Levels of Antimicrobial Resistance in Neisseria gonorrhoeae (2008)

The MtrR transcriptional-regulatory protein is known to repress transcription of the mtrCDE operon, which encodes a multidrug efflux pump possessed by Neisseria gonorrhoeae that is important in the ability of gonococci to resist certain hydrophobic antibiotics, detergents, dyes, and host-derived antimicrobials. In order to determine whether MtrR can exert regulatory action on other gonococcal genes, we performed a whole-genome microarray analysis using total RNA extracted from actively growing broth cultures of isogenic MtrR-positive and MtrR-negative gonococci. We determined that, at a minimum, 69 genes are directly or indirectly subject to MtrR control, with 47 being MtrR repressed and 22 being MtrR activated. rpoH, which encodes the general stress response sigma factor RpoH (sigma 32), was found by DNA-binding studies to be directly repressed by MtrR, as it was found to bind to a DNA sequence upstream of rpoH that included sites within the rpoH promoter. MtrR also repressed the expression of certain RpoH-regulated genes, but this regulation was likely indirect and a reflection of MtrR control of rpoH expression. Inducible expression of MtrR was found to repress rpoH expression and to increase gonococcal susceptibility to hydrogen peroxide (H(2)O(2)) and an antibiotic (erythromycin) recognized by the MtrC-MtrD-MtrE efflux pump system. We propose that, apart from its ability to control the expression of the mtrCDE-encoded efflux pump operon and, as a consequence, levels of gonococcal resistance to host antimicrobials (e.g., antimicrobial peptides) recognized by the efflux pump, the ability of MtrR to regulate the expression levels of rpoH and RpoH-regulated genes also modulates levels of gonococcal susceptibility to H(2)O(2).
100 Avanafil 200 mg Vs Sildenafil 100 mg Post Nerve Sparing Robotic Prostatectomy: a Multicentric Prospective Randomized Trial (2018)

Nowadays, Phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitors are considered to be the first line therapy for erectile dysfunction secondary to nerve sparing radical prostatectomy,each of them with its own pharmacokinetic features and profiles of efficacy and safety. We evaluated the efficacy and safety of avanafil 200 mg three times a week compared to the same sildenafil 100 mg therapy. We enrolled 301 candidates for nerve sparing robot assisted prostatectomy from January 2016 to July 2017 with following preoperative criteria: Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI) ≤1, ECOG performance status ≤1, International index of erectile function (IIEF) 15> 17, EHS> 2, positive response to Sexual Encounter Profile(Sep) q2 and Sepq3, Quality of Life <3 and finally one sexual intercourse por week. Only 220 were eligible for the study. Patients were randomized into two groups: avanafil 200 mg group (A group) and 100 mg sildenafil group (S Group).After removal of the bladder catheter at the tenth postoperative day, they started rehabilitation therapy three times a week for three months. At the third months, the validated measures of erectile function (IIEF 15, SEPq2-q3, Ehs) and Qol, Gaq1-2 were administered and we evaluated the number of weekly sexual intercourse. Randomization was performed by each center with Randomizer Research and statistical analysis was performed using Chi-Square and Wilcoxon-Mann-Whitney tests, as appropiated. All analyses were performed with MedCalc Statistical Software version 15.8.
Low‐Temperature Silicon Epitaxy Using Gas Molecular‐Flow Preshowering (1993)

Gas molecular‐flow preshowering treatment onto the silicon (Si) substrate surface during the temperature ramp prior to epitaxial Si film formation has been proposed in order to lower the epitaxy process temperature in chemical vapor deposition (CVD). High‐quality phosphorus‐doped Si films have been obtained at 550°C by using molecular‐flow preshowering. The optimum starting temperature of the preshowering has been found to be 520°C. This is nearly equal to the temperature at which thermal desorption causes the coverage of hydrogen terminating the Si surface to drastically decrease. gas molecular‐flow preshowering for phosphorus‐doped Si epitaxy has lowered the process temperature by effectively suppressing oxide growth on the Si substrate surface during the temperature ramp prior to epitaxial growth.
Guest Editors' Introduction: Resource Virtualization Renaissance (2005)

Virtualization technologies encompass a variety of mechanisms and techniques used to address computer system problems such as security, performance, and reliability by decoupling the architecture and user-perceived behavior of hardware and software resources from their physical implementation.