jimnoneill/paper-to-field-training huggingface dataset:
Automated Optic Nerve Head Detection Based on Different Retinal Vasculature Segmentation Methods and Mathematical Morphology

Field: Computer Science (Physical Sciences)

Computer vision and image processing techniques provide important assistance to physicians and relieve their work load in different tasks. In particular, identifying objects of interest such as lesions and anatomical structures from the image is a challenging and iterative process that can be done by using computer vision and image processing approaches in a successful manner. Optic Nerve Head (ONH) detection is a crucial step in retinal image analysis algorithms. The goal of ONH detection is to find and detect other retinal landmarks and lesions and their corresponding diameters, to use as a length reference to measure objects in the retina. The objective of this study is to apply three retinal vessel segmentation methods, Laplacian-of-Gaussian edge detector, Canny edge detector, and Matched filter edge detector for detection of the ONH either in the normal fundus images or in the presence of retinal lesions (e.g. diabetic retinopathy). The steps for the segmentation are as following: 1) Smoothing: suppress as much noise as possible, without destroying the true edges, 2) Enhancement: apply a filter to enhance the quality of the edges in the image (sharpening), 3) Detection: determine which edge pixels should be discarded as noise and which should be retained by thresholding the edge strength and edge size, 4) Localization: determine the exact location of an edge by edge thinning or linking. To evaluate the accuracy of our proposed method, we compare the output of our proposed method with the ground truth data that collected by ophthalmologists on retinal images belonging to a test set of 120 images. As shown in the results section, by using the Laplacianof-Gaussian vessel segmentation, our automated algorithm finds 18 ONHs in true location for 20 color images in the CHASE-DB database and all images in the DRIVE database. For the Canny vessel segmentation, our automated algorithm finds 16 ONHs in true location for 20 images in the CHASE-DB database and 32 out of 40 images in the DRIVE database. And lastly, using matched filter in the vessel segmentation, our algorithm finds 19 ONHs in true location for 20 images in CHASE-DB database and all images in the DRIVE.
Individual HRTF measurements for accurate obstacle sonification in an electronic travel aid for the blind

Field: Engineering (Physical Sciences)

The article presents a study of virtual sound source localization errors with the use of personalized head related transfer functions (HRTFs) in light of design of an electronic travel aid for the blind. The proposed device for aiding visually disabled individuals in independent mobility requires presentation of spatial sounds, which lead to the need to construct a system for efficient individual HRTF measurement. Measurements were performed for 15 sighted and blind individuals. Verification trials limited to the frontal hemisphere have shown that the localization of virtual sound sources can be performed with accuracy reaching average errors of 6.36° in azimuth and 9.47° in elevation.
Frequency of Surgical Site Infection in Emergency Appendicectomy for Complicated Appendicitis

Field: Medicine (Health Sciences)

Objective: To find out the frequency of surgical site infections in emergency appendectomy for complicated appendicitis Method: This cross-sectional study was conducted at Khyber Teaching Hospital, MTI, Peshawar from November 20, 2021 to August 12, 2022. We included 131 patients, who had undergone emergency appendectomy for complicated appendicitis. The sampling technique was consecutive non-probability sampling. Confidence interval of 95% and 7% margin of error were considered. The patients with complicated appendicitis on appendicect-omy were included in the study. Demographic data (age, gender), history of active smoking or diabetes mellitus at admission, procedure duration, appendicitis-type according to surgical findings (grossly inflamed, gangrenous, perforated), BMI were noted. All the data were collected on a proforma (Annex 1). SPSS software (version 23.0) was used for data analysis. Results: Out of 131 patients, 88 (67.2%) were males and 43 (32.8%) were females with mean age of 33±2.3 years and mean BMI of 26±5. Frequency of surgical site infections among clean, clean-contaminated, contaminated, and dirty wound infections were 5/17 (29%), 20/67 (30%), 13/30 (43%), and 8/17 (49%) respectively. The overall frequency of surgical site infection was 46/131 (35%). Out of these 46 cases, 25 (54.3%) were superficial SSIs, 14 (30.4%) were deep SSIs and 07 (15.2%) were deep/space occupying SSIs. Conclusion: In our study, the frequency of surgical site infections is 35% which is higher compared to other studies conducted. So proper preoperative and postoperative cares should be taken to decrease the frequency or incidence of surgical site infection in the department.
Matrix Metalloproteases as Influencers of the Cells’ Social Media

Field: Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology (Life Sciences)

Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) have been studied in the context of cancer due to their ability to increase cell invasion, and were initially thought to facilitate metastasis solely through the degradation of the extracellular matrix (ECM). MMPs have also been investigated in the context of their ECM remodeling activity in several acute and chronic inflammatory diseases. However, after several MMP inhibitors failed in phase III clinical trials, a global reassessment of their biological functions was undertaken, which has revealed multiple unanticipated functions including the processing of chemokines, cytokines, and cell surface receptors. Despite what their name suggests, the matrix aspect of MMPs could contribute to a lesser part of their physiological functions in inflammatory diseases, as originally anticipated. Here, we present examples of MMP substrates implicated in cell signaling, independent of their ECM functions, and discuss the impact for the use of MMP inhibitors.
Two-dimensional Błocki, $L^p$-Mahler, and Bourgain conjectures

Field: Mathematics (Physical Sciences)

We confirm, in dimension two, Blocki's conjectures on sharp lower bounds for Bergman kernels of tube domains. To that end, we verify a broader class of $L^p$-Mahler conjectures due to Berndtsson and the authors, where $p=1$ are Blocki's conjecture, and $p=\infty$ are Mahler's conjectures. The proofs are technically challenging as the $L^p$-Mahler volume is considerably harder to deal with analytically compared to Mahler's volume, and furthermore duality is lost. In addition, unlike in the classical Mahler setting, the non-symmetric setting is considerably more involved than the symmetric one. The proofs involve studying the effect of Mahler's classical sliding of vertices on two-dimensional polytopes on the $L^p$-polar body (no longer a polytope). Some arguments are inspired by works of Campi--Gronchi and Meyer--Reisner on volumes of classical polar bodies of shadow systems. In passing, we also explore how Mahler's sliding affects the isotropic constant. This leads to an elementary proof of Bourgain's strong hyperplane conjectures in dimension two, originally due to Bisztriczky--Böröczky, Campi--Colesanti--Gronchi and Meckes. Specifically, we show that, as a function of the sliding parameter, the isotropic constant raised to an appropriate power is a convex quadratic polynomial.
Pushing the Margins with Symetis ACURATE: A Suitable Prosthesis for Low Coronaries and Valve-in-valve TAVI Procedures

Field: Medicine (Health Sciences)

Objectives: The self-expandable Symetis ACURATE valve (Boston Scientific, USA) has been used in our clinic since 05/2011 for the transapical (TA) and since 03/2015 for the transfemoral (TF) approach. Sparse information is available in unfavorable TAVI-cases, such as patients with low coronary distance to the annulus (≤8 mm) or Valve-in-Valve (VinV) procedures in degenerated bioprosthesis. Here we report about a single center experience of 242 Symetis Acurate TAVI procedures.
THE COMPARATIVE STUDY OF THE EFFECT OF GENDER AND ANIXITY OVER EDUCATIONAL LEVELS OF GRADUATION AND POST GRADUATION

Field: Psychology (Social Sciences)

In the present study , comparision between the effect of gender and anxiety over educational levels of graduation and post graducation has been done . For research two colleges of Mandsaur district were surveyed where 80 ( 40 graduate level boys and girls were and 40 postgraduate level boys and girls were chosen for the observation . It was observed that graduate and postgraduate students shown a major difference for their educational level on the base of their gender.
The polymorphic human chaperonin protein HuCha60 is a mitochondrial protein sensitive to heat shock and cell transformation.

Field: Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology (Life Sciences)

The HuCha60 protein, a polymorphic protein on two-dimensional gels of human lymphocytes, is found to be structurally and functionally related to the Escherichia coli groEL gene product: The structural homology is evident from the N-terminal amino-acid sequence analysis and from the immunological cross-reactivity with an antiserum against the E. coli groEL gene product. The functional homology is suggested by the heat sensitivity and the growth dependence of this protein. Both genetic variants of the HuCha60 occurring on the two-dimensional protein pattern of lymphocytes, the common "a" variant and the rare "b" variant, are strongly enhanced after heat shock. The expression of the HuCha60 in resting or normally growing cultures human cells is in general low, whereas in mitogen-stimulated cells or transformed cell lines the synthesis of the HuCha60 is strongly enhanced. After cell fractionation and subsequent two-dimensional gel electrophoresis and immunoblotting, the HuCha60 has been found to be mainly expressed in mitochondria. In the cytosol fraction two different molecular weight forms of the HuCha60 have been observed with low expression. Also in the nuclear fraction, HuCha60 is present in low concentration.
Dual targeting of histone methyltransferase G9a and DNMT1 for the treatment of experimental hepatocellular carcinoma

Field: Pharmacology, Toxicology and Pharmaceutics (Life Sciences)

Las modificaciones epigenéticas, como la metilación del ADN e histonas, cooperan funcionalmente para fomentar el crecimiento tumoral, incluido el carcinoma hepatocelular (HCC). La inhibición farmacológica de estos mecanismos puede abrir nuevas vías terapéuticas. El objetivo del trabajo desarrollado en la presente tesis doctoral fue determinar la eficacia terapéutica y el potencial mecanismo de acción de nuevos inhibidores duales de la histona-metiltransferasa G9a y la ADN-metiltransferasa 1 (DNMT1) en células HCC humanas y su interferencia con células fibrogénicas. Estos inhibidores han sido desarrollados en la propia Institución y sujetos a patente (EPOPatent application #14-382230.2-1462). La expresión de G9a y DNMT1, junto con la de su adaptador molecular UHRF1, se midió en muestras de HCC humanas (n = 268), tejidos peritumorales (n = 154) y líneas células de HCC (n = 32). Se evaluó el efecto de la inhibición individual y combinada de G9a y DNMT1 en el crecimiento de células HCC mediante enfoques farmacológicos y genéticos. La actividad de nuestro compuesto principal, CM-272, se examinó en células HCC bajo normoxia e hipoxia, células estelares hepáticas humanas y células LX2, y tumores de xenoinjerto formados por células HCC o células HCC + LX2 combinadas. Encontramos una sobreexpresión significativa y correlativa de G9a, DNMT1 y UHRF1 en HCC en asociación con un mal pronóstico. La inhibición farmacológica independiente de G9a y DNMT1 redujo sinérgicamente el crecimiento de las células HCC. CM-272 inhibió potentemente la proliferación de células HCC y LX2, y detuvo el crecimiento del tumor en xenoinjertos de HCC y HCC combinadas con LX2. CM-272 impidió la adaptación metabólica de las células HCC a la hipoxia, e indujo un fenotipo diferenciado en las células HCC y fibrogénicas. La expresión del gen supresor de tumores metabólicos fructosa-1,6-bifosfatasa (FBP1), reprimido epigenéticamente en el HCC, fue restaurada por CM-272. Como conclusión del trabajo, la inhibición combinada de G9a / DNMT1 con compuestos como CM-272 es una estrategia prometedora para el tratamiento del HCC. Nuestros hallazgos también subrayan el potencial de la terapia de diferenciación en el HCC.
Neighboring houses: Report from an archaeological trench at Store Sandvika, Hasvik, Finnmark

Field: Arts and Humanities (Social Sciences)

In august of 2018, a minor excavation was made across two adjoining Stone Age house pit features at the newly discovered site of Store Sandvika (Site ID: 221255, Hasvik municipality, Finnmark county), as part of the Stone Age Demographics project at UiT The Arctic University of Norway. The objectives mainly concerned: To look for stratigraphically identifiable features useful for the understanding of house contemporaneity and the identification of multiple occupation phases. To look for the preservation of organics, such as bone/wood tools or organic refuse. To identify datable material from multiple horizons within each house. Shoreline displacement suggests that the terrace was suitable for habitation already at the earliest post-glacial colonization, and that the isostatic uplift made the lower laying terrace of 12-10 masl inhabitable by approx. 10.000 years ago (cal BP). However, the transgression of the entire lower terrace would make the upper terrace into the only inhabitable surface in the Store Sandvika bay for millennia. This now also appears to be confirmed by the dates produced from the site. Datable material was only retrievable from one of the houses, all centering on 3600 BC. The lack of datable material from the other house made it difficult to determine questions of contemporaneity and temporal relatedness, yet stratigraphic evidence suggest variable age and possible reuse of the houses given the stark variation in peat thickness covering the adjoining houses, as well as the apparent secondary dug-down in one of the houses. Repeated reuse of the site seems likely based on both the identification of debitage from chert/silicified slate below the house floor of what stratigraphically speaking should be the oldest house – as well as dates most likely indicating tightly spaced, yet separate habitation events. No artifacts or debitage whatsoever was uncovered within the house areas. The dates should imply that the houses most likely would contain rich slate tool inventories as is common for house features of this period. The lack of finds may solely be credited to the very minimal spatial extent of the investigation – however specific waste management practices favored by the steep and ocean-front terrace, may also contribute to less within house debitage. The report ends with a contextualization of the site focusing on the specificity of Younger Stone Age sites located atop fluvial deltas elevated significantly above contemporaneous sea level and factors that might affect the data catchment and inventories from such sites – such as waste management practices.
Assessing 2D and 3D Motion Tracking Technologies for Measuring the Immediate Impact of Feldenkrais Training on the Playing Postures of Pianists

Field: Health Professions (Health Sciences)

The Feldenkrais Method of somatic education has become popular with pianists for improving ease of motion and musculoskeletal health. This thesis contains three studies investigating motion-tracking technologies as means to objectively assess the impact of Feldenkrais training on pianist posture. The first study investigates the accuracy and reliability of Dartfish 2D motion tracking software. Results indicate that Dartfish tracking error is within +/- 0.25 centimeters. The second study uses Dartfish to track head, shoulder, and spine positions of 15 pianists during performance before and after receiving a Feldenkrais Functional Integration Lesson. Comparisons of pre- and post-test measurements indicate no group trends in posture change. However, intriguing changes to movement quality in the head and torso were observable for two participants. The third study compares tracking quality of Dartfish and the Microsoft Kinect for the head, shoulders, and arms of four pianists attending a weeklong Feldenkrais workshop. Results reveal frequent tracking errors with the Kinect sensor, making it unsuitable to measure the impact of somatic training on pianist posture.
Trade creation and trade diversion of regional trade agreements revisited: A constrained panel pseudo-maximum likelihood approach

Field: Economics, Econometrics and Finance (Social Sciences)

For the estimation of structural gravity models using PPML with countrypair, exporter-time and importer-time effects it proves useful to exploit the equilibrium restrictions imposed by the system of multilateral resistances. This yields an iterative projection based PPML estimator that is unaffected by the incidental parameters problem. Further, in this setting it is straight forward to establish the asymptotic distribution of the structural parameters and that of counterfactual predictions. The present contribution applies the constrained panel PPML estimator to reconsider the trade creation and trade diversion effects of regional trade agreements. Results show significant trade creation effects of RTAs ranging in between 8.7 and 21.7 percent in 2012, but also point to substantial trade diversion in the range of -14.4 and -5.8 percent. These counterfactual predictions account for adjustment in multilateral trade resistances. The quite large confidence intervals of counterfactual predictions seem to be an overlooked issue in the literature.
Studies on the carbohydrate metabolism of sheep. IV. Hypoglycaemic signs and their relationship to blood glucose

Field: Veterinary (Health Sciences)

The neurological signs observed in sheep during hypoglycaemia, induced by doses of insulin ranging from 1 to 10 units per kg., are described in detail. The signs varied in intensity from mild lassitude through muscular spasms to collapse and convulsive activity. The severity of these disturbances was closely correlated with the level of blood glucose and the period during which it remained at a particular level. Levels of less than 5 mg. per cent. were invariably associated with signs which progressed beyond the stage of mild lethargy. Convulsive activity was seen only after the blood glucose had been reduced to negligible levels, less than 1 mg. per cent., and had remained there for upwards of one hour. Hypoglycaemic convulsions in rats were also found to occur at virtually negligible blood-glucose levels.Attention is drawn to the considerable volume of literature which, particularly when the errors of analytical methods are taken into consideration, supports the contention that the blood glucose is negligible at the onset of convulsions in non-ruminant species, just as it is in the sheep.
IMPLEMENTATION OF THE SYSTEM OF HONEY SAFETY CONTROL ON THE EXAMPLE OF ANALYZING OF RESIDUES OF TETRACYCLINE GROUP ANTIBIOTICS

Field: Pharmacology, Toxicology and Pharmaceutics (Life Sciences)

The National Reference Laboratory of Drug Residues Control has implemented a system of "classical" honey safety control based on the parameters of antimicrobial drug residues: samples testing by the screening enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) method and, in the case of positive or possibly positive samples occurring, – retesting by confirmatory UPLC-MS/MS multi-method developed in the laboratory. The article presents the results of ELISA screening method validation for the determination of residual amounts of tetracycline group antibiotics (tetracycline, oxytetracycline, chlortetracycline, doxycycline) in honey samples using Tetracyclin® RIDASCREEN test kits by R-Biopharm (Germany) and Oxytetracycline ELISA by EuroProxima (the Netherlands) and its verification by means of the confirmatory method. In accordance with the Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/808, the validation of test kits proposed by the manufacturers was carried out taking into account the minimum required limit of detection. The fitness-for-purpose of the methods was confirmed based on the establishment of main validation parameters for screening methods (technical threshold and cut-off factor) using control (blank) and fortified honey samples with standard solutions of tetracycline at the level of ½ of the minimum required limit of detection, according to the "added-received" criterion. The proposed methods are the simple in carrying out, time- and cost-effective, which are their main advantages. The reliability of the results obtained by the proposed methods was verified using the developed confirmatory UPLC-MS/MS multi-method. The results of comparative studies of control (blank) honey samples and fortified with a standard solution of tetracycline antibiotics at the level of 2.5 and 5.0 μg/kg, as well as the results of the interlaboratory testing with the accredited laboratory (Germany) are presented.
SPERM CHROMATIN

Field: Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology (Life Sciences)

Available data on dry and hydrated nuclear volume of mammalian spermatozoa indicate that available volume is clearly insufficient to contain sperm chromatin packed in nucleosome-like structures. Therefore, sperm DNA-protein complexes must be packed differently than somatic DNA-protein complexes. Packing of DNA in fixed, dehydrated mammalian sperm approaches the physical limits of molecular compaction, making mammalian sperm chromatin the most condensed eukaryotic DNA known. The fundamental packaging unit of sperm chromatin is a toroid approximately 900-A outer diameter. 200-A thickness, and 150-A diameter hole. Each toroid contains 60 kilobases of DNA and is linked to other toroids by uncoiled DNA stretches. The factors that contribute to mammalian chromatin structuration are still under study. The role of protamines in sperm chromatin condensation and nuclear shaping has been overstressed to the exclusion of other possible factors. Chromatin organization in sperm nuclei is maintained during sperm condensation by tight interactions with the nuclear matrix at fixed sites, inducing the formation of individual toroid-shaped DNA loop stuctures. Observations that abnormal manchettes affect sperm head shape and chromatin organization inducing sterility speak about manchette importance during chromatin organization. The presence in sperm chromatin of regions packaged in specific ways with several types of protamines or even with histones, indicates that nuclear shaping and chromatin organization must be under DNA control. The structural properties that distinguish sperm DNA from somatic DNA may play the most important role in chromatin organization.
Reinforced TRT for tinnitus (need for early consultation with a clinical psychologist)

Field: Medicine (Health Sciences)

Tinnitus Retraining Therapy (以下TRTとする) は, 比較的新しい耳鳴治療法で耳鳴を消失させることが目的ではなく, 耳鳴に対して順応 (Habituation) をおこさせることによってその苦痛度を改善させる事が目的であり, その有効性から欧米では急速に普及している。TRTの有効性を向上させる目的で, 認知行動療法的アプローチをTRTに取り入れ, カウンセリングを全例において臨床心理士が行い早期から臨床心理士が介入するTRT (以下強化TRTとする) を施行した。耳鳴りの大きさ, 時間, 気になり方についての Visual analogue scale, Tinnitus Handicap Inventory, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale において有意な改善を認めた。この結果は, 強化TRTにおいて耳鳴り苦痛度および症例の耳鳴り以外の一般生活における抑鬱や不安も解消されたことを示唆している。現段階において耳鳴患者のレベルの分類は容易ではなくどのような症例が臨床心理士の介入を要するか明確に判断できる基準がないため, 可能であればカウンセリングを含め早期の臨床心理士の介入が望ましいと考える。