Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Performance of the dipstick screening test as a predictor of negative urine culture

ABSTRACT Objective To investigate whether the urine dipstick screening test can be used to predict urine culture results. Methods A retrospective study conducted between January and December 2014 based on data from 8,587 patients with a medical order for urine dipstick test, urine sediment analysis and urine culture. Sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values were determined and ROC curve analysis was performed. Results The percentage of positive cultures was 17.5%. Nitrite had 28% sensitivity and 99% specificity, with positive and negative predictive values of 89% and 87%, respectively. Leukocyte esterase had 79% sensitivity and 84% specificity, with positive and negative predictive values of 51% and 95%, respectively. The combination of positive nitrite or positive leukocyte esterase tests had 85% sensitivity and 84% specificity, with positive and negative predictive values of 53% and 96%, respectively. Positive urinary sediment (more than ten leukocytes per microliter) had 92% sensitivity and 71% specificity, with positive and negative predictive values of 40% and 98%, respectively. The combination of nitrite positive test and positive urinary sediment had 82% sensitivity and 99% specificity, with positive and negative predictive values of 91% and 98%, respectively. The combination of nitrite or leukocyte esterase positive tests and positive urinary sediment had the highest sensitivity (94%) and specificity (84%), with positive and negative predictive values of 58% and 99%, respectively. Based on ROC curve analysis, the best indicator of positive urine culture was the combination of positives leukocyte esterase or nitrite tests and positive urinary sediment, followed by positives leukocyte and nitrite tests, positive urinary sediment alone, positive leukocyte esterase test alone, positive nitrite test alone and finally association of positives nitrite and urinary sediment (AUC: 0.845, 0.844, 0.817, 0.814, 0.635 and 0.626, respectively). Conclusion A negative urine culture can be predicted by negative dipstick test results. Therefore, this test may be a reliable predictor of negative urine culture.
The Relationship between Depressive Symptoms, Disease State, and Cognition in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis

Cognitive impairment (CI) in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) may present a serious barrier to a patient’s wellbeing and significantly decrease quality of life. Although reports of CI in ALS without frank dementia are becoming quite common, questions remain regarding the specific cognitive domains affected, as well as how other psychological and medical factors may impact cognitive functioning in these patients. Additionally, the influence of depressive symptoms on disease processes is not known. We aimed to address these questions by completing extensive neuropsychological tests with 22 patients with ALS and 17 healthy volunteers. A subgroup of these patients also completed questionnaires to measure depressive and vegetative symptoms. We tested for overall cognitive differences between groups, the influence of physical (e.g., bulbar and limb), vegetative (e.g., fatigue), and depressive symptoms on cognitive performance, and the relationship between depressive symptoms and disease severity in ALS. Overall, patients performed more poorly than healthy controls (HCs), most notably on tests of executive functioning and learning and memory. Results suggest that true cognitive performance differences exist between patients with ALS and HCs, as these differences were not changed by the presence of vegetative or depressive symptoms. There was no effect of limb or bulbar symptoms on cognitive functioning. Also, patients were not any more depressed than HCs, however increased depressive scores correlated with faster disease progression and decreased limb function. Collectively, it is suggested that translational advances in psychological intervention for those with CI and depression become emphasized in future research.
Five southern California oaks: identification and postfire management. Forest service general technical report (final)

Oak trees in California are subject to periodic burning by fire, but their trunks and crowns vary in tolerance to fire. And once burned, oaks are difficult to identify by species. Fifteen oak species grow in California. This report provides keys to identifying five species of southern California oaks: coast live oak (Quercus agrifolia), interior live oak (Q. wislizenii) California black oak (Q. kelloggii), canyon live oak, (Q. chrysolepis), and California scrub oak (Q. dumosa).
Measurement of Rapid Temperature Profiles Using Thermoluminescent Microparticles

The thermal history of a material with initially filled trap states may be probed using thermoluminescence. Since luminescent microparticles are composed of robust oxides, they are viable candidates for sensing temperature under conditions where all other types of direct-contact sensors fail. Mg2SiO4: Tb, Co particles with two thermoluminescent peaks have been heated using micromachined heaters over a 232°C to 313°C range on time scales of less than 200 ms. The effect of maximum temperature during excitation on the intensity ratio of the two luminescent peaks has been compared with first-order kinetics theory and shown to match within an average error of 4.4%.
Effects of Acetazolamide on Transient K+ Currents and Action Potentials in Nodose Ganglion Neurons of Adult Rats

The aim of the present study was to determine whether acetazolamide (AZ) contributes to the inhibition of the fast inactivating transient K+ current (IA) in adult rat nodose ganglion (NG) neurons. We have previously shown that pretreatment with either AZ or 4‐AP attenuated or blocked the CO2‐induced inhibition of slowly adapting pulmonary stretch receptors in in vivo experiments. The patch‐clamp experiments were performed by using the isolated NG neurons. In addition to this, the RT‐PCR of mRNA and the expression of voltage‐gated K+ (Kv) 1.4, Kv 4.1, Kv 4.2, and Kv 4.3 channel proteins from nodose ganglia were examined. We used NG neurons sensitive to the 1 mM AZ application. The application of 1 mM AZ inhibited the IA by approximately 27% and the additional application of 4‐AP (1 mM) further inhibited IA by 48%. The application of 0.1 μM α‐dendrotoxin (α‐DTX), a slow inactivating transient K+ current (ID) blocker, inhibited the baseline IA by approximately 27%, and the additional application of 1 mM AZ further decreased the IA by 51%. In current clamp experiments, AZ application (1 mM) increased the number of action potentials due to the decreased duration of the depolarizing phase of action potentials and/or due to a reduction in the resting membrane potential. Four voltage‐gated K+ channel proteins were present, and most (80–90%) of the four Kv channels immunoreactive neurons showed the co‐expression of carbonic anhydrase‐II (CA‐II) immunoreactivity. These results indicate that the application of AZ causes the reduction in IA via the inhibition of four voltage‐gated K+ channel (Kv) proteins without affecting ID.
«Suspects» in Etiology of Endemic Nephropathy: Aristolochic Acid versus Mycotoxins

Despite many hypotheses that have been challenged, the etiology of endemic nephropathy (EN) is still unknown. At present, the implications of aristolochic acid (AA) and mycotoxins (ochratoxin A—OTA and citrinin—CIT) are under debate. AA-theory is based on renal pathohistological similarities between Chinese herbs nephropathy (CHN) and EN, findings of AA-DNA adducts in EN and in patients with urinary tract tumors (UTT), as well as the domination of A:T®T:A transversions in the p53 mutational spectrum of UTT patients, which corresponds with findings of such mutations in AA-treated rats. However, exposure pathways of EN residents to AA are unclear. Experimental studies attempting to deduce whether nephrotoxins OTA and CIT appear at higher frequencies or levels (or both) in the food and blood or urine of EN residents support the mycotoxin theory. Also, some molecular studies revealed the presence of OTA-DNA adducts in the renal tissue of EN and UTT patients. In this review, data supporting or arguing against AA and mycotoxin theory are presented and discussed.
Interglacial Growth of Tufa in Croatia

Abstract Tufa samples from the Krka River area in Croatia were dated by 14C and 230Th/234U methods. The study area is situated in the karst region of the southern Dinarides. 14C ages of 40 tufa samples collected at the waterfalls coincide with the early Holocene interglaciation, up to 6000 14C yr B.P. Comparison of conventional 14C dates of Holocene tufa and those of speleothems in the Dinaric Karst shows that speleothem formation started several thousand years earlier than tufa growth. Samples of old tufa deposits from the Krka River (17) and Plitvice Lakes (12) area and speleothem samples from caves in Dinaric Karst (5) yield 34 230Th/234U dates, most of which cluster around interglacial marine δ18O stage 5 (21). Eight of 13 older dates belong to interglacial stages 7 and 9; only 5 dates fall within stage 6 and 8 glaciations. 230Th/234U dates of speleothems and tufa samples from central Europe have indicated that these were formed preferentially during warm and humid interglacial and interstadial periods, and it appears that this is true of southern Croatia as well. Stable isotope (δ13C, δ18O) analyses of 40 tufa samples from the Krka River area were compared with stable isotope analyses of tufa from the Plitvice Lakes area. The δ13C values for both locations are similar and range from −10 to −6‰, indicating similar conditions of tufa formation. A systematic difference between the δ18O values of tufa in these two areas reflects the regional distribution of the oxygen composition of precipitation.
The change of T-wave on electrocardiogram after epinephrine test dose in spinal anesthetized adults

BACKGROUND This study evaluated the efficacy of a T-wave change after the IV administration of low dose epinephrine containing the test dose during spinal anesthesia. METHODS Eighty healthy adults undergoing spinal anesthesia were enrolled in this study. The subjects were divided randomly into the following 4 groups: Group S (n = 20) received 3 ml of normal saline, group L (n = 20) received 3 ml of 1.0% lidocaine, group E5 received 3 ml of 1.0% lidocaine with epinephrine 5 microg, and group E10 received 3 ml of 1.0% lidocaine with epinephrine 10 microg. The heart rate (HR) and T-wave amplitude were measured with an electrocardiogram and systolic blood pressure (SBP) using a non-invasive method. Positive responses were defined as an increase in HR >/= 20 bpm or SBP >/= 15 mmHg, or a decrease in the T-wave amplitude >/= 25%. RESULTS The sensitivity (Ss), specificity (Sp), positive predictive value (PPV), and negative predictive value (NPV) of the HR increases were 80%, 100%, 100%, and 83%, respectively, in groups E5 and E10. For the SBP increases, the Ss, Sp, PPV, and NPV were respectively, 55%, 100%, 100%, and 70% in group E5, and 80%, 100%, 100%, and 83% in group E10. For the >/= 25% decrease in T-wave amplitude, Ss, Sp, PPV, and NPV were respectively, 100%, 90%, 91%, and 100% in group E5, and 95%, 90%, 90%, and 95% in group E10. CONCLUSIONS These results suggest that a change in the T-wave amplitude is useful for detecting the unintentional IV administration of low dose epinephrine during CSEA.
Nutrient status of Baltic Sea ice: Evidence for control by snow‐ice formation, ice permeability, and ice algae

[1] Samples of land-fast sea ice collected along the Finnish coast of the Baltic Sea, between latitudes 60.2°N and 65.7°N, in January to April 2000 were analyzed for physical, biological, and chemical parameters. Both spatial and temporal variability were investigated. Snow-ice contributed in average a third of the total ice thickness, while the snow fraction (by mass) of the ice was 20% on average. Snow-ice formation increased the nitrogen concentrations substantially, mainly in the upper parts of the ice cover. Phosphorus on the other hand was controlled by biological uptake, with distinct maxima in the bottommost parts of the ice cover. The chlorophyll-a concentrations were dependent on the physical properties of the ice to some extent. In more saline waters the chlorophyll-a concentrations in the ice were variable (1–17 μg l−1). However, in the less saline waters of the Bothnian Bay the concentrations were generally considerably lower (<1 μg l−1) than elsewhere. This is presumably caused by formation of ice of low salinity, due to the low ambient salinity in the area and the under-ice flow of river waters, and formation of ice that has no habitable space for ice algae. Atmospheric nutrients possibly enhance the magnitude of the ice algae bloom, through downward flushing of surface deposited nutrients during periods when the ice was permeable. We surmise that atmospheric supply of nutrients plays an important role in biological productivity within the Baltic Sea ice sheet and potentially also in under-ice waters.
Tamoxifen Treatment in Women with Failure of Clomiphene Citrate Therapy

Summary: Fourteen pregnancies were achieved with tamoxifen therapy in 12 women who failed to conceive with clomiphene citrate. There were no side‐effects and fewer treatment cycles were required than with clomiphene citrate treatment. Ovulation and cervical score with tamoxifen therapy were significantly higher (p< 0.005).
Experimental determination of the effective point of measurement for cylindrical ionization chambers in 60Co gamma radiation

The displacement effect of cylindrical ionization chambers is taken into account either by an effective point of measurement (EPOM) or, alternatively, by using a displacement perturbation factor. The dependence of these effects in water was examined as a function of the cavity radius using cylindrical chambers with different radii and a plane-parallel chamber, whose EPOM is well known. Depth–dose curves were measured in terms of absolute absorbed dose in water and evaluated according to the international protocol IAEA TRS-398 as well as the German protocol DIN 6800-2. As expected, evaluation of absorbed dose under reference conditions following both protocols agreed well within a standard uncertainty of 0.1%. However, values of absorbed dose at depths beyond the dose maximum showed deviations up to 0.3% and 0.5% for IAEA TRS-398 and DIN 6800-2, respectively. Values in the build-up and maximum region did not agree very well. Deviations of more than 1% were found for both protocols. It was concluded that the corrections recommended in both protocols are not fully appropriate. A procedure is suggested to measure the absorbed depth–dose distribution including the build-up region with an improved accuracy by means of cylindrical chambers.
Automated discovery and proof of congruence theorems for partial sums of combinatorial sequences

Many combinatorial sequences (e.g. the Catalan and the Motzkin numbers) may be expressed as the constant term of , for some Laurent polynomials P(x) and Q(x) in the variable x with integer coefficients. Denoting such a sequence by , we obtain a general formula that determines the congruence class, modulo p, of the indefinite sum , for any prime p, and any positive integer r, as a linear combination of sequences that satisfy linear recurrence (alias difference) equations with constant coefficients. This enables us (or rather, our computers) to automatically discover and prove congruence theorems for such partial sums. Moreover, we show that in many cases, the set of the residues is finite, regardless of the prime p.
Evaluation of a collaborative chronic care approach to improve outcomes in kidney transplant recipients

Several studies found that renal transplant recipients with chronic kidney disease have untreated complications and do not attain recommended clinical targets. Using a before/after design with propensity score–matched controls, we evaluated whether an advanced practice nurse‐led interprofessional collaborative chronic care approach could improve clinical outcomes for CKD transplant patients compared with a traditional physician‐led model. The intervention included strategies for disease self‐management, shared decision making, and healthcare system reorganization. The primary outcome was the proportion of patients attaining at least seven of nine targets as per published guidelines. A greater proportion of intervention patients achieved the outcome (68% vs. 10%; p = 0.0001) and had discussions about end‐stage treatment options (88% vs. 13%; p = 0.0001) compared with controls. The intervention patients had significantly fewer emergency room visits (incidence rate ratio [IRR] 0.53; 95% CI 0.29–0.91; p = 0.02) and hospital admissions (IRR 0.34; 95% CI 0.16–0.68; p = 0.001) compared with the control patients. There were no significant differences found between the groups in systolic/diastolic blood pressure, carbon dioxide, hemoglobin, or phosphate parameters. An advanced practice nurse‐led approach, based on the chronic care model, has the potential to improve clinical outcomes for renal transplant recipients and needs to be tested in a multicenter randomized controlled trial.
Identification of Phosphoproteins and Their Phosphorylation Sites in the WEHI-231 B Lymphoma Cell Line*

A major goal of the Alliance for Cellular Signaling is to elaborate the components of signal transduction networks in model cell systems, including murine B lymphocytes. Due to the importance of protein phosphorylation in many aspects of cell signaling, the initial efforts have focused on the identification of phosphorylated proteins. In order to identify serine- and threonine-phosphorylated proteins on a proteome-wide basis, WEHI-231 cells were treated with calyculin A, a serine/threonine phosphatase inhibitor, to induce high levels of protein phosphorylation. Proteins were extracted from whole-cell lysates and digested with trypsin. Phosphorylated peptides were then enriched using immobilized metal affinity chromatography and identified by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. A total of 107 proteins and 193 phosphorylation sites were identified using these methods. Forty-two of these proteins have been reported to be phosphorylated, but only some of them have been detected in B cells. Fifty-four of the identified proteins were not previously known to be phosphorylated. The remaining 11 phosphoproteins have previously only been characterized as novel cDNA or genomic sequences. Many of the identified proteins were phosphorylated at multiple sites. The proteins identified in this study significantly expand the repertoire of proteins known to be phosphorylated in B cells. The number of newly identified phosphoproteins indicates that B cell signaling pathways utilizing protein phosphorylation are likely to be more complex than previously appreciated.
Automatic Co‐Registration of Satellite Time Series

In modern remote sensing applications the use of automatic image processing codes is becoming increasingly common. When dealing with satellite time series or multi‐source data, image co‐registration is a time‐consuming, but necessary, pre‐processing step. This study shows how a medium resolution satellite multitemporal dataset can be effectively processed using automatic data processing. Results on real and transformed ASTER data showed that, without human interaction, the automatic ground control points extraction (AGE) technique, developed at Politecnico di Milano, is able to obtain accuracies generally sufficient for practical applications and similar to those reported in other studies.
Face Liveness Detection Using Defocus

In order to develop security systems for identity authentication, face recognition (FR) technology has been applied. One of the main problems of applying FR technology is that the systems are especially vulnerable to attacks with spoofing faces (e.g., 2D pictures). To defend from these attacks and to enhance the reliability of FR systems, many anti-spoofing approaches have been recently developed. In this paper, we propose a method for face liveness detection using the effect of defocus. From two images sequentially taken at different focuses, three features, focus, power histogram and gradient location and orientation histogram (GLOH), are extracted. Afterwards, we detect forged faces through the feature-level fusion approach. For reliable performance verification, we develop two databases with a handheld digital camera and a webcam. The proposed method achieves a 3.29% half total error rate (HTER) at a given depth of field (DoF) and can be extended to camera-equipped devices, like smartphones.
Star formation and figure rotation in the early-type galaxy NGC 2974

We present Galaxy Evolution Explorer (GALEX) far-ultraviolet (FUV) and near-ultraviolet (NUV) imaging of the nearby early-type galaxy NGC 2974, along with complementary ground-based optical imaging. In the ultraviolet, the galaxy reveals a central spheroid-like component and a newly discovered complete outer ring of radius 6.2 kpc, with suggestions of another partial ring at an even larger radius. Blue FUV-NUV and UV-optical colours are observed in the centre of the galaxy and from the outer ring outwards, suggesting young stellar populations (≤ 1Gyr) and recent star formation in both locations. This is supported by a simple stellar population model which assumes two bursts of star formation, allowing us to constrain the age, mass fraction and surface mass density of the young component pixel by pixel. Overall, the mass fraction of the young component appears to be just under 1 per cent (lower limit, uncorrected for dust extinction). The additional presence of a nuclear and an inner ring (radii 1.4 and 2.9 kpc, respectively), as traced by [0III] emission, suggests ring formation through resonances. All three rings are consistent with a single pattern speed of 78 ± 6 km s -1 kpc -1 , typical of SO galaxies and only marginally slower than expected for a fast bar if traced by a small observed surface brightness plateau. This thus suggests that star formation and morphological evolution in NGC 2974 at the present epoch are primarily driven by a rotating asymmetry (probably a large-scale bar), despite the standard classification of NGC 2974 as an E4 elliptical.
Art Painting Identification using Convolutional Neural Network

Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) applications have been suggested for many multimedia processing tasks and achieved great success. In this paper, we present a methodology about how to apply CNN for art painting identification. Each art painting image is distorted by various operations, such as lens distortion, scaling, rotation, etc., to simulate potential situation that it would be appeared on TV programs or photographs or movies. The distortions are carried out randomly by computer to make large datasets for CNN to training. And then, we studied about how the architecture and parameters of CNN effects the identification accuracy. In the end, we compare our method with the Scale-Invariant Feature Transform (SIFT), which is a state-of-the-art hand-crafted feature, and the result shows the proposed method outperform SIFT by 13.6%.