Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Development of Rapid Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assays for Detection of Antibodies to Burkholderia pseudomallei

ABSTRACT Burkholderia pseudomallei, the causative agent of melioidosis, is an environmental bacillus found in northeast Thailand. The mortality rate of melioidosis is ∼40%. An indirect hemagglutination assay (IHA) is used as a reference serodiagnostic test; however, it has low specificity in areas where the background seropositivity of healthy people is high. To improve assay specificity and reduce the time for diagnosis, four rapid enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs) were developed using two purified polysaccharide antigens (O-polysaccharide [OPS] and 6-deoxyheptan capsular polysaccharide [CPS]) and two crude antigens (whole-cell [WC] antigen and culture filtrate [CF] antigen) of B. pseudomallei. The ELISAs were evaluated using serum samples from 141 culture-confirmed melioidosis patients from Thailand along with 188 healthy donors from Thailand and 90 healthy donors from the United States as controls. The areas under receiver operator characteristic curves (AUROCC) using Thai controls were high for the OPS-ELISA (0.91), CF-ELISA (0.91), and WC-ELISA (0.90), while those of CPS-ELISA (0.84) and IHA (0.72) were lower. AUROCC values using U.S. controls were comparable to those of the Thai controls for all ELISAs except IHA (0.93). Using a cutoff optical density (OD) of 0.87, the OPS-ELISA had a sensitivity of 71.6% and a specificity of 95.7% for Thai controls; for U.S. controls, specificity was 96.7%. An additional 120 serum samples from tuberculosis, scrub typhus, or leptospirosis patients were evaluated in all ELISAs and resulted in comparable or higher specificities than using Thai healthy donors. Our findings suggest that antigen-specific ELISAs, particularly the OPS-ELISA, may be useful for serodiagnosis of melioidosis in areas where it is endemic and nonendemic.
Monetary Policy Shocks: What Have We Learned and to What End?

This paper reviews recent research that grapples with the question: What happens after an exogenous shock to monetary policy? We argue that this question is interesting because it lies at the center of a particular approach to assessing the empirical plausibility of structural economic models that can be used to think about systematic changes in monetary policy institutions and rules. The literature has not yet converged on a particular set of assumptions for identifying the effects of an exogenous shock to monetary policy. Nevertheless, there is considerable agreement about the qualitative effects of a monetary policy shock in the sense that inference is robust across a large subset of the identification schemes that have been considered in the literature. We document the nature of this agreement as it pertains to key economic aggregates.
On LDPC codes over channels with memory

The problem of detection and decoding of low-density parity-check (LDPC) codes transmitted over channels with memory is addressed. A new general method to build a factor graph which takes into account both the code constraints and the channel behavior is proposed and the a posteriori probabilities of the information symbols, necessary to implement maximum a posteriori (MAP) symbol detection, are derived by using the sum-product algorithm. With respect to the case of a LDPC code transmitted on a memoryless channel, the derived factor graphs have additional factor nodes taking into account the channel behavior and not the code constraints. It is shown that the function associated to the generic factor node modeling the channel is related to the basic branch metric used in the Viterbi algorithm when MAP sequence detection is applied or in the BCJR algorithm implementing MAP symbol detection. This fact suggests that all the previously proposed solutions for those algorithms can be systematically extended to LDPC codes and graph-based detection. When the sum-product algorithm works on the derived factor graphs, the most demanding computation is in general that performed at factor nodes modeling the channel. In fact, the complexity of the computation at these factor nodes is in general exponential in a suitably defined channel memory parameter. In these cases, a technique for complexity reduction is illustrated. In some particular cases of practical relevance, the above mentioned complexity becomes linear in the channel memory. This does not happen in the same cases when detection is performed by using the Viterbi algorithm or the BCJR algorithm, suggesting that the use of factor graphs and the sum-product algorithm might be computationally more appealing. As an example of application of the described framework, the cases of noncoherent and flat fading channels are considered
B-cell lymphoma-2 receptor in human primary breast and its lymph node metastases: more than a surrogate marker

Department of Histology, Cytology and Embryology Nicolae Testemitanu State University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Chisinau, the Republic of Moldova 2 Department of Microscopic Morphology/Histology, Angiogenesis Research Center Victor Babes University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Timisoara, Romania
Advances in Miniaturized Instruments for Genomics

In recent years, a lot of demonstrations of the miniaturized instruments were reported for genomic applications. They provided the advantages of miniaturization, automation, sensitivity, and specificity for the development of point-of-care diagnostics. The aim of this paper is to report on recent developments on miniaturized instruments for genomic applications. Based on the mature development of microfabrication, microfluidic systems have been demonstrated for various genomic detections. Since one of the objectives of miniaturized instruments is for the development of point-of-care device, impedimetric detection is found to be a promising technique for this purpose. An in-depth discussion of the impedimetric circuits and systems will be included to provide total consideration of the miniaturized instruments and their potential application towards real-time portable imaging in the “-omics” era. The current excellent demonstrations suggest a solid foundation for the development of practical and widespread point-of-care genomic diagnostic devices.
Differential General Anesthetic Effects on Microglial Cytokine Expression

Post-operative cognitive dysfunction has been widely observed, especially in older patients. An association of post-operative cognitive dysfunction with the neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer's disease, has been suggested. Neuroinflammation contributes to Alzheimer pathology, through elevated pro-inflammatory cytokines and microglial activation in the CNS leading to neuronal damage, synaptic disruption and ultimately cognitive dysfunction. We compare the effects of three different, clinically-used, anesthetics on microglial activation with, and without, the prototypical inflammatory trigger, lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Microglial BV-2 cell cultures were first exposed to isoflurane, sevoflurane (each at 2 concentrations) or propofol for 6 h, and cytokine levels measured in lysates and media. The same experiments were repeated after 1 h LPS pre-treatment. We found; 1) anesthetics alone have either no or only a small effect on cytokine expression; 2) LPS provoked a large increase in microglia cytokine expression; 3) the inhaled anesthetics either had no effect on LPS-evoked responses or enhanced it; 4) propofol nearly eliminated the LPS pro-inflammatory cytokine response and improved cell survival as reflected by lactate dehydrogenase release. These data suggest that propofol may be a preferred anesthetic when it is desirable to minimize neuroinflammation.
Pneumocystis pneumonia in children – the relevance of chemoprophylaxis in different groups of immunocompromised and immunocompetent paediatric patients

Introduction Pneumocystis jirovecii is an opportunistic pathogen causing pneumocystis pneumonia (PCP), a life-threatening infection, in immunocompromised patients. In this study, retrospective analysis of the presence of P. jirovecii DNA in different samples collected from children with suspected PCP was carried out. Material and methods Three hundred and six specimens [152 bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) specimens, 80 blood specimens, 18 bronchial secretions (BS), 34 induced sputum samples, 10 endotracheal aspirates (ETA), and 12 other type samples] obtained from patients with suspected PCP were examined by real-time PCR. Results Forty (13.1%) patients were positive for P. jirovecii: 4 (7.7%) patients with malignancies, 3 (6.8%) transplant recipients, 15 (23.1%) other immunocompromised patients, and 18 (12.4%) immunocompetent patients. Pneumocystis jirovecii DNA was detected in 20.4% of BAL specimens, 11.1% of BS samples, 10% of ETA sample, 8.8% of induced sputum samples, and in 3.7% of blood samples. Comparing the frequency of the presence of P. jirovecii DNA between the group of children treated with PCP chemoprophylaxis (malignancy patients and transplant recipients) and a group of children not receiving this prophylaxis (other immunocompromised and immunocompetent children), we found that the occurrence of PCP was twice as high in the latter group of children (7.3% and 15.7%, respectively). Conclusions Respiratory samples, such as BS, BAL, or ETA specimens, are the material of choice for the diagnosis of PCP. Due to high incidence of PCP in certain groups of immunocompetent and immunocompromised patients, besides cancer patients and transplant recipients, consideration of PCP prophylaxis is required in these groups as well.
Volatility Spreads and Earnings Announcement Returns

Prior research documents that volatility spreads predict stock returns. If the trading activity of informed investors is an important driver of volatility spreads, then the predictability of stock returns should be more pronounced during major information events. This paper investigates whether the predictability of equity returns by volatility spreads is stronger during earnings announcements. Volatility spreads are measured by the implied volatility differences between pairs of strike price and expiration date matched put and call options and capture price pressures in the option market. During a two-day earnings announcement window, the abnormal returns to the quintile that includes stocks with relatively expensive call options is more than 1.5% greater than the abnormal returns to the quintile that includes stocks with relatively expensive put options. This result is robust after measuring volatility spreads in alternative ways and controlling for firm characteristics and lagged equity returns. The degree of announcement return predictability is stronger when volatility spreads are measured using more liquid options, the information environment is more asymmetric, and stock liquidity is low.
Spontaneous Neural Dynamics and Multi-scale Network Organization

Spontaneous neural activity has historically been viewed as task-irrelevant noise that should be controlled for via experimental design, and removed through data analysis. However, electrophysiology and functional MRI studies of spontaneous activity patterns, which have greatly increased in number over the past decade, have revealed a close correspondence between these intrinsic patterns and the structural network architecture of functional brain circuits. In particular, by analyzing the large-scale covariation of spontaneous hemodynamics, researchers are able to reliably identify functional networks in the human brain. Subsequent work has sought to identify the corresponding neural signatures via electrophysiological measurements, as this would elucidate the neural origin of spontaneous hemodynamics and would reveal the temporal dynamics of these processes across slower and faster timescales. Here we survey common approaches to quantifying spontaneous neural activity, reviewing their empirical success, and their correspondence with the findings of neuroimaging. We emphasize invasive electrophysiological measurements, which are amenable to amplitude- and phase-based analyses, and which can report variations in connectivity with high spatiotemporal precision. After summarizing key findings from the human brain, we survey work in animal models that display similar multi-scale properties. We highlight that, across many spatiotemporal scales, the covariance structure of spontaneous neural activity reflects structural properties of neural networks and dynamically tracks their functional repertoire.
Association of the atherosclerosis, small vessel disease, cardioembolism, other causes with the executive function of the montreal cognitive assessment Indonesia in patients with post ischemic stroke

Background: ASCO Phenotype classification is a new classification of stroke based on phenotypic system. ASCO classification can evaluate the etiology of ischemic stroke comprehensively to characterize patients using different grade of evidence for the subtype of ischemic stroke. ASCO classification can predict post ischemic stroke cognitive decline. This Study purpose to evaluate the association between ASCO classification with the executive function in post ischemic stroke patients.Methods: This cross sectional study followed by 28 post ischemic stroke patients (men 16, women 12) over 3 months. Mean age 52.82±8.66. Cognitive function was assessed by Montreal Cognitive Assessment Indonesia (MoCA INA). Results: There were 17 patients with grade 1 atherosclerosis (ASCO A1), ten patients with grade 1 small vessel disease (ASCO S1), one patient with grade 1 cardioembolism (ASCO C1) in post ischemic stroke. Grade 1 atherosclerosis (ASCO A1) was significantly associated with executive function decline (p=0.002), naming decline (p=0.05), abstraction decline (p=0.001), memory decline (p=0.002) and orientation decline (p=0.016)). Grade 1 small vessel disease (ASCO S1) was significantly associated with executive function decline (p=0.001) and memory decline (p = 0.001) and abstraction (p=0.001). Grade 1 cardioembolism 1 (ASCO C1) was not significantly associated with cognitive decline.Conclusions: There was significant association between ASCO classification with the executive function of Montreal Cognitive Assestment Indonesia (MoCA INA) in post ischemic stroke patients.
Formation of Obscuring Walls by the Radiation Force from Circumnuclear Starbursts and the Implications for the Starburst-Active Galactic Nucleus Connection

We explore the formation of dusty gas walls induced by a circumnuclear starburst around an active galactic nucleus (AGN). We concentrate our attention on the role of the radiation force of a starburst as well as an AGN, in which the effects of the optical depth of dusty gas are taken into consideration. First, we solve the hydrostatic equations in spherical symmetry coupled with the frequency-dependent radiative processes to demonstrate that a geometrically thin, optically thick wall forms because of the radiation pressure of a circumnuclear starburst. Next, in two-dimensional axisymmetric space, we analyze the configuration and the stability of geometrically thin walls that are balanced between radiation pressure and gravity. As a result, it is shown that the radiation force of the circumnuclear starburst works to stabilize optically thick walls surrounding the nucleus. In the case of a brighter starburst with a fainter AGN (e.g., LSB/MSB ≳ 10 [L☉/M☉] and LAGN ≲ 1011 L☉), there form double walls, the inner one of which is located between the nucleus and the circumnuclear starburst and the outer one of which enshrouds both the starburst regions and the nucleus. The total extinction of both walls turns out to be larger for a brighter starburst, which is AV ~ 10 mag for LSB/MSB ≳ 102 (L☉/M☉). As a consequence, double walls could heavily obscure the nucleus to make this a type 2 AGN. The outer wall may provide an explanation for the recent indications for large-scale obscuring materials in Seyfert 2 galaxies. Also, it is predicted that the AGN type is time-dependent according to the stellar evolution in the starburst, which shifts from type 2 to type 1 in several times 107 yr owing to the disappearance of walls. In contrast, if the AGN itself is much brighter than the starburst, as a quasar is, then neither wall forms regardless of the starburst activity, and the nucleus is likely to be identified as type 1. To conclude, the radiatively supported gas walls could be responsible for the putative correlation between AGN type and the starbursts, whereby Seyfert 2 galaxies are more frequently associated with circumnuclear starbursts than type 1 galaxies, whereas quasars are mostly observed as type 1 AGNs regardless of the star-forming activity in the host galaxies.
Comprehending reality - practical barriers to industrial adoption of software maintenance automation

Recent years have seen many significant advances in program comprehension and software maintenance automation technology. In spite of the enormous potential savings in software maintenance costs, for the most part adoption of these ideas in industry remains at the experimental prototype stage. In this paper the author explores some of the practical reasons for industrial resistance to adoption of software maintenance automation. Based on the experience of six years of software maintenance automation services to the financial industry involving more than 4.5 Gloc of code at Legasys Corporation, the author discusses some of the social, technical and business realities that lie at the root of this resistance, outlines various Legasys attempts overcome these barriers, and suggests some approaches to software maintenance automation that may lead to higher levels of industrial acceptance in the future.
Cardioversion of Atrial Fibrillation (RHYTHM-AF) International Registry in Poland.

BACKGROUND A key procedure of the rhythm control strategy in atrial fibrillation (AF) is cardioversion to normal sinus rhythm. The aim of the present study was to provide a review of treatment patterns for the cardioversion of patients with AF in a hospital setting in Poland and document the success rate of various cardioversion procedures. METHODS We herein present the results from Poland of a prospective observational study to characterize patients with recent onset episodes of AF for whom cardioversion is one of the planned therapeutic options - the RHYTHM-AF registry. Consecutive patients in the hospital setting, age > 18 years, with documented AF at the time of enrollment, excluding those with atrial flutter and those treated with vernakalant, were recruited. No treatment was recommended nor discouraged. RESULTS Five hundred and one patients were recruited (mean age 64.2 ± 12.1), with 294 (58.7%) patients finally undergoing cardioversion. Primary electrical cardioversion (ECV) was successful in 131 (88.5%) patients. Primary pharmacological cardioversion (PCV) was successful in 110 (75.3%) patients. Amiodarone and propafenone were most commonly used (52.1% and 24.7%, respectively). Fourteen complications and adverse events were recorded (no stroke was observed). CONCLUSIONS Conversion to sinus rhythm was attempted in < 60% of the patients with AF admitted to the hospital with an intention to terminate arrhythmia. ECV was successful in ~90% of the patients, while PCV in ~75% of the patients (amiodarone and propafenone were most commonly used). The rate of complications was low (2.8%).
Wireless Broadband Measurement in California

An integrated software tool using the open source applications iPerf and ping was developed to measure broadband wireless performance in California. Statistics on TCP download/upload throughput, latency, UDP packet jitter and loss, network type, and network provider were recorded. The software can be installed on a Window-based laptop and Android-based smart phone. An analysis script was also developed to analyze measurement results on the database server. Using the software, testers conducted field test at 1,200 different locations in California, and the test result will be accessible to the general public using a viewer application. In addition, selected locations ran Glasnost, a traffic shaping detection tool, to determine if network providers altered performance of flows based on type or port number.
‘I don’t think there is any moral basis for taking money away from people’: using discursive psychology to explore the complexity of talk about tax

ABSTRACT The increasing recognition of the negative impact of income inequality has highlighted the importance of taxation which can function as a redistributive mechanism. Previous critical social psychological research found that talk about restricting the welfare state, that is funded through tax, is formed of ideology that supports the maintenance of income inequality. Therefore, this research explores how speakers use talk about tax to justify income inequality during a UK BBC radio discussion, ‘Moral Maze: The moral purpose of tax’ which involved public figures discussing the role of tax. This programme was analysed from a critical discursive psychological perspective. It was found that two contrasting constructions of tax were presented: tax as a collective responsibility or tax as an individual burden, whereby speakers drew on social justice and individualistic ideology respectively. Arguments for high tax rates are problematic due to the acceptability of inequality in a meritocracy. By presenting wealthy individuals as more deserving than the less affluent, arguments for higher tax come to be challenged.
Combined Liver and Kidney Transplantation

Combined liver and kidney transplant (CLKT) is the procedure of choice for patients with both liver and kidney end-stage-disease. In addition, patients with polycystic liver or kidney disease or with hyperoxaluria, or those with cirrhosis and acute renal failure, including hepatorenal syndrome receiving hemodialysis (HD) for more than two months, may also benefit of CLKT. The decision to transplant both, the liver and kidney, is more difficult in cases when kidney dysfunction may be temporary. Hepatorenal syndrome is a potentially reversible renal failure caused by advance liver disease. Currently, the treatment of choice of hepatorenal syndrome is liver transplant alone and not a combined liver/kidney transplant. The model for end-stage liver disease (MELD) replaced the United Network for Organ Sharing status classification for the allocation of liver organs. Due to the heavily weighted serum creatinine value in the calculation of the MELD score, candidates with renal failure have received organs more rapidly. As a result there has been considerable increase in number of combined liver-kidney transplants in the past few years. The reason to propose both liver and kidney transplant for patients with cirrhosis and renal failure relays on the negative impact that renal failure has on patients submitted to liver transplant alone (LTA). Results of several studies show that renal failure in patients with chronic liver disease is associated with high mortality and morbidity after liver transplant alone. Nevertheless, it’s very hard to identify a cut-off point of renal dysfunction that determines those patients who may benefit from combined liver and kidney transplant instead of liver transplant alone. In this chapter, we will review the main points to be considered when evaluating candidates for combined liver kidney transplant, as well as some concerns that have not been yet clarified.