Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Absolute CD4+ T‐lymphocyte and CD34+ stem cell counts by single‐platform flow cytometry: the way forward

To determine the potential advantage of single‐platform technology in the enumeration of CD4+ T lymphocyte and CD34+ stem cells, data has been analysed from the UK NEQAS for Leucocyte Immunophenotyping schemes. The inter‐laboratory CVs for CD4+ T lymphocyte counts were consistently lower for single‐platform (mean 13.7%, range 10–18.3%) compared to dual‐platform methodology (mean 23.4%, range 14.5–43.7%). Subgroup analysis of single‐platform users demonstrated mean overall inter‐laboratory CVs of 17.2%, 13% and 7.1% for the FlowCount, TruCount and volumetric approach respectively. The lowest inter‐laboratory CVs obtained for a single sample by each single platform approach were 4% (TruCount), 4.4% (volumetric), 4.6% (FACSCount) and 12.7% (FlowCount). Similarly, the mean inter‐laboratory CV for CD34+ stem cell enumeration using non‐standardized single‐platform approaches was 18.6% (range 3.1–36.9%) compared to 28.6% (range 19–44.2%) for the dual‐platform technology. Our results suggest absolute cell subset enumeration should be performed by single‐platform technology and that such an approach should improve the quality control of multi‐centre clinical trial data for CD4+ T lymphocyte and CD34+ stem cells.
Multiscale Penalized Weighted Least-Squares Sinogram Restoration for Low-Dose X-Ray Computed Tomography

In this paper, we propose a novel multiscale penalized weighted least-squares (PWLS) method for restoration of low-dose computed tomography (CT) sinogram. The method utilizes wavelet transform for the multiscale or multiresolution analysis on the sinogram. Specifically, the Mallat-Zhong's wavelet transform is applied to decompose the sinogram to different resolution levels. At each decomposed resolution level, a PWLS criterion is applied to restore the noise-contaminated wavelet coefficients, where the penalty is adaptive to each resolution scale and the weight is updated by an exponential relationship between the data variance and mean at each scale and location. The proposed PWLS method is based on the observations that 1) noise in the CT sinogram after logarithm transform and calibration can be modeled as signal-dependent variables and the sample variance depends on the sample mean by an exponential relationship; and 2) noise reduction can be more effective when it is adaptive to different resolution levels. The effectiveness of the proposed multiscale PWLS method is validated by both computer simulations and experimental studies. The gain by multiscale approach over single scale means is quantified by noise-resolution tradeoff measures.
Identifying Hierarchical Structure in Sequences: A linear-time algorithm

SEQUITUR is an algorithm that infers a hierarchical structure from a sequence of discrete symbols by replacing repeated phrases with a grammatical rule that generates the phrase, and continuing this process recursively. The result is a hierarchical representation of the original sequence, which offers insights into its lexical structure. The algorithm is driven by two constraints that reduce the size of the grammar, and produce structure as a by-product. SEQUITUR breaks new ground by operating incrementally. Moreover, the method's simple structure permits a proof that it operates in space and time that is linear in the size of the input. Our implementation can process 50,000 symbols per second and has been applied to an extensive range of real world sequences.
Introduction to an Innovative Rotor Twister

This paper introduces the working principles of a novel twisting device of the authors' own design, which is described as a super-high-speed rotor twister, and examines the basic comparisons between the novel twister, the ring twister, and the two-for-one twister, i.e. the variance of tension, the twist CV%, and the percentage loss of twist, yarn strength, and elongation. At present, the rotational speed of the novel rotor twister is over 30 000 r/min, which is equivalent to a production speed of about 70 m/min. The experimental results show that the rotor twister has a twisting tension lower than or equal to that of the ring twister and that the physical properties of the plied yarns produced on the rotor twister are better than those of the ring twister and also those of the two-for-one twister under constant twisting conditions.
Continuous monitoring and detection of ST-T changes in ischemic patients

The authors developed a complete two channel ST episode detection system for long term ECG records. To improve the system sensitivity, a high performance QRS detector was implemented and some noise criteria were applied, to reject too noisy measure values (sens: 97.51% PPA: 99.96%). A three layer feedforward Artificial Neural Network (ANN), trained by backpropagation algorithm, was introduced. It processed the inputs (ST amplitude and ST slope, both in absolute value) in a nonlinear way so that the ST episodes became more easily recognizable from ANN output and the system sensitivity resulted improved (sens: 85% PPA; 88% with vs. sens: 78% PPA: 90% without ANN). The training set was built with 3 out of the 50 records of the European Society of Cardiology ST-T Database. The remaining records were used for system evaluation. <<ETX>>
Parallel VLSI test in a shared-memory multiprocessor

This paper presents three parallel procedures implemented in a shared-memory multiprocessor to generate the patterns that allow the testing of digital circuits. The implementation of these procedures in a multiprocessor uses the system memory better than in a distributed-memory multicomputer, since it is not necessary to store the circuit structure in the local memory of each processor, besides other common structures. The parallel test generation procedures are based on a new sequential algorithm which mixes both the Boolean difference and digital spectral techniques. It is thus different from other methods proposed that deal with the parallelization of test generation algorithms that carry out an implicit enumeration of the input pattern space. The first procedure distributes the set of faults using a backtracking procedure starting from a primary output and allocating a similar number of lines to each processor. The second procedure distributes the set of faults among the processors taking into account the distance from each line to its nearest primary output; it then applies the algorithm to generate the test pattern with some modifications. The third procedure uses a circuit partitioning procedure which allows similar sized parts of the circuit to be assigned to each processor while communications between processors are minimized. The experimental results obtained when the procedures are applied to the usual benchmark circuits (the ISCAS set) show figures for speedup better than in a multicomputer, although fewer processors are used. Copyright  2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Learning for a sustainable environment: an agenda for teacher education in Asia and the Pacific

Optical Character Recognition (OCR) document. WARNING! Spelling errors might subsist. In order to access to the original document in image form, click on "Original" button on 1st page. The designations employed and the presentation of material throughout the publication do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of UNESCO concerning the legal status of any country, tern-tory, city or area or of its authorities, or concerning its frontiers or boundaries, Optical Character Recognition (OCR) document. WARNING! Spelling errors might subsist. In order to access to the original document in image form, click on "Original" button on 1st page. 1 7 26 33 42 67 74 80 Optical Character Recognition (OCR) document. WARNING! Spelling errors might subsist. In order to access to the original document in image form, click on "Original" button on 1st page. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS Many colleagues in environmental education from the countries of Asia and the Pacific have contributed to the development of the ideas we have expressed in this monograph. , was a turning point for both of us in the development of our ideas on the role of environmental education in contributing to sustainable development. Although the competencies which we present in this monograph were the end-product of a three-year research project into practices and possibilities in environmental education at the teacher education level, it was our discussions at this meeting with regional experts from 15 countries which helped refine our ideas on strategies for developing environmental education competencies. Two subsequent UNESCO-sponsored meetings on environmental education and teacher education in the Asia-Pacific region during 1993 were also influential. These were the UNESCO-ACEID conference on " Environmental Education and Teacher Education in Asia and the Pacific " at the National Institute for Educational Research (NIER) in Tokyo, and a SEAMEO-UNESCO Sub-regional conference on " Environmental Education and Secondary Teacher Education " which was held in Penang, Malaysia. These meetings laid the foundation of the UNESCO-ACED project on " Learning for a Sustainable Environment Innovations in Teacher Education, " which is sponsored by UNESCO-ACEID, the Australian government and Griffith University. This monograph is the result of an early planning meeting for this project. The meeting recommended that a detailed position paper be prepared to provide a rationale and set of operating procedures to facilitate the adoption of environmental education as a priority in teacher education in the Asia-Pacific region. We would like to express our thanks …
Hypoxia induces a human macrophage cell line to release tumor necrosis factor-alpha and its soluble receptors in vitro.

Tissue hypoxia following hemorrhage and trauma is a possible initiating factor of the generalized inflammatory response seen after shock. The role of hypoxia in the release from a human monocyte cell line (THP-1) of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF alpha) and its soluble membrane receptors (TNF alpha R) in-vitro is investigated in this study. Flat-bottom plates with 500,000 THP-1 cells/ml were placed in air-tight sealed boxes and exposed to hypoxia (O2 = 1%) or controls (O2 = 9%) for up to 24 hr. Supernatants were tested for TNF alpha, as well as 55- and 75-kDa soluble receptors for TNF alpha, by ELISA. Cell viability was assessed by vital dye uptake and was found to be maintained throughout hypoxic exposure. Medium pH levels were within normal range. In eight experiments conducted in duplicate, minimal change over 24 hr occurred in control samples. Control mean and SD were: TNF alpha = 12.0 +/- 4.2, 55-kDa R = 34.6 +/- 2.03, and 75-kDa R = 38.88 +/- 9.68 pg/ml. During hypoxia, TNF alpha was released as early as the first 30 min of exposure (41.3 +/- 2.3 pg/ml) with a small peak at 1 hr (52 +/- 5.0 pg/ml) and a later more pronounced peak at 18 hr (526 +/- 48 pg/ml). Both 55- and 75-kDa R were released by the hypoxic monocytes; release was progressive and was maximal at 24 hr in this study. Maximal release value of 55-kDa R was 236 +/- 15 pg/ml, while for 75-kDa R it was 2450 +/- 63 pg/ml. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Insulin Resistance as a Risk Factor for Carotid Atherosclerosis: A Comparison of the Homeostasis Model Assessment and the Short Insulin Tolerance Test

Background and Purpose— The independent contribution of insulin resistance to atherosclerosis is still under debate. We compared associations of 2 different indices of insulin resistance, the Homeostasis Model Assessment (HOMA) index and kITT from a short insulin tolerance test with carotid atherosclerosis. Methods— A total of 1771 middle-aged white patients were investigated. Intima media thickness (IMT) and extent of carotid atherosclerosis were quantified by ultrasound. HOMA was calculated and an insulin tolerance test was performed. Results— HOMA and kITT were significant predictors for average carotid IMT (P<0.001). After adjustment for age and the components of the metabolic syndrome, HOMA still remained an independent predictor for IMTavg (P=0.02), whereas kITT failed to do so. HOMA and kITT were also predictive (P=0.004 and P=0.024) for carotid plaques and extent of carotid atherosclerosis (P<0.001). After adjustment for age and the components of the metabolic syndrome, neither HOMA nor kITT were independently predictive any more. Conclusions— Our results provide evidence that HOMA rather than kITT is associated with carotid atherosclerosis and that the association is largely explained by the clustered expression of the components of the metabolic syndrome.
Trading Volume, Information Asymmetry, and Timing Information

This paper investigates trading volume before scheduled and unscheduled corporate announcements to explore how traders respond to private information. I show that cumulative trading volume decreases inversely to information asymmetry prior to scheduled announcements, while the opposite relation holds for volume after the announcement. In contrast, trading volume before unscheduled announcements increases dramatically and shows little relation to proxies for information asymmetry. I investigate the behavior of market makers and find that they act appropriately by increasing price sensitivity before all announcements, implying that they extract timing information from their order books.
The IDEAL DVT study, individualised duration elastic compression therapy against long-term duration of therapy for the prevention of post-thrombotic syndrome: protocol of a randomised controlled trial

Introduction Post-thrombotic syndrome (PTS) is a serious complication of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) of the leg that affects 20–50% of patients. Once a patient experiences PTS there is no treatment that effectively reduces the debilitating complaints. Two randomised controlled trials showed that elastic compression stocking (ECS) therapy after DVT for 24 months can reduce the incidence of PTS by 50%. However, it is unclear whether all patients benefit to the same extent from ECS therapy or what the optimal duration of therapy for individual patients should be. ECS therapy is costly, inconvenient, demanding and sometimes even debilitating. Tailoring therapy to individual needs could save substantial costs. The objective of the IDEAL DVT study, therefore, is to evaluate whether tailoring the duration of ECS therapy on signs and symptoms of the individual patient is a safe and effective method to prevent PTS, compared with standard ECS therapy. Methods and analysis A multicentre, single-blinded, allocation concealed, randomised, non-inferiority trial. A total of 864 consecutive patients with acute objectively documented proximal DVT of the leg are randomised to either standard duration of 24 months or tailored duration of ECS therapy following an initial therapeutic period of 6 months. Signs and symptoms of PTS are recorded at regular clinic visits. Furthermore, quality of life, costs, patient preferences and compliance are measured. The primary outcome is the proportion of patients with PTS at 24 months. Ethics and dissemination Based on current knowledge the standard application of ECS therapy is questioned. The IDEAL DVT study will address the central questions that remain unanswered: Which individual patients benefit from ECS therapy and what is the optimal individual treatment duration? Primary ethics approval was received from the Maastricht University Medical Centre. Results Results of the study will be disseminated via peer-reviewed publications and presentations at scientific conferences. Trial registration number NCT01429714 and NTR 2597.
Quantitative Characterization of the Filiform Mechanosensory Hair Array on the Cricket Cercus

Background Crickets and other orthopteran insects sense air currents with a pair of abdominal appendages resembling antennae, called cerci. Each cercus in the common house cricket Acheta domesticus is approximately 1 cm long, and is covered with 500 to 750 filiform mechanosensory hairs. The distribution of the hairs on the cerci, as well as the global patterns of their movement vectors, have been characterized semi-quantitatively in studies over the last 40 years, and have been shown to be very stereotypical across different animals in this species. Although the cercal sensory system has been the focus of many studies in the areas of neuroethology, development, biomechanics, sensory function and neural coding, there has not yet been a quantitative study of the functional morphology of the receptor array of this important model system. Methodology/Principal Findings We present a quantitative characterization of the structural characteristics and functional morphology of the cercal filiform hair array. We demonstrate that the excitatory direction along each hair's movement plane can be identified by features of its socket that are visible at the light-microscopic level, and that the length of the hair associated with each socket can also be estimated accurately from a structural parameter of the socket. We characterize the length and directionality of all hairs on the basal half of a sample of three cerci, and present statistical analyses of the distributions. Conclusions/Significance The inter-animal variation of several global organizational features is low, consistent with constraints imposed by functional effectiveness and/or developmental processes. Contrary to previous reports, however, we show that the filiform hairs are not re-identifiable in the strict sense.
Clinical Benefits of Biochemical Markers of Fibrosis in Egyptian Children With Chronic Liver Diseases

Background: The need for repetition of liver biopsy, especially in assessing the degree of fibrosis and follow-up of treatment protocols, justifies an intensive search for non-invasive alternatives. We attempted to investigate the clinical usefulness of serum fibrogenesis markers in pediatric chronic liver diseases.Methods: We measured serum levels of TGF-β1, collagen IV, laminin, MMP-2 and EGF-R, in 50 children with chronic liver disease (HBV, HCV and Bilharziasis) and 30 healthy controls, and determined their relationship to frequently used liver function tests and liver biopsy findings in patients.Results: TGF-βl, collagen IV, laminin and MMP-2, but not EGFR, were significantly higher in patients than in controls (P < 0.01). None of these markers correlated with the histological fibrosis stage, whereas laminin correlated with necroinflammatory activity (P < 0.01). TGF-β1, collagen IV, laminin and MMP-2 had the ability to discriminate patients with significant fibrosis, while only collagen IV and laminin were able to discriminate those with cirrhosis. Among these markers, collagen IV had the best predictive accuracy for significant fibrosis (AUROC 0.94; PPV 91.5%) and cirrhosis (AUROC 0.85; PPV 80%). Conclusions: These markers may be useful in reducing but not replacing the need for liver biopsy in the monitoring of disease progression and treatment effectiveness and might be an inseparable part of assessment of chronic hepatopathies.
Hotspots of transcription factor colocalization in the genome of Drosophila melanogaster

Regulation of gene expression is a highly complex process that requires the concerted action of many proteins, including sequence-specific transcription factors, cofactors, and chromatin proteins. In higher eukaryotes, the interplay between these proteins and their interactions with the genome still is poorly understood. We systematically mapped the in vivo binding sites of seven transcription factors with diverse physiological functions, five cofactors, and two heterochromatin proteins at ≈1-kb resolution in a 2.9 Mb region of the Drosophila melanogaster genome. Surprisingly, all tested transcription factors and cofactors show strongly overlapping localization patterns, and the genome contains many “hotspots” that are targeted by all of these proteins. Several control experiments show that the strong overlap is not an artifact of the techniques used. Colocalization hotspots are 1–5 kb in size, spaced on average by ≈50 kb, and preferentially located in regions of active transcription. We provide evidence that protein–protein interactions play a role in the hotspot association of some transcription factors. Colocalization hotspots constitute a previously uncharacterized type of feature in the genome of Drosophila, and our results provide insights into the general targeting mechanisms of transcription regulators in a higher eukaryote.
SNARE proteins play a role in motor axon guidance in vertebrates and invertebrates

Axonal growth and guidance rely on correct growth cone responses to guidance cues, both in the central nervous system (CNS) and in the periphery. Unlike the signaling cascades that link axonal growth to cytoskeletal dynamics, little is known about the cross‐talk mechanisms between guidance and membrane dynamics and turnover in the axon. Our studies have shown that Netrin‐1/deleted in colorectal cancer signaling triggers exocytosis through the SNARE Syntaxin‐1 (STX‐1) during the formation of commissural pathways. However, limited in vivo evidence is available about the role of SNARE proteins in motor axonal guidance. Here we show that loss‐of‐function of SNARE complex members results in motor axon guidance defects in fly and chick embryos. Knock‐down of Syntaxin‐1, VAMP‐2, and SNAP‐25 leads to abnormalities in the motor axon routes out of the CNS. Our data point to an evolutionarily conserved role of the SNARE complex proteins in motor axon guidance, thereby pinpointing an important function of SNARE proteins in axonal navigation in vivo. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Develop Neurobiol 77: 963–974, 2017
Blood lipid peroxidation (superoxide dismutase, malondialdehyde, glutathione) levels in Egyptian type 2 diabetic patients.

INTRODUCTION The existence of hyperglycaemia produces increased oxidative stress. The depletion of antioxidants as a defensive body mechanism may increase the risk of diabetic complications. Diabetes mellitus is associated with derangements in the serum levels of several biochemical parameters, and type 2 diabetes mellitus (or non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus) is a risk factor for cardiovascular diseases. METHODS Data of 80 control subjects (male:female, 40:40) and 80 diabetic patients (male:female, 40:40), of similar age, gender, body mass index and duration of diabetes mellitus (for diabetic group), were collected from government and non-government organisations during the period, 2001-2004. Blood samples were also collected. Glucose, glucosylated haemoglobin, total cholesterol (TC), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), very low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (VLDLC), TC/HDL-C, HDL-C/LDL-C, triacylglycerol, malondialdehyde, glutathione and superoxide dismutase levels were determined. RESULTS Mean cholesterol, LDL-C, VLDL-C and triacylglycerol levels were significantly higher in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus in comparison to the control subjects, while the mean value of HDL-C was significantly lower. A significant elevation in malondialdehyde level and decrease in glutathione content were observed in both male and female diabetic patients in comparison to the control subjects. CONCLUSION The results suggest that the increase in lipid peroxidation, and the decline in antioxidant defences, may appear early in type 2 diabetic patients, before the development of secondary complications. This phenomenon might play an important role in the initiation and progression of diabetic complications. Our results also suggest that there seems to be an imbalance between plasma oxidant and antioxidant systems in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.