Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
New Features of Cervical Precancerous Cell Based on FE-SEM/EDX Line Scanning for Classification Systems

The applicability and reliability of field emission scanning electron microscopy and energy dispersive X-ray (FESEM/EDX) to scan structure of materials at the micro-and/or the nanoscale level, characterize the material with its elemental properties have opened this research to obtain new features from EDX spectral of cervical cells to distinguish normal and abnormal cells to be fed into classification tool. For cervical cell classification, this study proposes new features of cervical cell based on FE-SEM/EDX spectrum that are suitable and can be differentiated the cervical cell to be normal and abnormal. The cervical cell samples were extracted from SurePath®. From the SurePath®, the cervical cell samples for FE-SEM were prepared using HMDS method to obtain capable FE-SEM/EDX data. The applicability of FE-SEM/EDX data based on line scanning technique was tested by using discriminant analysis (DA) as classification tools. The result showed that the proposed features from FE-SEM/EDX techniques were applicable for cervical spectra classification in the cervical precancerous diagnostic system.
A Performance Analysis of Minimum Laxity and Earliest Deadline Scheduling in a Real-Time System

A study is made of the performance of a real-time system in which jobs all have deadlines for either the beginning or the end of service. In the first case the authors analyze the minimum laxity (ML) scheduling policy when there are c processors, and in the latter case they analyze the preemptive-resume earliest deadline (ED) scheduling policy when there is one server. In both cases, the analysis assumes a Poisson arrival process, exponential service times that are not known to the scheduler, and exponential laxities or deadlines, and families of upper and lower bounds on the fraction of jobs that miss their deadlines are developed. The pessimistic bounds are of special interest because they correspond to a family of implementable policies, ML(n) and ED(n), n a positive integer 1, for which the performance approaches that of ML and ED as n increases, but at the cost of increasing overhead. >
Association Between Physical Fitness and Cognitive Function in Multiple Sclerosis

Background. Cognitive impairment is a highly prevalent, poorly managed, and disabling consequence of multiple sclerosis (MS). Exercise training that improves physical fitness represents a promising approach for managing cognitive impairment in persons with MS. There is limited evidence that physical fitness is associated with multiple domains of cognitive dysfunction across levels of MS disability. Objective. This cross-sectional study examined the associations among aerobic capacity, lower limb muscle strength, and cognitive functions in persons with mild, moderate, and severe MS disability. Methods. The sample included 62 persons with mild (n = 20), moderate (n = 21), and severe (n = 21) MS disability. The participants underwent neuropsychological assessments of cognitive processing speed (CPS; Symbol Digit Modalities Test [SDMT]), verbal memory (California Verbal Learning Test-2 [CVLT-2]), and visual memory (Brief Visuospatial Memory Test–Revised [BVMT-R]). All participants further underwent testing for measuring aerobic capacity (ie, peak oxygen consumption) and muscular strength (ie, peak torque of knee flexors and extensors). Results. Aerobic capacity and muscular strength outcomes were associated with SDMT (r = .35-.41), but not CVLT-2 or BVMT-R (r < .19) scores in the overall sample. Aerobic capacity (r = .42) and knee flexor peak torque (r = .39) were associated with SDMT scores in persons with mild disability, but not in those with moderate (r < .06) and severe (r < .14) disability. Conclusions. These results support examining aerobic and resistance exercise training programs for improving CPS, particularly among persons with mild MS disability.
Evaluation of Humidity Control Ceramic Paint Using Gypsum Binder

Active clay, bentonite and zeolite were used as porous materials for humidity controlling ceramic boards. The specific area and the pore volume of active clay were higher than those of bentonite and zeolite. It was effective to add white cement as well as a retarding agent to control the setting time of the ceramic paint. As the amount of added porous materials increases, the specific surface area and total pore volume of ceramic paint increase, but the average pore diameter decreases. The addition of porous materials having a high specific area and a large pore volume improves the moisture absorptive and desorptive performance of the ceramic paint. Therefore, in this experiment, the moisture absorptive and desorptive properties were best when active clay was added. Also, as the added amount of porous materials increases, the moisture absorptive and desorptive properties improve. In this experiment, when 70 mass% of active clay was added to ceramic paint, the hygroscopicity was highest at about 80 g/m.
Bayesian Restricted Likelihood Methods

Bayesian methods have proven themselves to be successful across a wide range of scientific problems and have many well-documented advantages over competing methods. However, these methods run into difficulties for two major and prevalent classes of problems: handling data sets with outliers and dealing with model misspecification. This dissertation introduces the restricted likelihood as a solution to these problems. When working with the restricted likelihood, we summarize the data through a set of (insufficient) statistics, targeting inferential quantities of interest, and update the prior distribution with the summary statistics rather than the complete data. By choice of conditioning statistics, we retain the main benefits of Bayesian methods while reducing the sensitivity of the analysis to features of the data not picked up by the conditioning statistics. The method is general, but this dissertation concentrates on applying the restricted likelihood to the common Bayesian linear model when outliers are of concern. For conditioning statistics we mostly consider classical robust M-estimators. In this sense, the method can be viewed as a blend of classical robust estimation techniques with the Bayesian paradigm. Of considerable interest is the comparison of the new method with more traditional approaches to dealing with outliers. In the face of model inadequacy caused by outliers, the traditional view is that one should build a better model which attempts to explain the outlier generating process. Two classical parametric approaches to deal with the problem are to replace the standard density by a thick-tailed or mixture density. Using several ii data analyses, the benefits of the new approach over the traditional approaches is made apparent. These benefits often manifest themselves through more realistic assumptions and more precise predictive performance. A major contribution of this work is the development of implementation strategies to fit these models. Since restricted likelihoods are rarely tractable, implementation is nontrivial. For low dimensional problems, computational methods relying on density estimation and numerical integration can often be efficiently employed. These methods break down in higher dimensions and we develop a novel Markov Chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) algorithm to handle these situations. In particular, the MCMC algorithm for the traditional posterior is augmented with a step that simulates new data conditional on the parameters and observed summary statistics. Derivations of the adjustments needed for this data augmented algorithm are given for the linear regression setting. Model choice within the restricted likelihood paradigm is also introduced.
A functional magnetic resonance imaging study of left hemisphere language dominance in children.

BACKGROUND Functional magnetic resonance imaging is a noninvasive method of assessing language dominance in a pediatric population. OBJECTIVE To determine the pattern of receptive language lateralization in healthy children. DESIGN We used functional magnetic resonance imaging to assess an auditory language task in 11 children (7 girls, 4 boys; mean age, 8.5 years). Participants alternately rested and listened to descriptors of nouns presented auditorily, naming the object described silently. Asymmetry indices ([(left - right)/(left + right)]) were calculated for a priori-determined regions of interest. RESULTS The results showed strong activation bilaterally, with greater activation on the left in the superior and middle temporal gyri. Other areas of activation included the cuneus, the left inferior temporal gyrus, the prefrontal area, and the left fusiform and lingual gyri. Regions of interest analysis of individual scans showed additional activation in the left frontal lobe. Asymmetry indices showed strong left lateralization of the inferior frontal gyrus, middle frontal gyrus, and the Wernicke region. CONCLUSIONS Hemispheric lateralization was clearly demonstrated in 8 children. As in adults, left hemisphere lateralization of receptive language is present at age 8 years.
Value of ancillary studies in the evaluation of fine-needle aspiration specimens: Our experience

Background: The cytological diagnosis of poorly differentiated tumors is challenging because the tumor cells may have morphologically difficult presentations in materials obtained by fine-needle aspiration cytology (FNAC). With the application of FNAC in primary diagnosis of malignant lesions, there has been a significant increase in the use of ancillary studies in the aspirated material. Aims: We evaluated the value of ancillary studies, namely cell blocks, immunocytochemistry (ICC) and electron microscopy (EM), in the final interpretation of FNAC smears. Materials and Methods: Sixty-nine cases of neoplastic swellings were subjected to FNAC. Material acquired was divided for ICC, consisting of immunoperoxidase staining of direct smears, and/or cellblocks and EM, in addition to routine light microscopy (LM). Correlation with the available histological material with immunohistochemistry and/or pertinent clinical information was used as a “gold” standard. Results: Five (7.2%) cases were excluded from the study, the material being necrotic or insufficient. Cell blocks were available in 46/64 (71.8%) cases, ICC evaluation was performed in 41/64 cases (64%) and EM studies were done in 57/64 cases (89%). Diagnostic accuracy of LM alone was 32/64 (50%). Cell blocks improved the diagnoses in 8/46 (17%) cases. The ICC data were diagnostic in 18/41 (43.9%) cases, helpful in 8/41 (19.6%) cases and non-helpful in 15/41 (36.5%) cases. EM studies were diagnostic in 22/57 (38.5%) cases, helpful in 18/57 (31.5%) cases and non-helpful in 17/57 (30%) cases. In 34/64 (53.1%) cases, all ancillary techniques (cell blocks, ICC and EM) were applied and their diagnostic accuracy was compared. Conclusions: With appropriate case selection, ancillary studies performed on aspirated material can provide useful information in FNAC.
Genetic polymorphism in milk fat globule-EGF factor 8 (MFG-E8) is associated with systemic lupus erythematosus in human

Milk fat globule-EGF factor 8 (MFG-E8) is a molecule implicated in phagocytic clearance of apoptotic cells by bridging between macrophages and apoptotic cells. Defects in MFG-E8 cause lupus-like disease in murine models. The aim of our study is to determine whether genetic variation in MFG-E8 predisposes human to systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). A case-control study of MFG-E8 genetic polymorphism was performed on 147 SLE patients and 146 non-lupus control subjects. Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the coding sequence of human MFG-E8 gene were investigated. SNPs on MFG-E8 residues 3 (3Arg or Ser) and 76 (76Leu or Met) did not show genetic linkage. Genetic polymorphism on MFG-E8 residue 76 correlated significantly to SLE. The MFG-E8-76Met allele predisposed subjects to SLE in a recessive mode (odds ratio: 2.1, P = 0.020), while carriage of MFG-E8-76Leu were negatively associated with SLE. The MFG-E8 genotypic combinations with 3Ser and 76Leu showed the most pronounced protective effect on SLE when compared to the most predisposing genotype 3Arg/Arg-76Met/Met (OR: 0.29, P = 0.007). According to our result, MFG-E8 is associated with SLE predisposition in Taiwanese. Our study implicates that the impairment of phagocytic clearance of apoptotic cells through phosphotidylserine-dependent MFG-E8 system may lead to the development of human SLE.
Quantum Discord and Information Deficit in Spin Chains

We examine the behavior of quantum correlations of spin pairs in a finite anisotropic XY spin chain immersed in a transverse magnetic field, through the analysis of the quantum discord and the conventional and quadratic one-way information deficits. We first provide a brief review of these measures, showing that the last ones can be obtained as particular cases of a generalized information deficit based on general entropic forms. All of these measures coincide with an entanglement entropy in the case of pure states, but can be non-zero in separable mixed states, vanishing just for classically correlated states. It is then shown that their behavior in the exact ground state of the chain exhibits similar features, deviating significantly from that of the pair entanglement below the critical field. In contrast with entanglement, they reach full range in this region, becoming independent of the pair separation and coupling range in the immediate vicinity of the factorizing field. It is also shown, however, that significant differences between the quantum discord and the information deficits arise in the local minimizing measurement that defines them. Both analytical and numerical results are provided.
Simulating growth and development of tomato crop.

Crop models are powerful tools to test hypotheses, synthesize and convey knowledge, describe and understand complex systems and compare different scenarios. Models may be used for prediction and planning of production, in decision support systems and control of the greenhouse climate, water supply and nutrient supply. The mechanistic simulation of tomato crop growth and development is described in this paper. The main processes determining yield, growth, development and water and nutrient uptake of a tomato crop are discussed in relation to growth conditions and crop management. Organ initiation is simulated as a function of temperature. Simulation of leaf area expansion is also based on temperature, unless a maximum specific leaf area is reached. Leaf area is an important determinant for the light interception of the canopy. Radiation shows exponential extinction with depth in the canopy. For leaf photosynthesis several models are available. Transpiration is calculated according to the Penman-Monteith approach. Net assimilate production is calculated as the difference between canopy gross photosynthesis and maintenance respiration. The net assimilate production is used for growth of the different plant organs and growth respiration. Partitioning of assimilates among plant organs is simulated based on the relative sink strengths of the organs. The simulation of plant-nutrient relationships starts with the calculation of the demanded concentrations of different macronutrients for each plant organ with the demand depending on the ontogenetic stage of the organ. Subsequently, the demanded nutrient uptake is calculated from these demanded concentrations and dry weight of the organs. When there is no limitation in the availability at the root surface, the actual uptake will equal the demanded uptake. When the root system cannot fulfil the demand, uptake is less, plant nutrient concentration drops and crop production might be reduced. It is concluded that mechanistic crop models accurately simulate yield, growth, development and water and nutrient relations of greenhouse grown tomato in different climate zones
The impact of severe hyperemesis gravidarum on the triple test screening results

Objective: we aimed to determine the influence of severe hyperemesis gravidarum on the interpretation of the triple test screen results. Methods: A retrospective, case control study. The study group included 73 women who were hospitalized due to severe hyperemesis gravidarum and data regarding triple screening test was available. Data was compared with a control group consisting of low-risk patients without hyperemesis gravidarum, who underwent the triple screening test in the same laboratory and matched to the study group by maternal age and gestational age at the time of screening in a 2:1 ratio. Results: Overall, 219 gravid patients were included in the study, of whom 73 were diagnosed with severe hyperemesis gravidarum. Patients in the control group were characterized by higher weight at the time of triple test screen (53.7 ± 10.9 vs. 59.7 ± 14.3 years, p = 0.043). No difference was found in the level of Alpha-fetoprotein or unconjugated estriol (uE3) between the groups; however the level of hCG was significantly increased in women with severe hyperemesis gravidarum (1.2977 ± 0.82 vs. 1.0662 ± 0.53 MoM, p = 0.013). Conclusion: Increase in the level of hCG in women with severe hyperemesis gravidarum alter the results of triple test screen. This data should be incorporated when counseling patients regarding overall risk for chromosomal abnormalities.
KIF1A and EDNRB are differentially methylated in primary HNSCC and salivary rinses

Silencing of tumor suppressor genes plays a vital role in head and neck carcinogenesis. In this study, we aimed to evaluate to the utility of aberrant promoter hypermethylation for detection in a panel of 10 genes (KIF1A, EDNRB, CDH4, TERT, CD44, NISCH, PAK3, VGF, MAL and FKBP4) in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) via a candidate gene approach. We investigated methylation of the gene promoters by bisulfite modification and quantitative methylation‐specific PCR (Q‐MSP) in a preliminary study of a limited cohort of salivary rinses from healthy subjects (n = 61) and patients with HNSCC (n = 33). The methylation status of 2 selected genes (EDNRB and KIF1A) were then analyzed in 15 normal mucosa samples from a healthy population, 101 HNSCC tumors and the corresponding salivary rinses from 71 out of the 101 HNSCC patients were collected before treatment. The promoter regions of CDH4, TERT, VGF, MAL, FKBP4, NISCH and PAK3 were methylated in normal salivary rinses while no methylation of CD44 was observed in either normal salivary rinses or tumor samples. However, KIF1A and EDNRB were methylated in 98 and 97% of primary HNSCC tissues respectively and were only methylated in 2 and 6.6% of normal salivary rinses. In addition, KIF1A and EDNRB were methylated in 38 and 67.6% of salivary rinses from HNSCC patients, respectively. Promoter hypermethylation of KIF1A and EDNRB is a frequent event in primary HNSCC, and these genes are preferentially methylated in salivary rinses from HNSCC patients. KIF1A and EDNRB are potential biomarkers for HNSCC detection.
Bio-oil Production from Ablative Pyrolysis of Corncob Pellets in a Rotating Blade Reactor

Fast pyrolysis serves as an alternative and eco-friendly method to convert biomass into valuable bio-oil and char. Bio-oil is a potential source for generating renewable biofuels. In this study, corncob pellets were pyrolysed in a laboratory rotating blade ablative pyrolysis reactor. Effects of plate temperature (450 – 550°C) and nitrogen flowrate (5 – 15 L/min) were investigated on pyrolysis product yields at a fixed rotating speed of 6 Hz. Temperature and inert gas flowrate were shown to affect product distribution and yields. Maximum bio-oil yields of almost 50% w/w on dry basis were obtained at 550°C and flowrate of 5 L/min. Composition of the bio-oil contained predominantly oxygenated hydrocarbons. From analysis of chemical and physical properties, the bio-oil derived from corncob pellets showed good fuel quality, comparable to those bio-oils reported in the literature.
Relative Flow Reserve Derived From Quantitative Perfusion Imaging May Not Outperform Stress Myocardial Blood Flow for Identification of Hemodynamically Significant Coronary Artery Disease

Background—Quantitative myocardial perfusion imaging is increasingly used for the diagnosis of coronary artery disease. Quantitative perfusion imaging allows to noninvasively calculate fractional flow reserve (FFR). This so-called relative flow reserve (RFR) is defined as the ratio of hyperemic myocardial blood flow (MBF) in a stenotic area to hyperemic MBF in a normal perfused area. The aim of this study was to assess the value of RFR in the detection of significant coronary artery disease. Methods and Results—From a clinical population of patients with suspected coronary artery disease who underwent oxygen-15–labeled water cardiac positron emission tomography and invasive coronary angiography, 92 patients with single- or 2-vessel disease were included. Intermediate lesions (diameter stenosis, 30%–90%; n=75) were interrogated by FFR. Thirty-eight (41%) vessels were deemed hemodynamically significant (>90% stenosis or FFR ⩽0.80). Hyperemic MBF, coronary flow reserve, and RFR were lower for vessels with a hemodynamically significant lesion (2.01±0.78 versus 2.90±1.16 mL·min−1·g−1; P<0.001, 2.27±1.03 versus 3.10±1.29; P<0.001, and 0.67±0.23 versus 0.93±0.15; P<0.001, respectively). The correlation between RFR and FFR was moderate (r=0.54; P<0.01). Receiver operator characteristic curve analysis showed an area under the curve of 0.82 for RFR, which was not significantly higher compared with that for hyperemic MBF and coronary flow reserve (0.76; P=0.32 and 0.72; P=0.08, respectively). Conclusions—Noninvasive estimation of FFR by quantitative perfusion positron emission tomography by calculating RFR is feasible, yet only a trend toward a slight improvement of diagnostic accuracy compared with hyperemic MBF assessment was determined.
Cucurbitacin induces autophagy through mitochondrial ROS production which counteracts to limit caspase-dependent apoptosis

Targeted disruption of STAT3 function has proven to be a useful cancer therapeutic approach by inducing apoptotic cell death. Cucurbitacin is currently under development as a small molecule of STAT3 inhibitor to trigger cell death in many cancers. Here, we systematically studied the molecular mechanisms underlying cucurbitacin-induced cell death, in particular the involvement of autophagy. Treatment with cucurbitacin resulted in non-apoptotic cell death in a caspase-independent manner. Notably, cucurbitacin enhanced excessive conversion of lipidated LC3 (LC3-II) and accumulation of autophagosomes in many cell types. Such autophagy and cell death induced by cucurbitacin were independent of its ability to inhibit STAT3 function, but mainly mediated by enhanced production of mitochondrial-derived reactive oxygen species (ROS), and subsequently activation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) and c-jun NH2-terminal kinase (JNK). Interestingly, both the autophagy inhibitor wortmannin and knockdown of Atg5 or Beclin 1 failed to rescue the cells from cucurbitacin-induced cell death, as suppression of autophagy induced the mode of cell death to shift from autophagic cell death to caspase-dependent apoptosis. Thus the present study provides new insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying cucurbitacin-mediated cell death and supports cucurbitacin as a potential anti-cancer drug through modulating the balance between autophagic and apoptotic modes of cell death.