Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Examination of peripheral blood films using automated microscopy; evaluation of Diffmaster Octavia and Cellavision DM96

Background: Differential counting of peripheral blood cells is an important diagnostic tool. Yet, this technique requires highly trained staff, is labour intensive and has limited statistical reliability. A recent development in this field was the introduction of automated peripheral blood differential counting systems. These computerised systems provide an automated morphological analysis of peripheral blood films, including a preclassification of both red and white cells (RBCs and WBCs, respectively). Aims: To investigate the ability of two automated microscopy systems to examine peripheral blood smears. Methods: Two automated microscopy systems, the Cellavision Diffmaster Octavia (Octavia) and Cellavision DM96 (DM96), were evaluated. Results: The overall preclassification accuracy values for the Octavia and the DM96 systems were 87% and 92%, respectively. Evaluation of accuracy (WBC analysis) showed good correlation for both automated systems when compared with manual differentiation. Total analysis time (including post classification) was 5.4 min/slide for the Octavia and 3.2 min/slide for the DM96 (100 WBC/slide) system. The DM96 required even less time than manual differentiation by an experienced biomedical scientist. Conclusions: The Octavia and the DM96 are automated cell analysis systems capable of morphological classification of RBCs and WBCs in peripheral blood smears. Classification accuracy depends on the type of pathological changes in the blood sample. Both systems operate most effectively in the analysis of non-pathological blood samples.
Official American Thoracic Society technical standards: flexible airway endoscopy in children.

BACKGROUND Flexible airway endoscopy (FAE) is an accepted and frequently performed procedure in the evaluation of children with known or suspected airway and lung parenchymal disorders. However, published technical standards on how to perform FAE in children are lacking. METHODS The American Thoracic Society (ATS) approved the formation of a multidisciplinary committee to delineate technical standards for performing FAE in children. The committee completed a pragmatic synthesis of the evidence and used the evidence synthesis to answer clinically relevant questions. RESULTS There is a paucity of randomized controlled trials in pediatric FAE. The committee developed recommendations based predominantly on the collective clinical experience of our committee members highlighting the importance of FAE-specific airway management techniques and anesthesia, establishing suggested competencies for the bronchoscopist in training, and defining areas deserving further investigation. CONCLUSIONS These ATS-sponsored technical standards describe the equipment, personnel, competencies, and special procedures associated with FAE in children.
Tissue Inhibitors of Metalloproteinases in Cell Signaling: Metalloproteinase-Independent Biological Activities

Over the past 20 years, the tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases (TIMPs) have been implicated in direct regulation of cell growth and apoptosis. However, the mechanisms of these effects have been controversial. Recent work by several laboratories has identified specific signaling pathways and cell surface binding partners for members of the TIMP family. TIMP-2 binding to the integrin α3β1 is the first description of a cell surface receptor for a TIMP family member. TIMP-2 has been shown to induce gene expression, to promote G1 cell cycle arrest, and to inhibit cell migration. TIMP-1 binding to CD63 inhibits cell growth and apoptosis. These new findings suggest that TIMPs are multifunctional and can act either directly through cell surface receptors or indirectly through modulation of protease activity to direct cell fate. The emerging concept is that TIMPs function in a contextual fashion so that the mechanism of action depends on the tissue microenvironment. The extracellular matrix influences cell behavior through interaction with various cell surface receptors. Cells also influence the structure and the composition of the extracellular matrix. Remodeling of the extracellular matrix is mediated by protease activity, which, in turn, is modulated by endogenous protease inhibitors. The tissue inhibitors of matrix metalloproteinases (TIMPs) were first identified as inhibitors of the matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) family, a class of proteases closely identified with cell growth and invasion during the process of tumor progression and metastasis. Over the past 20 years, TIMPs have been implicated in direct regulation of cell growth and apoptosis. However, these biological activities of the TIMP family have been controversial. Recent work by several laboratories has identified specific signaling pathways and cell surface binding partners for members of the TIMP family. These new findings suggest that TIMPs are pluripotent regulators of the extracellular matrix and can act either directly through cell surface receptors or indirectly through modulation of protease activity to direct cell fate.
Differential effects of Angiotensin II on intra‐renal hemodynamics in rats

Renal medullary blood flow (MBF) has been shown to differ qualitatively from cortical flow in response to certain vasoactive agents. The effect of AII infusion on intrarenal hemodynamics was investigated in rats testing the hypothesis that AT2 receptor mediates AII‐induced increase in renal MBF. AII (100, 300 and 1000 ng/kg/min) increased mean arterial blood pressure (MAP; 24±7%), decreased cortical blood flow (CBF; 30 ± 2%), but increased MBF (21±8%). Indomethacin (5 mg/kg), a COX inhibitor enhanced AII effects on MAP (154 ± 26%; p<0.05), MBF (141±46 %; p<0.05) and CBF (74±54%; p<0.05). NG nitro‐L‐arginine (L‐NNA), an inhibitor of NO synthase (100 mg/L orally) or 1H‐[1,2,4]oxadiazolo[4,3,‐a]quinoxalin‐1‐one (ODQ), a guanylyl cyclase inhibitor (2 mg/kg) enhanced AII effects on MAP (169±75 or 118±32%, p<0.05), CBF(107±50 or 85±47%, p<0.05) but blunted the effects of AII on MBF(150±21 or 96±15%, p<0.05). However, glibenclamide (20 μg/kg), a KATP+ channel blocker, was without effect. PD123319 (50 μg/kg/min), an AT2 blocker did not change basal or AII‐induced changes in MAP or CBF but blunted AII effects on MBF (60 ±11 %; p<0.05). CGP42112 (10 μg/kg/min), an AT2 agonist, reduced MAP but increased CBF and MBF ‐ effects were antagonised by PD123319. These findings demonstrate that AT2 receptors mediate AII‐induced increase in MBF by mechanisms involving guanylyl cyclase and NO but not prostanoids or KATP+ channels.
Changes in net ecosystem exchange of CO2, latent and sensible heat fluxes in a recently clear-cut spruce forest in western Russia: results from an experimental and modeling analysis

Ecosystem carbon dioxide, energy, and water fluxes were measured using eddy covariance in a fresh clear-cut surrounded by a mixed spruce-birch-aspen forest in the boreal zone of European Russia. Measurements were initiated in spring 2016 following timber harvest and continued for five months. The influence of surrounding forest on air flow and turbulent fluxes within the clear-cut were examined using a process-based two-dimensional (2D) hydrodynamic turbulent exchange model. The clear-cut was a source of CO2 to the atmosphere prior to onset of vegetation growth during early spring. During this period the mean daily latent (LE) and sensible (H) heat fluxes were very similar and the Bowen ratio (β = H/LE) averaged about 1.0. Daily net ecosystem exchange of CO2 (NEE) was around 0 gC m−2 d−1 following onset of vegetation growth from mid-spring through summer, while β declined to 0.6–0.7. There was strong diurnal variability in NEE, LE and H over the measurement period that was governed by solar radiation and temperature as well as the leaf area index (LAI) of regrown vegetation. Modeled vertical CO2 and H2O fluxes along a transect that crossed the clear-cut and coincided with the dominate wind direction showed that the clear-cut strongly influenced turbulent fluxes within the atmospheric surface layer. Furthermore, modeled atmospheric dynamics suggested that the clear-cut had a large influence on turbulent fluxes in the downwind forest, but little impact on the upwind side. An aggregated approach including field measurements and process-based models can be a useful approach to estimate energy, water and carbon dioxide fluxes in non-uniform forest landscapes.
Proteomic data reveal a physiological basis for costs and benefits associated with thermal acclimation

ABSTRACT Physiological adaptation through acclimation is one way to cope with temperature changes. Biochemical studies on acclimation responses in ectotherms have so far mainly investigated consequences of short-term acclimation at the adult stage and focussed on adaptive responses. Here, we assessed the consequences of rearing Drosophila melanogaster at low (12°C), benign (25°C) and high (31°C) temperatures. We assessed cold and heat tolerance and obtained detailed proteomic profiles of flies from the three temperatures. The proteomic profiles provided a holistic understanding of the underlying biology associated with both adaptive and non-adaptive temperature responses. Results show strong benefits and costs across tolerances: rearing at low temperature increased adult cold tolerance and decreased adult heat tolerance and vice versa with development at high temperatures. In the proteomic analysis, we were able to identify and quantify a large number of proteins compared with previous studies on ectotherms (1440 proteins across all replicates and rearing regimes), enabling us to extend the proteomic approach using enrichment analyses. This gave us detailed information on individual proteins, as well as pathways affected by rearing temperature, pinpointing potential mechanisms responsible for the strong costs and benefits of rearing temperature on functional phenotypes. Several well-known heat shock proteins, as well as proteins not previously associated with thermal stress, were among the differentially expressed proteins. Upregulation of proteasome proteins was found to be an important adaptive process at high-stress rearing temperatures, and occurs at the expense of downregulation of basal metabolic functions. Summary: By investigating flies maintained at cold, benign and high temperatures, we provide a physiological basis for why ectotherms raised at low and high temperatures are more cold and heat resistant, respectively.
Differences Between Physician Social Networks for Cardiac Surgery Serving Communities With High Versus Low Proportions of Black Residents

Background:Compared with white patients, black patients are more likely to undergo cardiac surgery at low-quality hospitals, even when they live closer to high-quality ones. Opportunities for organizational interventions to alleviate this problem remain elusive. Objectives:To explore physician isolation in communities with high proportions of black residents as a factor contributing to racial disparities in access to high-quality hospitals for cardiac surgery. Research Design:Using national Medicare data (2008–2011), we mapped physician social networks at hospitals where coronary artery bypass grafting procedures were performed, measuring their degree of connectedness. We then fitted a series of multivariate regression models to examine for associations between physician connectedness and the proportion of black residents in the hospital service area (HSA) served by each network. Measures:Measures of physician connectedness (ie, repeat-tie fraction, clustering, and number of external ties). Results:After accounting for regional differences in healthcare capacity, the social networks of physicians practicing in areas with more black residents varied in many important respects from those of HSAs with fewer black residents. Physicians serving HSAs with many black residents had a smaller number of repeated interactions with each other than those in other HSAs (P<0.001). When these physicians did interact, they tended to assemble in smaller groups of highly interconnected colleagues (P<0.001). They also had fewer interactions with physicians outside their immediate geographic area (P=0.048). Conclusions:Physicians in HSAs with many black residents are more isolated than those in HSAs with fewer black residents. This isolation may negatively impact on care coordination and information sharing. As such, planned delivery system reforms that encourage minorities to seek care within their established local networks may further exacerbate existing surgical disparities.
Primary domestication and early uses of the emblematic olive tree: palaeobotanical, historical and molecular evidence from the Middle East

Our knowledge of the origins of olive tree domestication in the Middle East and on the processes governing its extension and persistence in different vegetation types from prehistory through antiquity to modern times derives from diverse sources, spanning the biological sciences to the humanities. Nonetheless, it lacks a robust overview that may lead to floating interpretations. This is especially true in the Middle East, considered as the cradle of agriculture, and where the evolutionary history of this emblematic tree is intertwined with that of civilizations. Olive fruit, oil and wood have been, since Prehistoric times, characteristic products of the lands bordering the Mediterranean Sea. In the domestic economy of these countries, the olive tree gradually became a traditional tree crop since the first oil extraction, through the emergence of regional commerce that accompanied the rise and fall of early Near‐Middle Eastern urbanism, until the development of modern trade, with an oil production estimated at circa 3000000 tons per year. The rising importance of the olive tree in human life has turned the tree into an endless source of fascination in the Aegean and Eastern Mediterranean, a symbol and a sacred tree, widely cited in the Bibles, the Koran, and in ancient literature. Here we argue that advances in radiocarbon chronology, palaeobotany, genetics, and archaeology‐history have profoundly refined the history of olive trees in the Middle East. This review shows that the heartland of primary olive domestication must be enlarged to the Levant and not only focus on the Jordan Valley. The domestication of the olive tree is a long and ongoing process, linked to the early production of oil and the development of the olive trade. We also suggest that the olive tree became a particular icon, a sacred tree, during the Biblical period in the Levant.
Epidemiology of cervical cancer--overview.

Numerous studies of the epidemiology of cervical cancer have shown strong associations with religious, marital and sexual patterns. Although it is well established that women with multiple partners and early ages at first intercourse are at high risk, less is known about how these factors interact or how risk is affected by specific sexual characteristics. Recent studies indicate that number of steady partners and frequent intercourse at early ages may further enhance risk, supporting hypotheses regarding a vulnerable period of the cervix and a need for repeated exposure to an infectious agent. It is now widely accepted that HPV is the major infectious etiological agent, but whether other infectious agents play supportive or interactive roles is unclear. Of specific interest is the independent effect of HSV 2 on risk, especially given some evidence that this viral agent may interact with HPV. Other speculative risk factors for cervical cancer include cigarette smoking, oral contraceptive usage and certain nutritional deficiencies, but again it is not clear whether these factors operate independently from HPV. Although cervical cancer incidence trends correlate with the population prevalence of various venereally transmitted agents, it is not certain how disease rates are affected by other potential risk factors which have changed during recent time (e.g., exposure to HPV, sexual behaviour, cigarette smoking). In addition, a number of recent studies highlight the need for considering not only female influences on risk of cervical cancer, but also male factors, since the sexual behaviour of the male consort appears to play an important role.
Less aggressive features of colorectal cancer with liver metastases showing macroscopic intrabiliary extension

We have previously reported the frequent occurrence of bile duct invasion by liver metastases from colorectal cancer. We found that patients with macroscopic intrabiliary cancer growth survive longer after hepatectomy than those without this feature. In the present study, we analyzed the clinicopathological features of primary colorectal cancer showing macroscopic intrabiliary extension of liver metastases. We reviewed 217 patients who underwent initial hepatic resection for colorectal liver metastasis between 1992 and 1998, and analyzed the corresponding primary colorectal cancers clinicopathologically. Microscopic bile duct invasion was found in 89 of 217 cases (40.6%) and, of these cases, 23 (10.6%) had macroscopic intrabiliary extension. Histological sections of the corresponding primary colorectal cancer were available in eight (group A) of these 23 cases. These were compared with 20 cases, selected randomly, of colorectal cancer that did not show bile duct invasion and were diagnosed as liver metastases. These patients underwent hepatectomy during the same period as group A and were used as a control (group B). The histology of the primary tumors revealed well‐differentiated adenocarcinoma in 100% of group A and in 25% of group B. The average maximum diameter of the primary tumor was 5.32 cm in group A and 3.61 cm in group B. Venous invasion was detected in 25% of group A and in 90% of group B (P < 0.01), while the incidences of lymphatic vessel invasion and lymph node metastases were similar between the groups. These data suggest that macroscopic intrabiliary extension could be a good indicator of a unique subgroup of colorectal cancers showing less aggressive features even though they develop liver metastases. Careful histological evaluation is important even for metastatic tumors.
A study of recall and retention of accelerated lecture presentation.

Subjects were 118 students in Human Behavior and Development classes at State University College at Buffalo. Two lectures, which represented part of the course content, were recorded by the Ss’regular professor. Ss were divided into three groups. Lecture number one was presented to Group A (control) at normal word speed (21 minutes duration). The same lecture was presented to Group B (experimental), but at increased word speed (14 minutes duration). Group C (non-treatment) was not exposed to the tape recorded lecture. Rotational design was used for the second lecture presentation to adjust for possible inter-group differences. A thirty item recall test was administered to groups A and B immediately after presentation, and to the non-treatment group. Two to three weeks after each lecture a twenty item retention test was administered to groups A and B. Analysis of variance was computed on the raw test scores of control, experimental, and non-treatment groups for Recall Test I and II. A significant F-ratio (p <.001) was found for group comparisons on both tests. T-tests were calculated on the raw test scores of control and experimental groups for Recall Test I, Recall Test II, Retention Test I and Retention Test II. The results of these calculations did not demonstrate any significant differences between control and experimental groups for any of the four tests. It appears that lecture presentations, on a college level, can be increased in word rate, with a reduction in presentation time by one-third without any significant loss in recall or retention.
Utility of histogram analysis of ADC maps for differentiating orbital tumors.

PURPOSE We aimed to evaluate the role of histogram analysis of apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) maps for differentiating benign and malignant orbital tumors. METHODS Fifty-two patients with orbital tumors were enrolled from March 2013 to November 2014. Pretreatment diffusion-weighted imaging was performed on a 3T magnetic resonance scanner with b factors of 0 and 800 s/mm2, and the corresponding ADC maps were generated. Whole-tumor regions of interest were drawn on all slices of the ADC maps to obtain histogram parameters, including ADCmean, ADCmedian, standard deviation (SD), skewness, kurtosis, quartile, ADC10, ADC25, ADC75, and ADC90. Histogram parameter differences between benign and malignant orbital tumors were compared. The diagnostic value of each significant parameter in predicting malignant tumors was established. RESULTS Age, ADCmean, ADCmedian, quartile, kurtosis, ADC10, ADC25, ADC75, and ADC90 parameters were significantly different between benign and malignant orbital tumor groups, while gender, location, SD, and skewness were not significantly different. The best diagnostic performance in predicting malignant orbital tumors was achieved at the threshold of ADC10=0.990 (AUC, 0.997; sensitivity, 96.2%; specificity, 100%). CONCLUSION Histogram analysis of ADC maps holds promise for differentiating benign and malignant orbital tumors. ADC10 has the potential to be the most significant parameter for predicting malignant orbital tumors.
Distribuição Espacial do Índice de Manejo do Carbono em Luvissolos sob Sistemas Agrícolas Tradicionais e Agroflorestais no Município de Sobral-CE

O objetivo desse estudo foi avaliar o indice de manejo de carbono (IMC) em sistemas agricolas convencionais e agroflorestais. A area experimental localiza-se na Fazenda Crioula, pertencente ao Centro Nacional de Pesquisa de Caprinos da EMBRAPA, no municipio de Sobral-CE. Foram selecionadas as seguintes areas: Agrissilvipastoril, Silvipastoril, Tradicional 1, Tradicional 2, Cultivo Intensivo em Pousio, Vegetacao Natural 1 e Vegetacao Natural 2. A area estudada foi georeferenciada e as amostras foram coletadas em transectos a profundidade de 0-5 cm a cada 20, 10 ou 5 m de acordo com o relevo. O Indice de Manejo de Carbono foi determinado a partir do estoque e da labilidade do carbono orgânico particulado e associado. Os resultados foram avaliados atraves de medidas descritivas e tecnicas geoestatisticas. As areas sob manejo agroflorestal apresentaram um maior IMC confirmando a eficiencia dos sistemas agroflorestais em aumentar o estoque de carbono no solo e a variabilidade espacial.
Rethinking “Harmonious Parenting” Using a Three-factor Discipline Model

Diana Baumrind's typology of parenting is based on a two-factor model of “control” and “warmth”. Her recommended discipline style, labeled “authoritative parenting”, was constructed by taking high scores on these two factors. A problem with authoritative parenting is that it does not allow for flexible and differentiated responses to discipline situations. It is argued that a simpler, and more adequate, approach would be to switch to a model of discipline with a third factor, labeled “tolerance”. Parents of the most socially competent children are adept at knowing when they have a problem and when they do not. An example of the latter would be when a child expresses negative affect while complying fully with a request. Baumrind's notion of authoritative parenting was a useful “dialectic”, demonstrating that control and warmth are independent and equally necessary behaviors, but it did not go far enough. Baumrind's category of harmonious parenting (high warmth, moderate control, high tolerance), which she sees as an anomaly, should be substituted for authoritative parenting as the preferred discipline pattern.