Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Pollen histochemistry and pollen : ovule ratios in Zingiberaceae.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS Pollen grains of 37 species from 11 genera in the family Zingiberaceae were examined to assess qualitatively starch or lipid contents; the pollen grain and ovule numbers per flower and pollen : ovule ratios were also counted and calculated. Pollen : ovule ratios were studied to reveal patterns of variation in the Zingiberaceae. METHODS Freshly open flowers with dehiscing anthers were collected at random from plants growing in natural habitats or in botanical gardens. Presence of lipids or starch in pollen grains was tested by Sudan solution and IKI solution, respectively, and examined under a microscope. To estimate the pollen and ovule numbers per flower, one anther from each bud was carefully dissected and all pollen grains were counted; ovaries were carefully dissected out of each flower and counted. Whenever possible, at least 10-15 buds were used in the determination. KEY RESULTS Thirty-three of all the 37 species examined had starchy pollen. Starch was not found in only four species and lipid was not found in only one species; among the four tribes in subfamily Zingiberoideae, all species of Zingibereae and Globbeae had pollen with no starch, Alpineae and Hedychieae had pollen with and without starch, whereas, all species of subfamily Costoideae had starchy pollen with abundant lipids. The mean pollen : ovule ratios in the members of the Zingiberaceae investigated range from 3.25 +/- 1.56 to 616.52 +/- 117.83. CONCLUSIONS The pollen nutrition types seemed not related to mating systems. The pollen : ovule ratios in members of the Zingiberaceae with the same breeding system are noticeably lower than those recorded by previous authors. The lower pollen : ovule ratios in this family are presumed to be related to the highly efficient pollination systems, mediated by pollen which can be quite glutinous and the relatively large stigma area. In most of the Alpinia species the anaflexistylous flowers have much larger numbers of pollen grains and higher pollen : ovule ratios than the cataflexistylous flowers. There are significant differences in mean pollen grain numbers and pollen : ovule ratios between different life forms but ovule numbers are approximately the same.
Effect of International Working Experience of Individual Auditors on Audit Quality: Evidence from China

This paper investigates the effects of auditors with international working experience on audit quality in emerging markets. Such auditors are associated with better audit quality, a pattern that is further supported by an examination based on a propensity score matching sample that controls for endogeneity. Chief financial officers with international experience are more conservative in the client company of their auditors who have international working experience. Further, reviewer partners with international working experience provide better audit quality in terms of low accruals, less below-the-line items, and less audit reporting aggressiveness, while engagement partners with international working experience require high audit fees. Moreover, financial reports signed by auditors with international working experience significantly increase analyst forecast accuracy and decrease analyst forecast dispersion. Our results are robust to different specifications and alternative measures. Overall, this paper highlights the importance of human capital and provides direct evidence on how auditors with international working experience use their knowledge and audit skills in emerging markets.
An efficient vision-based traffic light detection and state recognition for autonomous vehicles

Traffic Light Detection(TLD) and understanding their state semantics at intersections plays a pivotal role in driver assistance systems and, by extension, autonomous vehicles. Despite of several reliable traffic light state detection approaches in literature, traffic light state recognition still remains an open problem due to outdoor perception challenge which includes occlusions, illumination and scale variations. This paper presents a vision-based traffic light structure detection and convolutional neural network (CNN) based state recognition method, which is robust under different illumination and weather conditions. In the first step, traffic light candidate regions are generated by performing HSV based color segmentation, which are then filtered out using shape and area analysis. Further, in order to incorporate the structural information of traffic light in diverse background scenarios, Maximally Stable Extremal Region (MSER) approach is employed, which helps to localize the correct traffic light structure in the image. To further validate the traffic light candidate regions, Histogram of Oriented Gradients (HOG) features are extracted for each region and traffic light structures are validated using Support Vector Machine (SVM). The state of the traffic lights are then recognized using CNN. To evaluate the performance of the proposed method, we present several results under a variety of lighting conditions in a real-world environment. Experimental result shows that the proposed method outperforms other vision based conventional methods under varying light and weather conditions.
Equity of use of specialist palliative care by age: cross-sectional study of lung cancer patients

The equitable provision of care is a core principle of the National Health Service. Previous research has suggested that older cancer patients may be less likely to use specialist palliative care, but such research has been limited by retrospective design and the failure to measure clinical need. The objective of this study was to examine the extent to which the use of specialist palliative care in lung cancer patients varies by age, after accounting for need. A cross-sectional survey of patients and their carers attending four hospital lung cancer clinics in London was conducted between June 2006 and April 2007. Two hundred and fifty-two patients and 137 carers participated in the study. Thirty-nine percent of participants received specialist palliative care. Metastatic disease, global quality of life and the clinic where treatment was provided were associated with use of specialist palliative care. Age, gender, deprivation, living alone, current or most recent line of treatment, number of co-morbidities and carer stress were not associated with receipt of such services. This suggests that, for patients within the specialist cancer care system, access to specialist palliative care is offered on the basis of need.
Heterogeneous Circulating Angiogenic Cell Responses to Acute Maximal Exercise.

PURPOSE Circulating angiogenic cells (CAC) comprise multiple subpopulations of exercise-inducible peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) that promote angiogenesis and maintain endothelial integrity. We examined the effect of acute maximal exercise on CD31, CD62E, CD14/CD31, CD34/VEGFR2, CD3/CD31, and CD3 PBMC in young, healthy adults. METHODS Blood samples were collected before and immediately after a graded treadmill exercise test for CAC analysis via flow cytometry. RESULTS Maximal exercised produced 40%, 29%, 33%, 14%, and 33% increases in lymphocytic CD31, monolymphocytic CD31, CD62E, CD14/CD31, and CD34/VEGFR2 PBMC, respectively (P < 0.05). CD3/CD31 and CD3 cells were not altered with exercise. CD62E and CD14/CD31 PBMC were selectively augmented in women by 54% and 20%, respectively (P < 0.05). Exploratory analyses indicated that maximal exercise induced greater increases in CD62E and CD14/CD31 PBMC among women in the luteal phase compared with those in the follicular phase (P < 0.05). Basal lymphocytic PBMC and postexercise lymphocytic and monolymphocytic CD31 PBMC were lower among contraceptive users than nonusers. CONCLUSIONS Maximal exercise induces a robust CAC response encompassing both progenitor and nonprogenitor cell types, with these effects differing between men and women for CD62E and CD14/CD31 cell types and the potential influence of menstrual cycle phase and contraceptive use.
Core–periphery relationships and the sustainability paradox of small island tourism

ABSTRACT Since the mid-twentieth century, small islands have emerged as important tourist destinations, whether as island-states (Barbados, Fiji), island dependencies (Guadeloupe, Jersey) or state-islands (Okinawa, Cozumel). A longstanding core–periphery narrative holds that small islands are geographically and economically marginal entities fated to spawn homogeneous tourism monocultures within contexts of persistent external dependency. However, further investigation reveals several attendant and pervasive paradoxes which challenge this conventional thinking. This paper outlines these as the juxtaposition of (a) geographic peripherality and experiential core, (b) economic marginality and tourism centrality, (c) tourism monocultures and opportunistic innovation, (d) geopolitical dependency and optimal autonomy and (e) tourism homogeneity and cultural/ecological distinctiveness. A resultant ‘virtuous periphery syndrome’, the product of both necessity and endowment, positions small islands as sites of impressive resilience and innovation capable of providing peak experiences that support robust tourism sectors within contexts of balanced autonomy and cultural distinctiveness. Resolution-based dialectics allow the positive elements of both core and periphery to be identified and combined towards achieving the ideal of enlightened mass tourism.
Beyond the Tweedie Reserving Model: The Collective Approach to Loss Development

This article proposes a new loss reserving approach, inspired from the collective model of risk theory. According to the collective paradigm, we do not relate payments to specific claims or policies, but we work within a frequency-severity setting, with a number of payments in every cell of the run-off triangle, together with the corresponding paid amounts. Compared to the Tweedie reserving model, which can be seen as a compound sum with Poisson-distributed number of terms and Gamma-distributed summands, we allow here for more general severity distributions, typically mixture models combining a light-tailed component with a heavier-tailed one, including inflation effects. The severity model is fitted to individual observations and not to aggregated data displayed in run-off triangles with a single value in every cell. In that respect, the modeling approach appears to be a powerful alternative to both the crude traditional aggregated approach based on triangles and the extremely detailed individual reserving approach developing each and every claim separately. A case study based on a motor third-party liability insurance portfolio observed over 2004–2014 is used to illustrate the relevance of the proposed approach.
Bone marrow histopathology in primary myelofibrosis: Clinical and haematologic correlations and prognostic evaluation

Abstract: In 51 patients with primary myelofibrosis the initial bone marrow biopsy findings were evaluated by morphometric methods, correlated with the patients' main clinical and haematologic data and analysed for prognostic significance. The high variability of the marrow features was the most striking finding of the morphologic study. The only remarkable clinico‐pathological correlation was that found between the extent of stromal proliferation in the bone marrow and the number of WBC precursors in peripheral blood. Classical bone marrow histologic patterns did not correlate with the main clinical or haematologic data nor did they influence the patients' survival. Finally, collagen fibrosis and abnormal clusters of immature myeloid precursors were the only histologic features showing an unfavourable prognostic significance at the multivariate study.
In Vitro and In Vivo Transfection of Melanoma Cells B16-F10 Mediated by Cholesterol-based Cationic Liposomes

In vitro and in vivo transgene expression in B16-F10 melanoma cells has been investigated using an original cationic liposome prepared with triethyl aminopropane carbamoyl cholesterol iodide (TEAPC-Chol) as carrier. TEAPC-Chol/DOPE (dioleoyl phosphatidyl ethanolamine) liposomes are unilamellar, very stable and not toxic in the used concentration range. The yield in complexation with plasmid DNA can reach 100% even in the presence of fetal calf serum. The transfection level has been evaluated by luminometric measurements of luciferase expression. With TEAPC-Chol/DOPE (1:1) liposomes, a relatively high transfection level in B16-F10 cells has been observed comparing to commercial reagents. For in vivo assays, the transfection level in tumors induced in Nude mice has been optimized by studying the effects of charge ratio, of the helper lipid and of the injection volume. Results showed that TEAPC-Chol/DOPE (1:1) liposomes have improved 10-fold transfection level versus direct gene transfer of free DNA.
Four-Year Follow-Up Study of Sleep and Psychiatric Symptoms in Preadolescents: Relationship of Persistent and Temporary Sleep Problems to Psychiatric Symptoms

ABSTRACT. The course of sleep disturbances in preadolescents was assessed during a 4-year follow-up, and psychiatric problems associated with persistent and temporary sleep problems were investigated in an epidemiological setting. A representative random sample of 1,290 children, their parents, and school teachers filled out various questionnaires when the children were aged 8 and 12 years. Response rates to the relevant items varied between 66.8% and 81.2%. Parental reports of sleep problems decreased from 23.4% to 9.1% during the 4-year period, whereas children's reports remained steady at 18%. Persistent sleep disturbances were found in 12% of children, and 33.3% of sleep problems reported at age 8 were continued. Both current and persistent sleep disturbances were associated with the broad range of mental health problems reported by teachers. However, multivariate modeling suggested that especially current sleep problems were associated with an increased risk for psychiatric problems (odds ratio [OR] 2.45; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.20–4.99), particularly emotional problems (OR 2.92; 95% CI 1.58–5.38).
A common-gate switched, 0.9 W class-E power amplifier with 41% PAE in 0.25 /spl mu/m CMOS

A power amplifier (PA) has been implemented in a standard 0.25 /spl mu/m CMOS technology and shown to deliver 0.9 W output power to 50 /spl Omega/ load with 41% power added efficiency (PAE) from a 1.8 V supply. The PA employs the class-E configuration with finite DC-feed inductance and common-gate switching scheme to achieve high efficiency and not to stress the active devices.
Depression among patients with end-stage renal disease in hemodialysis

Depression is frequent in end-stage renal disease (ESRD) and predicts mortality in dialysis patients. The aim of this study was to investigate the occurrence of depression among patients on hemodialysis. We conducted an observational cross-sectional study at two hemodialysis centres in the metropolitan area of Fortaleza, Ceará, Brazil, between September and October 2010. The occurrence of depression was evaluated according to Beck Depression Inventory II. Among 148 patients interviewed, the mean age was 46 ± 13 years and 54% were male. The average time on dialysis was 5.3 ± 5.2 years. Depression was found in 101 (68.2%) cases. Depression was classified as mild (49.5%), moderate (41.5%) and severe (9%). Only 15.5% had prior depression diagnosis. Follow-up with Psychologist was being done in only 32.4% of cases. Patients with depression had a higher frequency of antidepressant use (20.7% vs. 4.2%, p = .01) and benzodiazepines (33.6% vs. 8.5%, p = .001). Among patients using antidepressant, improvement of symptoms was reported by 81.6%. Depression is one potentially modifiable risk factor in ESRD. The investigation and multidisciplinary approach of depression should be part of routine evaluation of patients on dialysis.
Atlanto-occipital fusion: an osteological study with clinical implications.

BACKGROUND Atlanto-occipital fusion may be symptomatic or asymptomatic in nature. The anomaly may be incidentally detected at autopsies or during routine cadaveric dissections. The fusion of the atlas with occipital bone may result in the compression of vertebral artery and first cervical nerve. METHODS A total of 55 dried occipital bones in the Department of Anatomy, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) and Department of Anatomy, Universiti Malaya (UM) were included in the study. The presence of atlantooccipital fusion was closely observed and morphometric measurements were taken. RESULTS Out of 55 dried occipital bones studied, we observed atlanto-occiptalization in two bones (3.63 %). A total of 53 occipital bones (96.37 %) did not exhibit any anomalous fusions. Out of the two anomalous atlanto-occiptal fusions, one was complete while the other had unilateral right-sided fusion of the atlas with the occipital bone. CONCLUSION Atlanto-occipitalization may result in the compression of vertebral artery thereby influencing the blood flow to the brain. Atlanto-occipitalization may also result in compression of the first cervical nerve. The action of the postural muscles on the extensor surface may be affected as a result of this anomaly. The present article discusses the clinical implications of atlanto-occipitalization, which may be beneficial for neurosurgeons, neurologists and radiologists in day-to-day clinical practice (Fig. 3, Ref. 17).
When speculators meet constructors : positive and negative feedback in experimental housing markets

Asset markets are characterized by positive feedback through speculative demand. But housing markets distinguish themselves from other asset markets in that the supply of housing is endogenous, and adds negative feedback to the market. We design an experimental housing market and study how the strength of the negative feedback, i.e., the supply elasticity, a ects market stability. In the absence of endogenous housing supply, the experimental markets exhibit large bubbles and crashes because speculators coordinate on trend-following expectations. When the positive feedback through speculative demand is o set by the negative feedback of elastic housing supply the market stabilizes and prices converge to fundamental value. Individual expectations and aggregate market outcome is well described by a behavioral forecasting heuristics model. Our results suggest that negative feedback policies may stabilize speculative asset bubbles.
The impact of foot massage and guided relaxation following cardiac surgery: a randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND Because of the widely presumed association between heart disease and psychological wellbeing, the use of so-called 'complementary' therapies as adjuncts to conventional treatment modalities have been the subject of considerable debate. The present study arose from an attempt to identify a safe and effective therapeutic intervention to promote wellbe ing, which could be practicably delivered by nurses to patients in the postoperative recovery period following coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery. Aim. To investigate the impact of foot massage and guided relaxation on the wellbeing of patients who had undergone CABG surgery. METHOD Twenty-five subjects were randomly assigned to either a control or one of two intervention groups. Psychological and physical variables were measured immediately before and after the intervention. A discharge questionnaire was also administered. RESULTS No significant differences between physiological parameters were found. There was a significant effect of the intervention on the calm scores (ANOVA, P=0.014). Dunnett's multiple comparison showed that this was attributable to increased calm among the massage group. Although not significant the guided relaxation group also reported substantially higher levels of calm than control. There was a clear (nonsignificant) trend across all psychological variables for both foot massage and, to a lesser extent, guided relaxation to improve psychological wellbeing. Both interventions were well received by the subjects. CONCLUSIONS These interventions appear to be effective, noninvasive techniques for promoting psychological wellbeing in this patient group. Further investigation is indicated.
Efficient Fractionation and Improved Protein Identification by Peptide OFFGEL Electrophoresis*S

The sample fractionation steps conducted prior to mass detection are critically important for the comprehensive analysis of complex protein mixtures. This paper illustrates the effectiveness of OFFGEL electrophoresis with the Agilent 3100 OFFGEL Fractionator for the fractionation of peptides. An Escherichia coli tryptic digest was separated in 24 fractions, and peptides were identified by reversed-phase liquid chromatography on a microfluidic device with mass spectrometric detection. About 90% of the identified individual peptides were found in only one or two fractions. The distribution of the calculated isoelectric points for the peptides identified in each fraction was especially narrow in the acidic pH range. Standard deviations approached the size of the pH segment covered by the respective fraction. The experimental peptide isoelectric point measured by OFFGEL electrophoresis was used as an additional filter for validation of peptide identifications.
Maternal Temperature Monitoring During Labor: Concordance and Variability Among Monitoring Sites

OBJECTIVE: Elevated maternal temperature in labor is associated with adverse immediate and long-term neonatal outcomes. Conventional methods of temperature measurement may not reflect the intrauterine temperature, which constitutes the fetal environment. The purpose of this study was to ascertain the most reliable noninvasive method of temperature monitoring in labor that would best reflect changes in intrauterine temperature. METHODS: Women in labor receiving epidural analgesia had temperature readings taken every 10 seconds from the uterine cavity, ear canal, and skin surface of the leg and abdomen and hourly from the mouth. RESULTS: Eighteen patients were studied for a mean of 228 minutes (range 56–464 minutes). The best indicator of intrauterine temperature was oral temperature, with a mean intraclass correlation coefficient of 0.6 (95% confidence interval 0.42, 0.77). On average, oral temperature underestimated intrauterine temperature by 0.8°C (95% confidence interval 0.7°C, 1°C). Allowing for this, oral temperature greater than 37.2°C detected an intrauterine temperature greater than 38°C with a sensitivity of 81% and a specificity of 96%. The intraclass correlation coefficients of all other sites with intrauterine temperature were poor (0.1 or less). As expected, the temperature at all sites increased as labor progressed. CONCLUSION: Oral temperature, measured carefully, has an acceptable correlation with intrauterine temperature and is recommended for routine detection of maternal pyrexia in labor. Continuous skin and external auditory canal temperature measurements did not correlate well. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: II-3
Lung cancer in association with human immunodeficiency virus infection

The association of lung cancer and infection by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is uncommon. This report and critical review of the medical literature defines a clinical profile of 22 patients affected with this uncommon association. This clinical profile includes young age (median, 38 years), intravenous drug abuse (14 of 22 patients), preponderance of adenocarcinoma over other cell subtypes (11 of 22 patients), and advanced clinical stage at presentation (10 of 15 patients with staging data had Stage III or IV disease). This study also examines a possible increased risk for lung cancer in patients infected by HIV. Continued surveillance and reporting of lung tumors (other than lymphomas and Kaposi sarcomas) in patients infected by HIV should help to define the frequency of the association and the validity of the clinical profile. Cancer 1992; 70:432–436.