Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Utility of Bone Marrow Examination in Pediatric Age Group: Experience of a Tertiary Healthcare Centre in India

Introduction Bone marrow is involved in various haematological and non-haematological conditions in the paediatric age group. To understand and analyse the underlying etiology, bone marrow examination, including both bone marrow aspiration and trephine biopsy, forms an important diagnostic tool. It helps to differentiate proliferative disorders of the myeloid and lymphoid series, find out their prognosis based on severity, and assess their status before therapy is started. It also aids in staging and in the detection of infiltration of the marrow by foreign cells. The spectrum of disorders affecting the marrow in children ranges from common disorders like nutritional deficiency anaemia to serious conditions like leukaemia. Their line of management, severity, and prognosis differ from the bone marrow lesions found in adults. The present study was done to demonstrate the utility of bone marrow examination in the paediatric age group, to demonstrate its contribution to the final diagnosis of the patient, and to list and study the various lesions encountered in this age group in a tertiary care teaching hospital and for better understanding of clinicopathological features and microscopy, suggesting variation with or convergence with literature. Material and methods This was an observational study with a combination of retrospective and prospective studies, carried out over a period of six years, from January 2014 to December 2019. All bone marrow aspiration and biopsy samples received in the surgical pathology department of our tertiary healthcare centre during the study period of patients between zero and 18 years of age were included. Samples obtained at autopsy and samples where the tissue was diluted or the marrow was inadequate were excluded from the study. Detailed histomorphology was studied in all cases, and the data obtained was recorded in an excel sheet. The descriptive statistics were expressed in terms of numbers and percentages. The study was ethically approved by the Ethics and Research Committee of our hospital before the commencement of the study. Results The maximum number of marrows were performed in the age group of 12-18 years, followed by six to 12 years. The most common indication for performing bone marrow examination was ‘evaluation of cytopenias’, followed by ‘suspected/to rule out haematological malignancy’. A male predominance was found. Overall and amongst neoplastic lesions, acute leukaemia was the commonest diagnosis in the bone marrow. Infections were the second most common lesion overall and the commonest non-neoplastic lesion encountered. Conclusion The spectrum of lesions requiring bone marrow examination in the paediatric age group is of varied etiologies. Bone marrow examination in children is useful in understanding the pathogenesis, establishing a tissue diagnosis, ruling out haematological malignancies and other causes of cytopenias, planning further lines of investigations and management, and knowing the response to therapy and prognosis.
Aquatic and Terrestrial Plant Contributions to Sedimentary Plant Waxes in a Modern Arctic Lake Setting

Sedimentary plant wax δ2H values are common proxies for hydrology, a poorly constrained variable in the Arctic. However, it can be difficult to distinguish plant waxes derived from aquatic versus terrestrial plants, causing uncertainty in climate interpretations. We test the hypothesis that Arctic lake sediment mid‐ and long‐chain plant waxes derive from aquatic and terrestrial plants, respectively. We compare n‐alkanoic acid and n‐alkane chain‐length distributions and n‐alkanoic acid δ2H and δ13C values of the 29 most abundant modern plant taxa to those for soils, water filtrates, and lake sediments in the Qaupat Lake (QPT) catchment, Nunavut, Canada. Chain length distributions are variable among terrestrial plants, but similar and dominated by mid‐chain waxes among submerged/floating aquatic plants. Sedimentary wax distributions are similar to those in submerged/floating aquatic plants and to Salix spp. , which are among the most abundant terrestrial plants in the QPT catchment. Mid‐chain n‐alkanoic acid δ2H values are similar in sediments and submerged/floating aquatic plants, but 50‰ lower than Salix spp. In contrast, sedimentary long‐chain n‐alkanoic acid δ2H values fall between those for submerged/floating aquatic plants and Salix spp. We therefore infer that mid‐chain waxes in QPT are primarily from aquatic plants, whereas long‐chain waxes are from a mix of terrestrial and aquatic plants. In Arctic lakes like QPT, terrestrial wax transport via leaf litter and surface flow is limited by low‐lying topography and sparse vegetation. If these lakes also have abundant aquatic plants growing near the sediment‐water interface, the aquatic plants can contribute large portions of sedimentary waxes.
Supraharmonic Emissions from DC Grid Connected Wireless Power Transfer Converters

Power converters for wireless power transfer (WPT) and, in general, for electrical vehicle charging are evolving in terms of nominal power and performance, bringing along non negligible emissions in the supraharmonic range (2 kHz to 150 kHz). The large installed power and the high concentration with a relatively short separation distance can be addressed by feeding the converters through a DC grid for better dynamic response and lower impedance. The prediction of conducted emissions in real supply conditions requires carrying out measurements with low impedance values, lower than those available in line impedance stabilization networks (LISNs) for AC grids. This work proposes an approach to extrapolate converter emissions in an ideal 0 Ω condition, that together with the input impedance curve (determined by a least mean square approach) form a Norton equivalent circuit of the converter. The interaction of the converters with the DC grid and superposition of emissions can be then thoroughly evaluated by means of a general ladder grid scheme to which the Norton equivalents are connected. Such a grid model is suitable for Monte Carlo simulation aimed at assessing the degree of compensation between sources of emissions and the overall network distortion. Results using a Simulink model are provided considering emissions aggregation and compensation under random phase conditions for the following cases: close-by and separated sources (5 m and 100 m cable separation, respectively); increased number of sources studying scenarios with 3 and 10 sources; and using different resolution bandwidth values (200 Hz and 500 Hz) against a random change of the frequency of the emission components.
Comparative Study of Repertoire Classification Methods Reveals Data Efficiency of k -mer Feature Extraction

The repertoire of T cell receptors encodes various types of immunological information. Machine learning is indispensable for decoding such information from repertoire datasets measured by next-generation sequencing (NGS). In particular, the classification of repertoires is the most basic task, which is relevant for a variety of scientific and clinical problems. Supported by the recent appearance of large datasets, efficient but data-expensive methods have been proposed. However, it is unclear whether they can work efficiently when the available sample size is severely restricted as in practical situations. In this study, we demonstrate that their performances can be impaired substantially below critical sample sizes. To complement this drawback, we propose MotifBoost, which exploits the information of short k-mer motifs of TCRs. MotifBoost can perform the classification as efficiently as a deep learning method on large datasets while providing more stable and reliable results on small datasets. We tested MotifBoost on the four small datasets which consist of various conditions such as Cytomegalovirus (CMV), HIV, α-chain, β-chain and it consistently preserved the stability. We also clarify that the robustness of MotifBoost can be attributed to the efficiency of k-mer motifs as representation features of repertoires. Finally, by comparing the predictions of these methods, we show that the whole sequence identity and sequence motifs encode partially different information and that a combination of such complementary information is necessary for further development of repertoire analysis.
Physical-Layer Security for Indoor VLC Wiretap Systems Under Multipath Reflections

In this paper, we consider the physical-layer security for single-input single-output (SISO) indoor visible light communication (VLC) wiretap systems in the presence of multipath reflections. We derive both the lower and upper bounds on the secrecy capacity in the context of both the symbol- and block-based transmission policies. To enhance the secrecy performance relying on block transmission policy, we propose a low-complexity amplitude scaling (AS) scheme by scaling the amplitudes of different symbols in each block to maximize the achievable secrecy rate. We further provide the upper bound on the optimal secrecy rate achieved by precoding for the sake of validating the effectiveness of the proposed AS scheme. Numerical results suggest that the secrecy performance is severely degraded by inter-symbol interference (ISI) imposed by multipath reflections, which yet can be alleviated by long-block based transmission. Moreover, the proposed AS scheme can enhance the secrecy performance significantly and achieve a secrecy rate very close to the optimal solution.
Effect of fermentation on biological functionality of cookies from fermented whole grain sorghum

Abstract This study aimed to obtain sorghum doughs subjected to two fermentation processes (backslopping and spontaneous fermentation techniques) with enhanced biological properties and to assess their influence on the bioaccessibility of phenolic compounds and Ferulic Acid (FA) of cookies formulated from fermented sorghum doughs. The best contents of Total Phenols (TP) (µgGAE/g) were 700.9 ± 7.6/36 h and 484.3 ± 6.1/48 h in sorghum doughs fermented by the backslopping and spontaneous fermentation techniques, respectively. The FA values (µg/g) in sorghum doughs fermented by backslopping techniques were significantly higher than those in spontaneous fermentation (21.2 ± 0.27/20 h versus 18.14 ± 0.12/12 h). Cookies formulated from selected sorghum-fermented doughs showed higher bioaccessibility of TP and FA than cookies formulated from nonfermented doughs. High bioaccessibility values for TP were found in cookie digests formulated from sorghum doughs fermented by backslopping and spontaneous processes at 36 h and 12 h, respectively. In contrast, high bioaccessibility values for FA were found in cookie digests formulated from sorghum doughs fermented by backslopping and spontaneous processes at 20 h and 48 h, respectively. The formulation of cookies with fermented sorghum doughs could be a suitable methodology for the prevention of several chronic nontransmissible diseases.
Lattice and magnetic structures of PrFeAsO, PrFeAsO{sub 0.85}F{sub 0.15}, and PrFeAsO{sub 0.85}

We use powder neutron diffraction to study the spin and lattice structures of polycrystalline samples of nonsuperconducting PrFeAsO and superconducting PrFeAsO{sub 0.85}F{sub 0.15} and PrFeAsO{sub 0.85}. We find that PrFeAsO exhibits abrupt structural phase transitions at 153 K followed by static long-range antiferromagnetic order at 127 K. Both the structural distortion and magnetic order are similar to other rare-earth oxypnictides. Electron doping the system with either fluorine or oxygen deficiency suppresses the structural distortion and static long-range antiferromagnetic order, therefore placing these materials into the same class of FeAs-based superconductors.
Spin dynamics and opto-electronic properties of some novel semiconductor systems

A set of problems pertaining to quantum information processing in semiconductors is investigated. Two schemes for implementing electronic qubits in strong and weak three dimensional quantum confinement regimes are studied along with their related electronic properties. Recent experiments motivated us to calculate electronic properties and g factors for nanowhisker quantum dots. These calculations were done using 8 band strain dependent k.p theory on a 3D grid and are in excellent agreement with experiment. It has been observed that the growth conditions cause the nanowhiskers to crystallize in wurtzite(WZ) form instead of their stable-phase zinc-blende bulk structure. Very little is known about the WZ phase of non-nitride III-V semiconductors as they do not naturally occur. We have therefore also predicted the electronic bandstructure and optical properties of nine III-V semiconductors in the WZ phase using transferable empirical pseudopotentials. Apart from quantum dots, the spin of an electron bound to an atomic impurity is an attractive candidate for quantum information processing as they do not suffer from structural uncertainties. This makes spin of an electron bound to a hydrogenic impurity an attractive candidate for a qubit as it possess the biggest radii of any ionic bound states in the solid and is a natural two state system. We have calculated the electric and magnetic field dependent modulation of the g tensor for a single Silicon donor embedded in a GaAs substrate. The spin dynamics of the weakly bound electron exhibits an unusual nonlinear behavior, which is not seen in structures with strong quantum confinement such as quantum dots. Abstract Approved: Thesis SupervisorApproved: Thesis Supervisor Title and Department
Implementation of Risk-Aggregated Substation Testbed Using Generative Adversarial Networks

Capturing the anomalies of a cyber system in power control networks would promote operational awareness. Correlation of such events, e.g., intrusion attempts, traffic flow, and other signatures, together with control alarm events gives operators an in-depth understanding in order to make an informed decision. This paper proposes a threat inference framework to promote real-time vulnerability assessment associated with cyber intrusions on power communication networks. Wasserstein Generative Adversarial Networks (WGAN) is proposed to estimate the performance of the adversarial model. Additionally, a machine-learning framework is introduced to model the filtering process of the security devices, i.e., firewalls, isolation, and encryption devices, and the posterior fitting method is incorporated to establish an accurate probabilistic formulation. Finally, a testbed is established to coordinate system evaluation. Verification of the intrusion model is part of the implementation to quantify system risks based on the anomalies using (1) the open-source emulator, and (2) an externally imported system analyzer to characterize resulting impacts. The effectiveness and feasibility of the generative models are verified in a comparison study where the proper parameter settings could be obtained. The proposed framework is justified with extensive studies of substation networks using real-world settings.
Identifying the Wage Differential in the Temporary Employment Services Sector: Evidence for South Africa using Administrative Tax Records

Abstract Although the temporary employment services (TES) or labour broker sector has been growing in recent decades, and there has been much heated public debate on whether the jobs offered constitute ‘decent work’, there has been little empirical research on this sector in developing countries. In this paper, we use a unique administrative panel dataset based on income tax records for the period 2011–2015 in South Africa, to explore the wage and benefits differentials between TES and non-TES workers. We find a substantial gross wage differential of around 88 per cent, which remains high at 34 per cent even after accounting for worker fixed effects and controlling for the individual and job characteristics available in the data. We also show that TES workers are much less likely to report benefit contributions than non-TES workers, and when they do, their contributions as a percentage of the gross wage are on average much lower than among non-TES workers. These results add substance to the arguments that TES workers are in a more precarious position than non-TES workers, and that this form of employment contributes to high levels of labour market inequality in South Africa.
Internal Control System, Whistleblowing System, Organizational Commitment and Fraud Prevention: Individual Morality as A Moderating Variable

The purpose of this study is to examine the effect of the internal control system, whistleblowing system, and organizational commitment to fraud through individual morality as moderation. This research is associative descriptive research. The population used is all permanent employees of Bank BNI Tulungagung with a sampling form of convenience sampling set by the researcher as many as 55 respondents. The analysis method of this research is PLS analysis through SEM approach by utilizing SmartPLS 3.0 software. The results showed that the internal control system had a significant effect on fraud prevention. However, the whistleblowing system and organizational commitment do not affect fraud prevention. Individual morality weakens the relationship of the internal control system to fraud prevention.
Physicochemical, Textural, and Sensorial Properties of Soy Yogurt as Affected by Addition of Low Acyl Gellan Gum

Soy yogurt is plant-based dairy of great nutritional interest that is widely accepted in developing countries as a milk alternative. Poor stability has been an urgent problem to solve of soy yogurt products over past several years. The present study aimed to construct multiple network composite gel by adding low acyl gellan gum (LAG) to improve the stability. The effect of addition of LAG on property of soy yogurt was investigated by determining water holding capacity, texture, rheology, particle size, and zeta potential. The results showed that water holding capacity was significantly higher than control. The soy yogurt with 0.1% LAG had a stable gel network with much gel strength and viscosity, and strengthened interaction between complex gel. The addition of LAG increased the particle size and decreased zeta potential. Furthermore, sensory properties were acceptable. Therefore, during industrial production, LAG could act as an appropriate stabilizer to inhibit poor body and bring more desirable sensory characteristics of soy yogurt.
The role of drought stress on the acquisition of freezing tolerance in asparagus under controlled conditions

Abstract Cold acclimation induces freezing tolerance in asparagus (Asparagus officinalis L.), which is important for survival and longevity in temperate climates. Previous studies indicated that cultivar “Guelph Millennium” (GM), adapted to Southern Ontario, acquired freezing tolerance earlier in the fall and maintained it later in the spring than “UC157” (UC), a cultivar commonly grown in desert climates. As the drought and cold acclimation metabolic pathways overlap, the objective of this research was to determine whether drought alone induced freezing tolerance or interacted synergistically with cold temperatures. Seedlings of GM and UC were subjected to control, drought, or cold acclimating conditions for 6 weeks. Additional treatments included 6 weeks of drought or control conditions followed by 6 weeks of cold acclimation, and plants grown for 12 weeks under control conditions. LT50, the temperature at which 50% of plants die, and metabolites or parameters associated with freezing tolerance were measured. GM had decreased LT50 levels (increased freezing tolerance) compared with UC under both drought and cold acclimating conditions, and no cultivar differences were observed under control conditions. Drought stress before cold acclimation resulted in an increased LT50 (reduced freezing tolerance) for UC compared with GM. A high root:shoot ratio and low crown water percentage were associated with increased freezing tolerance in GM, while a high crown sucrose concentration in UC was related to decreased freezing tolerance for the drought treatment. Overall, drought stress induced cultivar-specific adaptations causing differences in freezing tolerance, thus confirming the interrelationship between these two physiological pathways.
Prevalence and Risk Factors of Vulvovaginal Candidosis during Pregnancy: A Review

Vulvovaginal candidosis (VVC) is a symptomatic vaginal yeast infection, especially caused by Candida spp. Although VVC is common among reproductive-age women, prevalence studies notice the uprise of vaginal Candida colonization to 30% during pregnancy by culture, especially in the last trimester. Recent studies have considered it a severe problem due to the emerging evidence showing the association of VVC with a higher chance of pregnancy-related complexities (e.g., preterm labor, premature rupture of membranes, congenital cutaneous candidosis, and chorioamnionitis). In this review, we have reassessed and summarized the prevalence rate of VVC in expecting mothers and analyzed the association of several factors to the increased risk of VVC during pregnancy in different regions of the world. Altogether, these data collected from various studies showed the highest prevalence of VVC during pregnancy, mostly in Asian and African countries (90.38%, 62.2%, and 61.5% in Kenya, Nigeria, and Yemen, respectively). The prevalence rate of VVC during pregnancy was also found to differ with age, gestation period, parity, educational status, and socioeconomic level. Some pregnancy-related factors (e.g., weakened immunity; elevated level of sex hormones, glycogen deposition; low vaginal pH; decreased cell-mediated immunity) and several clinical and behavioral factors can be suggested as potential risk factors of candidosis during pregnancy.
Clinical Utility of Genomic Assay in Node-Positive Early-Stage Breast Cancer

Breast cancer (BC) is the most common malignancy among women in Canada. Adjuvant treatment in early BC can reduce the risk of BC recurrence. Historically, the decision for adjuvant chemotherapy for early BC was made only based on clinical and tumour characteristics. In recent years, there has been an effort toward developing genomic assays as a predictive and prognostic tool to improve precision in estimating disease recurrence, sensitivity to systemic treatment and ultimately with clinical utility for guidance regarding adjuvant systemic treatment(s). There are various commercial genomic tests available for early-stage ER+/HER-2 negative BC. This paper will review the Oncotype DX 21-gene Recurrence Score (RS), MammaPrint, EndoPredict, Prosigna®, and Breast Cancer Index (BCI) genomic assays. We will also focus on these genomic assays’ clinical application and utility in node-positive early-stage BC based on the most recent evidence and guidance recommendations.