Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Impact of Preanalytical Factors on Fecal Immunochemical Tests: Need for New Strategies in Comparison of Methods

Background Harmonization of fecal immunochemical tests for hemoglobin (FIT-Hb) is crucial to compare clinical outcomes in screening programs. The lack of reference materials and standard procedures does not allow the use of usual protocols to compare methods. We propose 2 protocols, based on artificial biological samples (ABS), to discriminate preanalytical and analytical variation and investigate clinical performances. The protocols were used to compare 2 FIT systems available on European markets: the OC-Sensor Diana (Eiken, Tokyo, Japan) and HM-JACKarc (Kyowa-Medex, Tokyo, Japan). Methods ABS were obtained adding Hb to Hb-free feces. In the first procedure, 35 ABS were collected for each collection device and analyzed on both systems. In the second, 188 ABS (106 positive and 82 negative) were collected and tested on the specific systems. Passing-Bablock (PB), Pearson's correlation coefficients (R) and Bland-Altman difference analysis were used to compare data. Results PB, R and mean standard errors for Bland-Altman analysis (Diana vs. Arc) results were 0.93x-0.56: R = 0.97 and 19%; and 1.09x + 5.60: R = 0.96 and −18%; for Diana and Arc devices, respectively. No correlations and no difference in positive/negative assessment were observed with the second protocol. Conclusions A good correlation was observed in comparing data generated using collection devices on the 2 systems. Manufacturers have developed different sample collection procedures for feces: therefore, data from different systems cannot easily be compared. Adoption of protocols to discriminate preanalytical and analytical variation would be a significant contribution to harmonization of FIT, facilitating data comparison and information acquisition for sample collection strategy and effect of buffers on systems.
Pre-Migration Trauma and HIV-Risk Behavior

This study examined the relationship between pre-migration trauma and HIV-risk behavior in refugees from sub-Saharan Africa. The sample comprised 122 persons who had emigrated from sub-Saharan Africa and were currently residing in Sweden. Qualitative methods including individual interviews, focus groups, and interviews with key informants addressed questions regarding trauma experience and HIV-risk behavior. A history of pre-migration trauma was found to be associated with HIV-risk behavior. According to the participants, symptoms associated with post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, adjustment disorder, and substance use mediated the relationship between pre-migration trauma and sexual risk behavior. In contrast, a minority of the participants who reported pre-migration trauma but not psychological sequelae, or experienced post-traumatic growth, reported safer sexual practices. It appears that for some individuals, pre-migration trauma resulted in psychiatric sequelae, which may increase an individual's risk to be infected with HIV. Interventions targeted at individuals at increased risk (i.e. pre-migration trauma with unresolved psychiatric symptomatology) may facilitate the prevention of HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases in this population. Integration of multiple psychosocial and health issues is recommended for comprehensive treatment and prevention programs.
Multi-Class Error-Diffusion with Blue-noise Property

Error-diffusion is commonly used as a sampling algorithm over a single channel of input signal in existing researches. But there are cases where multiple channels of signal need to be sampled simultaneously while keeping their blue-noise property for each individual channel as well as their superimposition. To solve this problem, we propose a novel discrete sampling algorithm called Multi-Class Error-Diffusion (MCED). The algorithm couples multiple processes of error-diffusion to maintain a sampling output with blue-noise distribution. The correlation among the classes are considered and a threshold displacement is introduced into each process of error-diffusion for solving the sampling conflicts. To minimize the destruction to the blue-noise property, an optimization method is used to find a set of optimal key threshold displacements. Experiments demonstrate that our MCED algorithm is able to generate satisfactory multi-class sampling output. Several application cases including color image halftoning and vectorization are also explored.
Reassessment of the Predatory Effects of Rainbow Smelt on Ciscoes in Lake Superior

Abstract Evidence from small lakes suggests that predation on larval ciscoes Coregonus artedi by nonnative rainbow smelt Osmerus mordax can lead to cisco suppression or extirpation. However, evidence from larger lakes has led to equivocal conclusions. In this study, we examine the potential predation effects of rainbow smelt in two adjacent but contrasting embayments in Lake Superior (Thunder and Black bays, Ontario). During May 2006, we sampled the ichthyoplankton, pelagic fish communities, and diet composition of rainbow smelt in both bays. Using acoustics and midwater trawling, we estimated rainbow smelt densities to be 476 ± 34/ha (mean ± SE) in Thunder Bay and 3,435 ± 460/ha in Black Bay. We used a bioenergetics model to estimate the proportion of cisco larvae consumed by rainbow smelt. Our results suggest that predation by rainbow smelt accounts for 15–52% and 37–100% of the mortality of larval ciscoes in Thunder and Black bays, respectively, depending on the predator feeding rate and the scale of p.
Vitamin Dmetabolites and bonemineral density : The multi-ethnic study of atherosclerosis

a University of Washington, Kidney Research Institute, Seattle, WA, USA b Department of Medicine, University of California San Diego, San Diego, CA, USA c Los Angeles Biomedical Research Institute at Harbor-UCLA, Los Angeles, CA, USA d New York Academy of Medicine, New York, NY, USA e Department of Laboratory Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA f Department of Epidemiology, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA g Department of Public Health Sciences, Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, NC, USA
Comparison of Domain-Specific Lexicon Construction Methods for Sentiment Analysis

Rather than using general sentiment dictionaries, domain-specific sentiment dictionaries can contribute to improve prediction accuracy of setiment anlaysis. In this study, we suggest sentiment lexicon construction methods based on supervised learning. Four alternative supervised learning methods including SO-PMI (Semantic Oriented-Pointwise Mutual Information), conditional probability of words or polarity, and simply frequency-based method are compared using a movie review data set from IMDB (Internet Movie Data Base). The experimental results show that the sentiment dictionary which is constructed by conditional probability of polarity method provides the best performance to predict reviewers’ ratings among four methods.
Amplification of the PDGFRA, KIT and KDR genes in glioblastoma: a population‐based study

The aim of this study was to establish the frequency of amplification of tyrosine kinase receptor genes PDGFRA, KIT and KDR (VEGFR2) at 4q12 in glioblastomas at a population level, and to assess whether such alterations have any clinical impact. Screening of 390 glioblastomas from a population‐based study by differential PCR revealed amplification of the PDGFRA, KIT and KDR genes in 33 (8.5%), 17 (4.4%) and 13 (3.3%) glioblastomas, respectively. None of these alterations was prognostic for overall survival. Patients with glioblastoma showing KIT amplification were significantly younger than those with glioblastoma showing no amplification (51.7 ± 21.7 years vs. 59.3 ± 13.1 years; P = 0.0231). Twelve glioblastomas showed concurrent amplification of the PDGFRA, KIT and KDR genes, whereas 18 glioblastomas showed PDGFRA amplification only. A significant inverse association was observed between KIT amplification and EGFR amplification (P = 0.0260), whereas a borderline positive association was found between KIT amplification and TP53 mutation (P = 0.0579). No significant difference was observed in the frequency of amplification of these genes in primary and secondary glioblastomas or in glioblastomas with and without IDH1 mutations, suggesting that amplification of PDGFRA, KIT and KDR may be implicated in the pathogenesis of a small fraction of both subtypes of glioblastoma.
Bayesian Word Alignment and Phrase Table Training for Statistical Machine Translation

SUMMARY In most phrase-based statistical machine translation (SMT) systems, the translation model relies on word alignment, which serves as a constraint for the subsequent building of a phrase table. Word alignment is usually inferred by GIZA ++ , which implements all the IBM models and HMM model in the framework of Expectation Maximum (EM). In this paper, we present a fully Bayesian inference for word alignment. Di ﬀ erent from the EM approach, the Bayesian inference makes use of all possible parameter values rather than estimating a single parameter value, from which we expect a more robust inference. After inferring the word alignment, current SMT systems usually train the phrase table from Viterbi word alignment, which is prone to learn incorrect phrases due to the word alignment mistakes. To overcome this drawback, a new phrase extraction method is proposed based on multiple Gibbs samples from Bayesian inference for word alignment. Empirical results show promising improvements over baselines in alignment quality as well as the translation performance. key words:
Cytochrome cd 1, Reductive Activation and Kinetic Analysis of a Multifunctional Respiratory Enzyme*

Paracoccus pantotrophus cytochromecd 1 is an enzyme of bacterial respiration, capable of using nitrite in vivo and also hydroxylamine and oxygen in vitro as electron acceptors. We present a comprehensive analysis of the steady state kinetic properties of the enzyme with each electron acceptor and three electron donors, pseudoazurin and cytochrome c 550, both physiological, and the non-physiological horse heart cytochromec. At pH 5.8, optimal for nitrite reduction, the enzyme has a turnover number up to 121 s−1 perd 1 heme, significantly higher than previously observed for any cytochrome cd 1. Pre-activation of the enzyme via reduction is necessary to establish full catalytic competence with any of the electron donor proteins. There is no significant kinetic distinction between the alternative physiological electron donors in any respect, providing support for the concept of pseudospecificity, in which proteins with substantially different tertiary structures can transfer electrons to the same acceptor. A low level hydroxylamine disproportionase activity that may be an intrinsic property of cytochromes c is also reported. Important implications for the enzymology of P. pantotrophuscytochrome cd 1 are discussed and proposals are made about the mechanism of reduction of nitrite, based on new observations placed in the context of recent rapid reaction studies.
A (35 – 45) GHz low power direct-conversion Gilbert-cell mixer in 0.13µm GaAs pHEMT technology

This paper presents the design and performance of a (35 – 45)GHz low power Gilbert-cell mixer realized in 0. 13µm GaAs pHEMT technology dedicated to direct-conversion receivers. This mixer achieves moderate conversion gain (Gc = 4 ± 2dB) and high LO/RF isolation (ILO/RF >25dB) thanks to its double-balanced architecture. As for linearity, the circuit shows average performance with measured input 3rd order interception point (IIP3 = 3dBm) and input 1dB compression point (Pin@1dB = − 8dBm) at 42GHz. This mixer is mainly characterized both by low DC power consumption (PDC=57mW) and low LO power drive (PLO =−3dBm). Indeed, DC and LO levels required by other millimetre-wave Gilbert-cell mixers are generally much higher. This 2mm×1.5mm chip, that was fabricated using the D01PH (0.13µm GaAs depletion mode pHEMT) process provided by the OMMIC foundry is one of the very few millimetre-wave Gilbert-cell mixers realized in GaAs pHEMT technology published so far.
Inhibition of HSP27 blocks fibrosis development and EMT features by promoting Snail degradation

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a devastating disease characterized by myofibroblast proliferation. Transition of epithelial/mesothelial cells into myofibroblasts [epithelial‐to‐mesenchymal transition (EMT)] occurs under the influence of transforming growth factor (TGF)‐β1, with Snail being a major transcription factor. We study here the role of the heat‐shock protein HSP27 in fibrogenesis and EMT. In vitro, we have up‐ and down‐modulated HSP27 expression in mesothelial and epithelial cell lines and studied the expression of different EMT markers induced by TGF‐β1. In vivo, we inhibited HSP27 with the antisense oligonucleotide OGX‐427 (in phase II clinical trials as anticancer agent) in our rat subpleural/pulmonary fibrosis models. We demonstrate that HSP27 is strongly expressed during the fibrotic process in patients with IPF and in different in vivo models. We showed that HSP27 binds to and stabilizes Snail and consequently induces EMT. Conversely, HSP27 knockdown leads to Snail proteasomal degradation, thus inhibiting TGF‐β1‐induced EMT. Inhibition of HSP27 with OGX‐427 efficiently blocks EMT and fibrosis development. Controls in vivo were an empty adenovirus that did not induce fibrosis and a control antisense oligonucleotide. The present work opens the possibility of a new therapeutic use for HSP27 inhibitors against IPF, for which there is no conclusively effective treatment. —Wettstein, G. , Bellaye, P.‐S. , Kolb, M. , Hammann, A. , Crestani, B. , Soler, P., Marchal‐Somme, J., Hazoume, A. , Gauldie, J., Gunther, A. , Micheau, O. , Gleave, M. , Camus, P., Garrido, C. , Bonniaud, P. Inhibition of HSP27 blocks fibrosis development and EMT features by promoting Snail degradation. FASEB J. 27, 1549–1560 (2013). www.fasebj. org
Does Education Improve Mental Health Practitioners’ Confidence in Meeting the Physical Health Needs of Mental Health Service Users? A Mixed Methods Pilot Study

Mental health nurses are ideally placed to assess mental health service users’ physical health and provide relevant interventions. However, they may lack the confidence and knowledge to do so, as a result of limited education on physical health issues. This mixed methods pilot study sought to evaluate the effect of education on confidence in assessing and addressing physical health needs following attendance at a module entitled “Physical Health Issues in Adult Mental Health Practice. ” An explanatory sequential design was used in which quantitative data regarding participants’ perceptions of their confidence on assessing and addressing physical health issues with service users were collected via a questionnaire pre- and post-module. Additionally, a focus group interview was conducted to expand on survey responses. Findings indicated that confidence scores increased for all participants following the module, with participants identifying new knowledge and plans for practice change. Further research is needed to educate and support mental health staff in improving their confidence and knowledge in this area.
The effect of Pistacia terebinthus extract on lipid peroxidation, glutathione,protein, and some enzyme activities in tissues of rats undergoing oxidative stress

Semra TÜRKOĞLU*, Sait ÇELİK, Serhat KESER, İsmail TÜRKOĞLU, Ökkeş YILMAZ Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, Faculty of Health Sciences, Fırat University, Elazığ, Turkey Faculty of Dentistry, Uşak University, Uşak, Turkey Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Fırat University, Elazığ, Turkey Department of Science Teaching, Faculty of Education, Fırat University, Elazığ, Turkey Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Fırat University, Elazığ, Turkey
Bounding the population size of IPOP-CMA-ES on the noiseless BBOB testbed

A variant of CMA-ES that uses occasional restarts coupled with an increasing population size, which is called IPOP-CMA-ES, has shown to be a top performing algorithm on the BBOB benchmark set. In this paper, we test a mechanism that bounds the maximum size that the population may reach in IPOP-CMA-ES, and we experimentally explore the impact of a maximum population size on the BBOB benchmark set. In the proposed bounding mechanism, we use a maximum population size of 10 × D2 where D is problem dimension. Once the maximum population size is reached or surpassed, the population size is reset to its default starting value λ, which is defined by the λ = 4 + 3 ln(D). Our experimental results show that our scheme for the population size update can lead to improved performances on separable and weakly structured multi-modal functions.
Induction of Macrophage Nitric Oxide Production by Gram-Negative Flagellin Involves Signaling Via Heteromeric Toll-Like Receptor 5/Toll-Like Receptor 4 Complexes1

The induction of cytokine synthesis by flagellin is mediated by a Toll-like receptor 5 (TLR5) signaling pathway. Although flagellin activation of the IL-1R-associated kinase and induction of TNF-α synthesis are dependent on TLR5 and not TLR4, we have found that flagellin stimulates NO in macrophages via a pathway that requires TLR5 and TLR4. Flagellin induced NO synthesis in HeNC2 cells, a murine macrophage cell line that expresses wild-type TLR4, but not in TLR4-mutant or -deficient GG2EE and 10ScNCr/23 cells. Flagellin stimulated an increase in inducible NO synthase (iNOS) mRNA and activation of the iNOS promoter. TLR5 forms heteromeric complexes with TLR4 as well as homomeric complexes. IFN-γ permitted GG2EE and 10ScNCr/23 cells to produce NO in response to flagellin. Flagellin stimulated IFN-β synthesis and Stat1 activation. The effect of flagellin on iNOS gene expression was inhibited by a Stat1 mutant protein. Taken together, these results support the conclusions that flagellin induces distinct patterns of inflammatory mediators depending on the nature of the TLR5 signaling complex and that the induction of NO by flagellin involves signaling via TLR5/TLR4 complexes.
Use of visual evoked-potential studies and EEG data to classify aggressive, explosive behavior of youths.

OBJECTIVE Data from electroencephalograms (EEGs), including data from visual evoked-potential studies, were analyzed to assess their association with a specific type of explosive behavior in children and adolescents. METHODS Data for 326 children and adolescents treated in a psychiatric clinic were examined. Eighty-two percent exhibited behavior consistent with intermittent explosive disorder, although diagnosis was not an inclusion criterion for the study. The presence of explosive behaviors was indicated by reports from the legal system, schools, parents, health care workers, and psychiatric intake interviews. A quantitative EEG and a series of pattern-reversal evoked-potential studies were administered to each patient. In these studies, children are shown a rapidly reversing checkerboard pattern or rapid flashes of light, and their brain waves (evoked potentials) are measured. RESULTS Logistic regression indicated that patients who exhibited explosive behaviors were significantly more likely to produce high-amplitude P100 wave forms in the evoked-potential studies than patients who did not exhibit explosive behaviors. Forty-six percent of those with explosive behaviors met the clinically defined electrophysiological criteria for the high-amplitude P100 wave forms. CONCLUSIONS The use of visual evoked-potential studies helped us classify a large subset of youths who exhibited out-of-control explosive behaviors. The findings suggest that a subgroup of individuals exhibiting explosive behaviors may have a predisposition for violent or explosive behavior that is an innate characteristic of their central nervous system. An understanding of the etiology of explosive behaviors permits the use of more appropriate intervention and treatment strategies.
Quantitative Methods Inquires 53 ADAPTIVE NEURO-FUZZY MODEL TUNING FOR EARLY-WARNING OF FINANCIAL CRISES 1

The paper introduces an early-warning method using multiple financial crises indicators which outputs relevant alerts compared to a precise indication of crisis inception, serving as an effective tool for decision makers. By leveraging fuzzy logic techniques, we design a multi-level fuzzy decision support system based on the evolution of credit growth, housing prices and GDP gap. A neuro-fuzzy approach allows fine tuning of the individual fuzzy sub-systems towards adaptive structures which can follow the particularities of the selected indicators at the individual country level. Simulation results and implementation details are presented, along with conclusion drawn from real economic datasets.
MiRNA synergistic network construction and enrichment analysis for common target genes in small-cell lung cancer.

BACKGROUND Small-cell lung cancer (also known as SCLC) is an aggressive form and untreated patients generally die within about 3 months. To obtain further insight into mechanism underlying malignancy with this cancer, an miRNA synergistic regulatory network was constructed and analyzed in the present study. METHOD A miRNA microarray dataset was downloaded from the NCBI GEO database (GSE27435). A total of 546 miRNAs were identified to be expressed in SCLC cells. Then a miRNA synergistic network was constructed, and the included miRNAs mapped to the network. Topology analysis was also performed to analyze the properties of the synergistic network. Consequently, we could identified constitutive modules. Further, common target genes of each module were identified with CFinder. Finally, enrichment analysis was performed for target genes. RESULTS In this study, a miRNA synergistic network with 464 miRNAs and 2981 edges was constructed. According to the topology analysis, the topological properties between the networks constructed by LC related miRNAs and LC unrelated miRNAs were significantly different. Moreover, a module cilque0 could be identified in our network using CFinder. The module included three miRNAs (hsa-let-7c, hsa-let-7b and hsa-let-7d). In addition, several genes were found which were predicted to be common targets of cilque0. The enrichment analysis demonstrated that these target genes were enriched in MAPK signaling pathways. CONCLUSIONS Although limitations exist in the current data, the results uncovered here are important for understanding the key roles of miRNAs in SCLC. However, further validation is required since our results were based on microarray data derived from a small sample size.
ENFOQUES SOBRE EDUCAÇÃO E SAÚDE

A palavra “enfoque” tem o sentido explicito de por algo em foco, de fazer voltar a atencao para algo ou alguma coisa. Ao adotar este entendimento da palavra, o texto que o leitor tera a oportunidade de ler a seguir pretende ser uma aproximacao a area de saber denominada Educacao e Saude, com a intencao de apresentar os diferentes enfoques ou modos como esta area lida com os problemas de saude da populacao.
Ultra-High Transforming Ratio Coupled Line Impedance Transformer With Bandpass Response

An impedance transformer (IT) with a ultra-high impedance transforming ratio (UHITR) is presented in this letter. The UHITR is obtained by controlling coupling coefficients of cascaded open-circuited coupled lines. Two transmission poles have appeared in the passband for an under-matched region. For the validation, the IT with impedance transforming ratio of 10 was designed at a center frequency (f0) of 2.6 GHz. From the experiment, insertion and return losses at f0 were determined as 0.55 dB and 21.47 dB, respectively. Within the operating band from 2.515 to 2.73 GHz, the insertion and return losses were better than 0.8 dB and 18 dB, respectively. The out-of-band suppression characteristics are higher than 20 dB from dc to 1.92 GHz and better than 18 dB from 3.28 to 7.2 GHz.