Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Evaluation of Sampling Recommendations From the Influenza Virologic Surveillance Right Size Roadmap for Idaho

Background The Right Size Roadmap was developed by the Association of Public Health Laboratories and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to improve influenza virologic surveillance efficiency. Guidelines were provided to state health departments regarding representativeness and statistical estimates of specimen numbers needed for seasonal influenza situational awareness, rare or novel influenza virus detection, and rare or novel influenza virus investigation. Objective The aim of this study was to compare Roadmap sampling recommendations with Idaho’s influenza virologic surveillance to determine implementation feasibility. Methods We calculated the proportion of medically attended influenza-like illness (MA-ILI) from Idaho’s influenza-like illness surveillance among outpatients during October 2008 to May 2014, applied data to Roadmap-provided sample size calculators, and compared calculations with actual numbers of specimens tested for influenza by the Idaho Bureau of Laboratories (IBL). We assessed representativeness among patients’ tested specimens to census estimates by age, sex, and health district residence. Results Among outpatients surveilled, Idaho’s mean annual proportion of MA-ILI was 2.30% (20,834/905,818) during a 5-year period. Thus, according to Roadmap recommendations, Idaho needs to collect 128 specimens from MA-ILI patients/week for situational awareness, 1496 influenza-positive specimens/week for detection of a rare or novel influenza virus at 0.2% prevalence, and after detection, 478 specimens/week to confirm true prevalence is ≤2% of influenza-positive samples. The mean number of respiratory specimens Idaho tested for influenza/week, excluding the 2009-2010 influenza season, ranged from 6 to 24. Various influenza virus types and subtypes were collected and specimen submission sources were representative in terms of geographic distribution, patient age range and sex, and disease severity. Conclusions Insufficient numbers of respiratory specimens are submitted to IBL for influenza laboratory testing. Increased specimen submission would facilitate meeting Roadmap sample size recommendations.
Reliable Physical-Layer Network Coding Supporting Real Applications

This paper presents the first reliable physical-layer network coding (PNC) system that supports real TCP/IP applications for the two-way relay network (TWRN). Theoretically, PNC could boost the throughput of TWRN by a factor of 2 compared with traditional scheduling (TS) in the high signal-to-noise (SNR) regime. Although there have been many theoretical studies on PNC performance, there have been relatively few experimental and implementation efforts. Our earlier PNC prototype, built in 2012, was an offline system that processed signals offline. For a system that supports real applications, signals must be processed online in real-time. Our real-time reliable PNC prototype, referred to as RPNC, solves a number of key challenges to enable the support of real TCP/IP applications. The enabling components include: 1) a time-slotted system that achieves $\mu s$ -level synchronization for the PNC system; 2) reduction of PNC signal processing complexity to meet real-time constraints; 3) an ARQ design tailored for PNC to ensure reliable packet delivery; and 4) an interface to the application layer. We took on the challenge to implement all of the above with general-purpose processors in PC through an SDR platform rather than ASIC or FPGA. With all of these components, we have successfully demonstrated image exchange with TCP and two-party video conferencing with UDP over RPNC. Experimental results show that the achieved throughput approaches the PHY-layer data rate at high SNR, demonstrating the high efficiency of the RPNC system.
A High-Level Synthesis Scheduling and Binding Heuristic for FPGA Fault Tolerance

Computing systems with field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs) often achieve fault tolerance in high-energy radiation environments via triple-modular redundancy (TMR) and configuration scrubbing. Although effective, TMR suffers from a 3x area overhead, which can be prohibitive for many embedded usage scenarios. Furthermore, this overhead is often worsened because TMR often has to be applied to existing register-transfer-level (RTL) code that designers created without considering the triplicated resource requirements. Although a designer could redesign the RTL code to reduce resources, modifying RTL schedules and resource allocations is a time-consuming and error-prone process. In this paper, we present a more transparent high-level synthesis approach that uses scheduling and binding to provide attractive tradeoffs between area, performance, and redundancy, while focusing on FPGA implementation considerations, such as resource realization costs, to produce more efficient architectures. Compared to TMR applied to existing RTL, our approach shows resource savings up to 80% with average resource savings of 34% and an average clock degradation of 6%. Compared to the previous approach, our approach shows resource savings up to 74% with average resource savings of 19% and an average heuristic execution time improvement of 96x.
Impact of the Chronic Omega‐3 Fatty Acids Supplementation in Hemiparkinsonism Model Induced by 6‐Hydroxydopamine in Rats

Parkinson's disease (PD) is characterized by a progressive degeneration of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra. The neuronal degeneration may result from the convergence of a number of different pathogenic factors, including apoptosis, excitotoxicity and oxidative stress. Many studies emphasize the importance of omega‐3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (ω‐3 PUFAs) in vital processes such as maintenance of the properties of cell membranes and the participation in signal transduction and biodynamic activity of neuronal membranes. In this study, the protective effect of ω‐3 PUFA administration on the 6‐hydroxydopamine (6‐OHDA) model of PD in rats was investigated. ω‐3 PUFA (1.5 and 3.0 g/kg) was orally administered by gavage during 28 consecutive days to male Wistar rats. On the 4th day, hemiparkinsonism was induced through intrastriatal injection of 6‐OHDA. On the 25th day, the animals were submitted to behavioural analysis. On the 28th day, after euthanasia, the brain areas were collected for neurochemical evaluation. ω‐3 PUFAs (1.5 and 3.0 g/kg) restored monoamine and amino acid levels on the striatum from hemiparkinsonian rats, followed by reduction in the number of apomorphine‐induced rotations and promotion of a partial locomotor recovery. In addition, ω‐3 PUFAs (1.5 and 3.0 g/kg) decreased the lipid peroxidation levels and nitrite levels in the brain areas from hemiparkinsonian rats. Thus, this study suggests that supplementation with ω‐3 PUFAs prevents behavioural and neurochemical disturbances induced by 6‐OHDA, presenting a potential neuroprotective action.
Brazilian version of the Functional Status Score for the ICU: translation and cross-cultural adaptation

Objective The aim of the present study was to translate and cross-culturally adapt the Functional Status Score for the intensive care unit (FSS-ICU) into Brazilian Portuguese. Methods This study consisted of the following steps: translation (performed by two independent translators), synthesis of the initial translation, back-translation (by two independent translators who were unaware of the original FSS-ICU), and testing to evaluate the target audience's understanding. An Expert Committee supervised all steps and was responsible for the modifications made throughout the process and the final translated version. Results The testing phase included two experienced physiotherapists who assessed a total of 30 critical care patients (mean FSS-ICU score = 25 ± 6). As the physiotherapists did not report any uncertainties or problems with interpretation affecting their performance, no additional adjustments were made to the Brazilian Portuguese version after the testing phase. Good interobserver reliability between the two assessors was obtained for each of the 5 FSS-ICU tasks and for the total FSS-ICU score (intraclass correlation coefficients ranged from 0.88 to 0.91). Conclusion The adapted version of the FSS-ICU in Brazilian Portuguese was easy to understand and apply in an intensive care unit environment.
Vertical partial frontolateral laryngectomy with simultaneous pedunculated sternothyroid muscle flap reconstruction of the vocal fold - surgical procedure and treatment outcomes.

PURPOSE OF THE STUDY The aim of the study was to present the treatment outcomes after vertical partial laryngectomy with or without pedunculated sternothyroid muscle flap reconstruction following the resection of neoplasm-infiltrated vocal fold. The procedure was used in a patient with glottic cancer. Oncological outcomes, morphology of neo-vocal fold and the act of swallowing were evaluated. MATERIAL AND METHODS 45 patients with T1-T2 glottic cancer were subjected to vertical partial laryngectomy with 26 patients undergoing a procedure with pedunculated sternothyroid muscle flap reconstruction and the remaining 19 patients undergoing a procedure without such a reconstruction. Two female and 43 male patients aged 35-82 years (mean age of 62.5 years) were enrolled in the study. Local tumor spread and the condition of reconstructed vocal fold were assessed in sequential videofiberoscopy examination conducted each month after surgery whereas the regional spread was assessed in ultrasound scans. Postoperative aspiration was graded according to the Pearson's scale. RESULTS Six patients experienced local recurrence while 2 patients experienced regional recurrence of the tumor. The pedunculated sternothyroid muscle flap neo-fold was structurally resemblant of the non-affected vocal fold. Episodic, daily dysphagia was observed in 1 patient while normal act of swallowing with no Pearson's scale symptoms was observed in the remaining 44 patients. No necrosis of pedunculated flap was observed. CONCLUSIONS Vertical partial laryngectomy with or without pedunculated sternothyroid muscle flap reconstruction is a good method for the treatment of low- or intermediate-stage glottic cancer, especially when endoscopic access to the tumor is limited and when CO2 laser cannot be used. No significant functional disorders were observed in operated larynges.
Rare coding variants associated with blood pressure variation in 15 914 individuals of African ancestry

Objectives: Hypertension is a major risk factor for all cardiovascular diseases, especially among African Americans. This study focuses on identifying specific blood pressure (BP) genes using 15 914 individuals of African ancestry from eight cohorts (Africa America Diabetes Mellitus, Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities Study, Coronary Artery Risk Development in young Adults, Genetics Network, Genetic Epidemiology Network of Arteriopathy, Howard University Family Study, Hypertension Genetic Epidemiology Network, and Loyola University Chicago Cohort) to further genetic findings in this population which has generally been underrepresented in BP studies. Methods: We genotyped and performed various single variant and gene-based exome-wide analyses on 15 914 individuals on the Illumina HumanExome Beadchip v1.0 or v1.1 to test association with SBP and DBP long-term average residuals that were adjusted for age, age-squared, sex, and BMI. Results: We identified rare variants affecting SBP and DBP in 10 genes: AFF1, GAPDHS, SLC28A3, COL6A1, CRYBA2, KRBA1, SEL1L3, YOD1, CCDC13, and QSOX1. Prior experimental evidence for six of these 10 candidate genes supports their involvement in cardiovascular mechanisms, corroborating their potential roles in BP regulation. Conclusion: Although our results require replication or validation due to their low numbers of carriers, and an ethnicity-specific genotyping array may be more informative, this study, which has identified several candidate genes in this population most susceptible to hypertension, presents one of the largest African-ancestry BP studies to date and the largest including analysis of rare variants.
Massive MIMO uplink transmission with pilot extension and system-level analysis

In this paper, a novel pilot extension scheme is proposed for massive MIMO uplink transmission, and its performance is evaluated analytically. Specifically, we divide the cell users into two groups, namely near users and far users, according to their distances to the service base stations. The far users are more motivated to mitigate the inter-cell interference than the near users at the price of data transmission opportunity, it is proposed to schedule one more pilot sequence to each far user, and share the pilot knowledge of strong interfering users via backhauls. Then the interference from the latter can be mitigated significantly. We also develop a general analysis framework for both conventional and proposed schemes, where the bounds on the cumulative distribution function of the uplink signal-to-interference ratio are derived instead of complex system-level simulations. It is shown by numerical simulations that the analytical bounds are tight and the proposed scheme could effectively improve the uplink signal-to-interference ratio for far users. Besides, significantly throughput gain can also be achieved for far users with reasonable length of coherent fading block.
Maternal thyroid parameters in pregnant women with different ethnic backgrounds: Do ethnicity‐specific reference ranges improve the diagnosis of subclinical hypothyroidism?

Guidelines on the management of thyroid dysfunction during pregnancy have recently been updated and, for the diagnosis of subclinical hypothyroidism (SCH), a thyroid‐stimulating hormone (TSH) upper reference limit (cut‐off) of 4.0 mIU/L has been proposed when no institutional values are available. It is also suggested that serum TSH and thyroid autoimmunity (TAI) may be different according to the ethnic background of the women. We therefore determined the prevalence of TAI and SCH in pregnant women with different ethnic backgrounds and, to define SCH, we used different first trimester TSH upper reference cut‐offs (institutional, ethnicity‐specific, 2.5 mIU/L [Endocrine Society] and 4.0 mIU/L [American Thyroid Association]).
Baby Shrimp Counting via Automated Image Processing

The aim of this research is to investigate the method of detecting and counting baby shrimps by image processing technique. The experimental devices consist of a 1920x1080 pixels color image processing system and a light box. This light box is used as an indirect lighting source to avoid the bright spot from the target if the direct light technique is used. The shrimps are taken by a video camcorder, then the real time video is executed from the moving video to images and recorded them as the image files. The images are considered and converted to binary data types. Blob detection algorithm is used to detect the difference properties of color within the regions in the digital image. After that, the results from the image processing methodology are compared with the real value. It found that the shrimp quantity getting from the image processing technique is comparable and corresponding to the real shrimp quantity counting by manual with error is less than 7% of real quantity.
It’s About Me: Patients’ Experiences of Patient Participation in the Web Behavior Change Program for Activity in Combination With Multimodal Pain Rehabilitation

Background Patients’ participation in their health care is recognized as a key component in high-quality health care. Persons with persistent pain are recommended treatments with a cognitive approach from a biopsychosocial explanation of pain, in which a patient’s active participation in their rehabilitation is in focus. Web-based interventions for pain management have the potential to increase patient participation by enabling persons to play a more active role in rehabilitation. However, little is known about patients’ experiences of patient participation in Web-based interventions in clinical practice. Objective The objective of our study was to explore patients’ experiences of patient participation in a Web Behavior Change Program for Activity (Web-BCPA) in combination with multimodal rehabilitation (MMR) among patients with persistent pain in primary health care. Methods Qualitative interviews were conducted with 15 women and 4 men, with a mean age of 45 years. Data were analyzed with qualitative content analysis. Results One theme, “It’s about me,” and 4 categories, “Take part in a flexible framework of own priority,” “Acquire knowledge and insights,” “Ways toward change,” and “Personal and environmental conditions influencing participation,” were developed. Patient participation was depicted as being confirmed in an individualized and structured rehabilitation framework of one’s own choice. Being confirmed was fundamental to patient participation in the interaction with the Web-BCPA and with the health care professionals in MMR. To acquire knowledge and insights about pain and their life situation, through self-reflection in the solitary work in the Web-BCPA and through feedback from the health care professionals in MMR, was experienced as patient participation by the participants. Patient participation was described as structured ways to reach their goals of behavior change, which included analyzing resources and restrictions, problem solving, and evaluation. The individual’s emotional and cognitive resources and restrictions, as well as health care professionals and significant others’ attitudes and behavior influenced patient participation in the rehabilitation. To some extent there were experiences of restrained patient participation through the great content of the Web-BCPA. Conclusions Patient participation was satisfactory in the Web-BCPA in combination with MMR. The combined treatment was experienced to increase patient participation in the rehabilitation. Being confirmed through self-identification and finding the content of the Web-BCPA trustworthy was emphasized. Patient participation was experienced as a learning process leading to new knowledge and insights. Higher user control regarding the timing of the Web-BCPA and therapist guidance of the content may further increase patient participation in the combined treatment.
Cost-effectiveness of implementing the chronic care model for HIV care in Uganda.

Objective The chronic care model (CCM) is an integrated, population-based approach for treating those with chronic diseases that involves patient self-management, delivery system design and decision support for clinicians to ensure evidence-based care. We sought to determine effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of implementing the CCM for HIV care in Uganda. Design This controlled, pre/post-intervention study used difference-in-differences analysis to evaluate effectiveness of the CCM to improve patient adherence to antiretroviral therapy (ART) and CD4 counts. Setting One district hospital and two smaller facilities each in one intervention and one control district in Uganda. Participants About 46 randomly sampled patients receiving HIV services at three control sites and 56 patients from three intervention sites. Intervention Two group training sessions and monthly coaching visits from improvement experts over 1 year, implementing the CCM. Main Outcome Measure(s) Patient adherence to ART prescriptions (pill counts) and CD4 counts were measured at baseline and en dline. Results The odds of increased CD4 in the intervention group was 3.2 times higher than controls (P = 0.022). Clinician-reported ART adherence was 60% (P = 0.001) higher in the intervention group. The intervention cost $11 740 and served 7016 patients ($1.67 per patient). Incremental cost-effectiveness ratios of the intervention compared to business-as-usual was $6.90 per additional patient with improved CD4 and $3.40 per additional ART patient with stable or improved adherence. Conclusion For modest expenditure, it is possible to improve indicators of HIV care quality using the CCM. We recommended implementing the CCM in Uganda; it may be applicable in similar settings in other countries.
Reduction of Cocaine-Induced Locomotor Effects by Enriched Environment Is Associated with Cell-Specific Accumulation of ΔFosB in Striatal and Cortical Subregions

Abstract Background: Early exposure to enriched environments has been shown to decrease the locomotor effects induced by repeated injections of cocaine and modify basal and cocaine-induced total protein levels of the transcription factor ΔFosB in the whole striatum of mice. In this study, we aimed at characterizing whether the profile of ΔFosB accumulation induced by enriched environments and cocaine would be similar or different in terms of brain areas and cell type. Methods: We used mice expressing the eGFP protein in D1 receptor positive (D1R(+)) neurons to determine whether Δ FosB induced by enriched environment or cocaine injections (5×15 mg/kg) would occur in selective subpopulations of neurons in several subregions of the striatum and prefrontal cortex. Results: We found that: (1) exposure to enriched environment reduces cocaine-induced locomotor activation, confirming our previous findings; (2) exposure to enriched environment by itself increases the accumulation of Δ FosB mostly in D1R(-) cells in the shell part of the nucleus accumbens and dorsal striatum, whereas in the nucleus accumbens core, Δ FosB accumulates in both D1R(+) and D1R(-) neurons; (3) in standard environment mice, cocaine induces accumulation of Δ FosB selectively in D1R(+) cells in the nucleus accumbens, dorsal striatum, and infralimbic cortex; and (4) the effects of enriched environments and cocaine on accumulation of Δ FosB were reciprocally blocked by their combination. Conclusions: Altogether, these results suggest that the enriched environment-induced reduction in behavioral effects of cocaine might result from 2 distinct effects on ΔFosB in striatal medium-sized spiny neurons belonging to the direct and indirect pathways.
Three Types of Neurochemical Projection from the Bed Nucleus of the Stria Terminalis to the Ventral Tegmental Area in Adult Mice

Dopaminergic (DAergic) neurons in the ventral tegmental area (VTA) play crucial roles in motivational control of behaviors, and their activity is regulated directly or indirectly via GABAergic neurons by extrinsic afferents from various sources, including the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis (BST). Here, the neurochemical composition of VTA-projecting BST neurons and their outputs to the VTA were studied in adult mouse brains. By combining retrograde tracing with fluorescence in situ hybridization for 67 kDa glutamate decarboxylase (GAD67) and vesicular glutamate transporters (VGluTs), VTA-targeting BST neurons were classified into GAD67-positive (GAD67+)/VGluT3-negative (VGluT3−), GAD67+/VGluT3+, and VGluT2+ neurons, of which GAD67+/VGluT3− neurons constituted the majority (∼90%) of VTA-projecting BST neurons. GABAergic efferents from the BST formed symmetrical synapses on VTA neurons, which were mostly GABAergic neurons, and expressed GABAA receptor α1 subunit on their synaptic and extrasynaptic membranes. In the VTA, VGluT3 was detected in terminals expressing vesicular inhibitory amino acid transporter (VIAAT), plasmalemmal serotonin transporter, or neither. Of these, VIAAT+/VGluT3+ terminals, which should include those from GAD67+/VGluT3+ BST neurons, formed symmetrical synapses. When single axons from VGluT3+ BST neurons were examined, almost all terminals were labeled for VIAAT, whereas VGluT3 was often absent from terminals with high VIAAT loads. VGluT2+ terminals in the VTA exclusively formed asymmetrical synapses, which expressed AMPA receptors on postsynaptic membrane. Therefore, the major mode of the BST–VTA projection is GABAergic, and its activation is predicted to disinhibit VTA DAergic neurons. VGluT2+ and VGluT3+ BST neurons further supply additional projections, which may principally convey excitatory or inhibitory inputs, respectively, to the VTA.