Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Evaluation of the GeneXpert MTB/RIF Assay for Rapid Diagnosis of Tuberculosis and Detection of Rifampin Resistance in Pulmonary and Extrapulmonary Specimens

ABSTRACT Mycobacterium tuberculosis remains one of the most significant causes of death from an infectious agent. The rapid diagnosis of tuberculosis and detection of rifampin (RIF) resistance are essential for early disease management. The GeneXpert MTB/RIF assay is a novel integrated diagnostic device for the diagnosis of tuberculosis and rapid detection of RIF resistance in clinical specimens. We determined the performance of the MTB/RIF assay for rapid diagnosis of tuberculosis and detection of rifampin resistance in smear-positive and smear-negative pulmonary and extrapulmonary specimens obtained from possible tuberculosis patients. Two hundred fifty-three pulmonary and 176 extrapulmonary specimens obtained from 429 patients were included in the study. One hundred ten (89 culture positive and 21 culture negative for M. tuberculosis) of the 429 patients were considered to have tuberculosis. In pulmonary specimens, sensitivities were 100% (27/27) and 68.6% (24/35) for smear-positive and smear-negative specimens, respectively. It had a lower sensitivity with extrapulmonary specimens: 100% for smear-positive specimens (4/4) and 47.7% for smear-negative specimens (21/44). The test accurately detected the absence of tuberculosis in all 319 patients without tuberculosis studied. The MTB/RIF assay also detected 1 RIF-resistant specimen and 88 RIF-susceptible specimens, and the results were confirmed by drug susceptibility testing. We concluded that the MTB/RIF test is a simple method, and routine staff with minimal training can use the system. The test appeared to be as sensitive as culture with smear-positive specimens but less sensitive with smear-negative pulmonary and extrapulmonary specimens that include low numbers of bacilli.
Partial global planning: a coordination framework for distributed hypothesis formation

Partial global planning is used to provide a framework for coordinating multiple AI systems that are cooperating in a distributed sensor network. By combining a variety of coordination techniques into a single, unifying framework, partial global planning enables separate AI systems to reason about their roles and responsibilities as part of group problem solving, and to modify their planned processing and communication actions to act as a more coherent team. Partial global planning is uniquely suited for coordinating systems that are working in continuous, dynamic, and unpredictable domains because it interleaves coordination with action and allows systems to make effective decisions despite incomplete and possibly obsolete information about network activity. The authors implement and evaluate partial global planning in a simulated vehicle monitoring application and identifying promising extensions to the framework. >
Characterization of DTI Indices in the Cervical, Thoracic, and Lumbar Spinal Cord in Healthy Humans

The aim of this study was to characterize in vivo measurements of diffusion along the length of the entire healthy spinal cord and to compare DTI indices, including fractional anisotropy (FA) and mean diffusivity (MD), between cord regions. The objective is to determine whether or not there are significant differences in DTI indices along the cord that must be considered for future applications of characterizing the effects of injury or disease. A cardiac gated, single-shot EPI sequence was used to acquire diffusion-weighted images of the cervical, thoracic, and lumbar regions of the spinal cord in nine neurologically intact subjects (19 to 22 years). For each cord section, FA versus MD values were plotted, and a k-means clustering method was applied to partition the data according to tissue properties. FA and MD values from both white matter (average FA = 0.69, average MD = 0.93 × 10−3 mm2/s) and grey matter (average FA = 0.44, average MD = 1.8 × 10−3 mm2/s) were relatively consistent along the length of the cord.
Relationship between Consumers'Perceptions, Website Characteristics and Repurchase Intention-the Mediating role of Recovery Satisfaction

The article proposes a model that related material factors, affective factors, handling process factors to consumers' repurchase intention, medicated by recovery satisfaction. Data was collected from students studying at a number of colleges and workers. A total of 400 questionnaires were distributed, of which 256 were successfully replied respondents, yielding a usable response rate of 64%. Multiple regression analyses were used for hypothesis testing. The results of the study show that complain frequency, perceived norms, perceived monitoring, perceived apology and ease of use of grievance channels have a significant impact on consumer's repurchase intention. In addition, the mediating impact of recovery satisfaction is partially supported. Suggestions for implications of the research and future research are also presented. Keywords—Material factors, affective factors, handling process factors, recovery satisfaction, consumers' repurchase intention
Exploration strategies for incremental learning of object-based visual saliency

Searching for objects in an indoor environment can be drastically improved if a task-specific visual saliency is available. We describe a method to learn such an object-based visual saliency in an intrinsically motivated way using an environment exploration mechanism. We first define saliency in a geometrical manner and use this definition to discover salient elements given an attentive but costly observation of the environment. These elements are used to train a fast classifier that predicts salient objects given large-scale visual features. In order to get a better and faster learning, we use intrinsic motivation to drive our observation selection, based on uncertainty and novelty detection. Our approach has been tested on RGB-D images, is real-time, and outperforms several state-of-the-art methods in the case of indoor object detection.
A method of image denoising in the complex wavelet domain

In this paper, a new shrink theory and denoising algorithm for image with Gaussian noise based on complex wavelet transform is presented and investigated. We calculate threshold value by a moving window, we can obtain different threshold values for different coefficients using our method. We modify the noisy wavelet coefficients using bivariate shrinkage method, the shrinkage functions do not assume the independence of decompositional coefficients. In this paper, we propose the use of near-optimal thresholds and more suitable image denoising by using extensive numerical simulations.
On the selection of finite alphabet iterative decoders for LDPC codes on the BSC

Recently new message passing decoders for LDPC codes, called finite alphabet iterative decoders (FAIDs) were proposed. The messages belong to a finite alphabet and the update functions are simple boolean maps different from the functions used for the belied propagation (BP) decoder. The maps can be chosen using the knowledge of potential trapping sets such that the decoders surpass the BP decoder in the error floor. In this paper, we address the issue of selecting good FAIDs which perform well in the error floor for column weight three codes. We introduce the notion of noisy trapping set which is a generalization based on analyzing the local dynamic behaviour of a given FAID on a trapping set. Using this notion as the core, we provide an iterative greedy algorithm that outputs a set of candidate FAIDs containing potentially good decoders for any given code. To illustrate the appliance of the methodology on several codes, we show that the set of candidate FAIDs contains particularly good FAIDs for different codes with different rates and lengths.
Effect of high temperature on feeding behaviour and heat production in group-housed young pigs.

To assess the acclimation of pigs to heat stress, the effects of high (33 degrees C) or thermoneutral (23 degrees C) constant temperatures on feeding behaviour and components of energy balance were studied in group-housed young pigs. Three groups of five pigs were used at each temperature. After 1 week of adaptation, voluntary feed intake (VFI) and heat production (HP) were recorded for thirteen consecutive days. Animals were fed ad libitum. Fasting HP was measured on the last day. Average initial body weights (BW) were 21.4 and 20.9 kg at 23 and 33 degrees C respectively. Feeding behaviour was measured individually and rate of feed intake and characteristics of feeding behaviour were calculated. The O(2) consumption, CO(2) production and physical activity of the group were used to calculate total HP (HP(tot)) and its components, i.e. fasting HP (HP(fas)), HP due to physical activity (HP(act)) and thermic effect of feed (TEF). The BW gain and VFI were reduced by 37 and 30 % respectively at 33 degrees C. The decrease in VFI corresponded to reduced consumption time (-34 %) and size of the meals (-32 %). Feeding behaviour was mostly diurnal (66 % of the VFI), and the rate of feed intake (28 g/min) was not affected by temperature. Daily HP(tot), HP(fas) and TEF, expressed per kg metabolic weight (BW(0.60)), were significantly decreased at 33 degrees C by 22, 18 and 35 % respectively, whereas HP(act) was not affected; TEF expressed per g feed was not affected (2 kJ/g). The decrease in HP(tot) at 33 degrees C was caused by a reduction in TEF and HP(fas) (kJ/d per/kg BW(0.60)), which are both related to reduction in VFI.
RUbioSeq: a suite of parallelized pipelines to automate exome variation and bisulfite-seq analyses

Motivation: RUbioSeq has been developed to facilitate the primary and secondary analysis of re-sequencing projects by providing an integrated software suite of parallelized pipelines to detect exome variants (single-nucleotide variants and copy number variations) and to perform bisulfite-seq analyses automatically. RUbioSeq’s variant analysis results have been already validated and published. Availability: http://rubioseq.sourceforge. net/. Contact: mrubioc@cnio.es
RESEARCH NOTES AND COMMUNICATIONS A MEASUREMENT MODEL OF STRATEGIC PLANNING

While strategic planning is a key concept in management research, there has been little consistency in its conceptualization or measurement. Our review of prior studies also identifies reliability and validity, dimensionality, crude levels of measurement, and lack of parsimony as additional problems associated with prior use of this variable. Such problems substantially limit our ability to compare results across studies, or to make appropriate normative recommendations. We address these concerns by developing and validating a multiple indicator measure of strategic planning, using two independent samples. Implications for future research are then discussed. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
An unsupervised segmentation algorithm for breast ultrasound images using local histogram features

Several segmentation methods have been presented for breast ultrasound (BUS) images. Unfortunately most of them are supervised and semi-automatic in nature. In this paper, a complete unsupervised algorithm for BUS image segmentation algorithm using local intensity and texture histograms features has been proposed. The texture and intensity features are combined in the clustering process. Initially the image is filtered using a texture preserving de-noising filter. A new texture feature is extracted from the filtered image. Using these features, employing a non-parametric Bayesian clustering method, image is segmented. This clustering is completely unsupervised in nature as no seeding or learning is required for this algorithm. Qualitative and quantitative segmentation results of images from BUS image databases prove the competitiveness of the proposed algorithm.
Fibrinogen concentration and its role in CVD risk in black South Africans – effect of urbanisation

Summary The aim of this study was to investigate correlates of fibrinogen concentration in black South Africans, as well as its association with cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk and whether urbanisation influences this association. A total of 1,006 rural and 1,004 urban black South Africans from the PURE study were cross-sectionally analysed. The association of fibrinogen with CVD risk was determined by investigating the association of fibrinogen with other CVD risk markers as well as with predicted CVD risk using the Reynolds Risk score. The rural group had a significantly higher fibrinogen concentration than the urban group, despite higher levels of risk factors and increased predicted CVD risk in the urban group. Increased levels of CVD risk factors were, however, still associated with increased fibrinogen concentration. Fibrinogen correlated significantly, but weakly, with overall predicted CVD risk. This correlation was stronger in the urban than in the rural group. Multiple regression analysis showed that a smaller percentage of the variance in fibrinogen is explained by the traditional CVD risk factors in the rural than in the urban group. In conclusion, fibrinogen is weakly associated with CVD risk (predicted overall risk as well with individual risk factors) in black South Africans, and is related to the degree of urbanisation. Increased fibrinogen concentration, in black South Africans, especially in rural areas, is largely unexplained, and likely not strongly correlated with traditional CVD-related lifestyle and pathophysiological processes. This does, however, not exclude the possibility that once increased, the fibrinogen concentration contributes to future development of CVD.
When Tinnitus Loudness and Annoyance Are Discrepant: Audiological Characteristics and Psychological Profile

This study evaluates sociodemographic and clinical characteristics of patients reporting discrepant levels of tinnitus loudness and annoyance. 4958 subjects recruited from a national tinnitus association completed a comprehensive screening questionnaire including Klockhoff and Lindblom’s loudness grading system and the psychometric Mini-TQ (Tinnitus Questionnaire). There was a moderate correlation of 0.45 between loudness and annoyance. Of the subjects reporting very loud tinnitus, about one third had only mild or moderate annoyance scores. They were not different from those with high annoyance regarding age, gender and tinnitus duration, but annoyance was increased when subjects had additional hearing loss (OR = 1.71), vertigo/dizziness (OR = 1.94) or hyperacusis (OR = 4.96). Another significant predictor was history of neurological disease (OR = 3.16). Subjects reported low annoyance despite high loudness more often if not feeling low/depressed and not considering themselves as victims of their noises. A specific psychological profile was found to characterize annoyed tinnitus sufferers. Permanent awareness of the noises, decreased ability to ignore them and concentration difficulties were reported frequently even when overall annoyance scores were comparatively low. It is concluded that the coexistence of tinnitus with hearing loss, vertigo/dizziness and hyperacusis as complicating otological conditions seems to be of clinical relevance for the prediction of high annoyance levels. Tinnitus loudness and annoyance are not necessarily congruent and should be assessed separately.
Advanced gain-scheduling techniques for uncertain systems

The paper is concerned with the design of gain-scheduled controllers for linear parameter-varying systems. Two alternative LMI characterizations are investigated. Both characterizations are amenable to a finite number of LMI conditions either via a gridding of the parameter range or via grid-free techniques which rely on multi-convexity concepts. Practicality and implementation issues are discussed and examples are provided.
MEASUREMENT ISSUES IN CROSS-CULTURAL VALUES RESEARCH

Whereas theory posits that values influence consumer behaviour, empirical research fails to establish a strong link between values and consumer behaviour, particularly in cross-cultural contexts. We suggest that the reasons for the apparent failure of predictive validity of crosscultural values lie in unresolved measurement issues concerning cross-cultural values. In this article, we review these measurement issues and suggest a qualitative approach within a parallel emic framework. It is expected that the new qualitative approach will contribute to better understanding, explanation, and prediction of the causal relationship between values and consumer behaviour in different cultural environments.
Analysis of microRNA Expression Detected by Microarray of the Cerebral Cortex After Hypoxic-Ischemic Brain Injury

Abstract Small and noncoding microRNAs (miRNAs) are known as key regulators of biological processes such as cell differentiation and tumor generation. They are also the important mediators of posttranscriptional gene silencing in both pathogenic and pathologic aspects of hypoxic-ischemic brain injury. miRNA microarray has been considered to be a high-throughput and precise analysis tool for detecting miRNA expression profiling, and it does greatly facilitate the research of the biological function of miRNAs. To investigate the changes of miRNA expression in cortex of neonatal rats with hypoxic-ischemic brain injury (HIBI) and the possible roles of miRNA in the pathogenesis of HIBI, we constructed the model of rat with HIBI and the cortex tissues were obtained 14 days after the HIBI operation. The large-scale miRNA microarrays and bioinformatics analysis were used to determine the differentially expressed miRNAs of HIBI rats compared with controls. Expression of 3 miRNAs (mir-429, mir-200b, and mir-182) was determined by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. The results of miRNA expression profiles indicated that 5 miRNAs were up-regulated more than twice and 29 miRNAs were down-regulated more than twice compared with the normal control group. The results of the 3 miRNAs detected by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction were consistent with those detected by miRNA microarray. Hypoxic-ischemic brain injury rats have significant changes in miRNA expression, which demonstrated that miRNAs may play important roles in the pathogenesis of HIBI.
Mapping the local protein interactome of the NuA3 histone acetyltransferase

Protein–protein interactions modulate cellular functions ranging from the activity of enzymes to signal transduction cascades. A technology termed transient isotopic differentiation of interactions as random or targeted (transient I‐DIRT) is described for the identification of stable and transient protein–protein interactions in vivo. The procedure combines mild in vivo chemical cross‐linking and non‐stringent affinity purification to isolate low abundance chromatin‐associated protein complexes. Using isotopic labeling and mass spectrometric readout, purified proteins are categorized with respect to the protein ‘bait’ as stable, transient, or contaminant. Here we characterize the local interactome of the chromatin‐associated NuA3 histone lysine‐acetyltransferase protein complex. We describe transient associations with the yFACT nucleosome assembly complex, RSC chromatin remodeling complex and a nucleosome assembly protein. These novel, physical associations with yFACT, RSC, and Nap1 provide insight into the mechanism of NuA3‐associated transcription and chromatin regulation.
Journal Editorial Policies, Animal Welfare, and the 3Rs

This study evaluates the editorial policies of a randomized sample of English language peer-reviewed journals that publish original research involving the use of animals. The aim is to identify whether journals have editorial policies relating to the use of animals in the research that they are prepared to publish and whether any policies are likely to promote animal welfare and dissemination of information on the 3Rs (reduction, refinement, replacement) within the scientific community. The results demonstrate that a significant proportion of journals publishing original research involving animals do not have any editorial policy relating to the use of animals. Of those journals that do have policies the majority simply request that the research be carried out in accordance with standard regulatory requirements. This paper aims to provide editors and publishers with the information they need to review their own editorial policies to ensure they are fulfilling their potential to promote animal welfare and dissemination of the 3Rs.
Nonlinear and Randomized Pricing for Distributed Management of Flexible Loads

Price-based management of distributed energy resources within microgrids is continuously gaining ground due to scalability and privacy limitations of centralized architectures. However, the concentration of flexible loads' response to the lowest-priced periods yields inefficient solutions. A previously proposed measure imposing a flexibility restriction on flexible loads might raise acceptability and feasibility concerns by the users. This paper develops a novel fully price-based approach where this hard restriction is replaced by a soft nonlinear price signal. This signal is customized to the operating properties of the different flexible load types by penalizing the square of the demand and the duration of cycle delay of loads with continuously adjustable power levels and deferrable cycles, respectively. This approach is shown to produce more efficient solutions than the flexibility restriction measure for both types of loads. For the latter type, randomization of the nonlinear prices brings additional benefits, especially in low operating diversity cases. These contributions are supported by case studies on a microgrid test system with electric vehicles and wet appliances used as representative examples of the above flexible load types.
Nodes Clustering Method in Large-Scale Network

Nodes in large-scale network are always divided into many clusters in order to facilitate network management. Super-node based P2P network is an example. The physical scope and the number of clusters are two conflicting objectives and clustering algorithm should strike a balance between them. In this paper, nodes clustering problem is formally described and pre-optimized k-means algorithm is put forward. First pre-optimization algorithm is used to determine the number of clusters and determine reasonable initial cluster centers, then k-means algorithm is used to achieve clustering result. The algorithm presented has low complexity and simulation results shows its effectiveness.
Prolactin Promotes Breast Cancer Cell Migration through Actin Cytoskeleton Remodeling

The role of prolactin on breast cancer development and progression is debated. Breast cancer progression largely depends on cell movement and on the ability to remodel the actin cytoskeleton. In this process, actin-binding proteins are requested to achieve fibrillar actin de-polymerization and relocation at the cell membrane. Kinases such as focal adhesion kinase (FAK) are later required to form actin/vinculin-enriched structures called focal adhesion complexes, which mediate firm adhesion to the extracellular matrix. These controllers are regulated by c-Src, which forms multiprotein signaling complexes with membrane receptors and is regulated by a number of hormones, including prolactin. We here show that breast cancer cells exposed to prolactin display an elevated c-Src expression and phosphorylation. In parallel, increased moesin and FAK expression and phosphorylation are found. These molecular changes are associated to relocation to the plasma membrane of cytoskeletal actin fibers and to increased horizontal cell movement. In conclusion, prolactin regulates actin remodeling and enhances breast cancer cell movement. This finding broadens the understanding of prolactin actions on breast cancer cells, highlighting new pathways that may be relevant to on breast cancer progression.