Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Predictive role of cerebrospinal fluid hydrogen sulfide in central nervous system leukemia.

BACKGROUND Central nervous system leukemia (CNSL) is an important relapse in children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). We investigated the possible role of endogenous hydrogen sulfide (H(2)S) of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) in predicting CNSL. METHODS From August 2008 to December 2010, 380 children were enrolled in this study at Shijitan Hospital, China. These children were from 2 to 16 years old, and the median age was 6.5 years. They were divided into a CNSL group (7 cases), a leukemia group (307 cases), a non-leukemia group (26 cases) and a healthy group (40 children). CSF specimens were obtained from conventional lumbar punctured, then centrifuged and supernatants preserved for H(2)S detection. Leukemic cells precipitates from CSF were found in three cases, the hCSE and hCBS mRNA expression was detected by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), and H(2)S levels in serum were also measured. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve and area under curve (AUC) were used to assess the predictive diagnosis role of CSF H(2)S in children with ALL and CNSL. RESULTS The serum H(2)S contents of the CNSL and leukemia groups were (96.98 ± 15.77) µmol/L and (93.35 ± 17.16) µmol/L respectively, much higher than those of healthy, (44.29 ± 2.15) µmol/L, and non-leukemia, (46.32 ± 6.54) µmol/L, groups (P < 0.01). Compared with the leukemia group, CSF H(2)S content of the CNSL group was significantly high (P < 0.01). Meanwhile, in contrast to the non-leukemia group, CSF H(2)S contents of the CNSL and leukemia groups were both significantly increased (P < 0.01). In addition, leukemic cells from CSF precipitations could express CBS and CSE mRNA. Furthermore, the ROC analysis showed the UAC was 0.929 (95%CI: 0.857 - 1.000), and the optimum cut-off value of CSF H(2)S was 12.08 µ mol/L, and the sensitivity and specificity were 83.3% and 97.2% respectively. CONCLUSIONS CSF H(2)S contents were significantly increased in children with CNSL. After treatment, H(2)S contents were decreased subsequently. Therefore, we speculated that H(2)S levels of CSF would predict CNSL in ALL children.
Cardiovascular risk in relation to a new classification of hypertensive left ventricular geometric abnormalities

Objectives: In 2010, the Dallas Heart Study proposed an upgrade of the left ventricular geometric classification proposed in 1991, by using left ventricular mass combined with end diastolic volumes, and introducing the new categories of dilated left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH). We adopted the new method to test the prognostic impact of the left ventricular geometric patterns from the new classification. Methods: We evaluated baseline anthropometric, laboratory and echocardiographic parameters of 8848 hypertensive patients from the Campania Salute Network (53 ± 12 years, 56% male), free of prevalent cardiovascular disease, valve disease and with ejection fraction ≥50%. Cut points for left ventricular mass index, relative wall thickness and left ventricular end-diastolic dimension (cm/m) were derived from our historical normal reference population. Composite cardiovascular end-points were cardiac death, fatal and nonfatal myocardial infarction and stroke. Results: Independent of confounders, eccentric dilated LVH, concentric nondilated LVH and concentric dilated LVH were associated with higher cardiovascular risk (hazard ratios between 2 and 9, all P < 0.01), mostly depending on the magnitude of LVM index. A volume load was present especially in dilated forms of LVH, the extent of which was important in the determination of harmful types of left ventricular geometry. Conclusion: Consideration of left ventricular dilatation in the evaluation of risk related to hypertensive left ventricular geometry reveals the importance of the extent of the volume load coexisting with the typical hypertensive pressure overload. At a given normal ejection fraction, the balance between the two hemodynamic components influences the shape of left ventricular geometric adaptation, the amount of left ventricular mass and the impact on prognosis.
Genotyping of Acanthamoeba spp. from water sources from Northwestern Iran

Acanthamoeba spp. are free-living amoebae which are ubiquitously distributed worldwide and can be found in the wide range of environments, particularly in various types of water sources, where they able to cause important health problems. In the present study, cultures containing Acanthamoeba from water samples were obtained from our earlier survey. For an analysis of the genetic pattern of Acanthamoeba isolates, DNA sequencing of nuclear small-subunit rRNA gene (18S rRNA or Rns) was applied. A phylogenetic analyses of the isolates displayed that all of them were belonged to the potentially pathogenic T4 genotype. This investigation provides further evidence that the T4 genotype is the most prevalent in water samples and demonstrates that there is a need for taking more consideration to water sources in order to prevent complications associated with pathogenic Acanthamoeba spp.
Ionic Liquid Gel‐Assisted Electrodes for Long‐Term Cutaneous Recordings

The integration of an ionic liquid gel on conformal electrodes is investigated for applications in long-term cutaneous recordings. Electrodes made of Au and the conducting polymer PEDOT:PSS coated with the gel show a low impedance in contact with the skin that maintains a steady value over several days, paving the way for non-invasive, long-term monitoring of human electrophysiological activity.
Evaluation of multiple commercial molecular and conventional diagnostic assays for the detection of respiratory viruses in children

Abstract This study compares the performance of four commercial multiplex PCR assays (Resplex II Panel v2.0, Seeplex RV15, xTAG RVP and xTAG RVP Fast) and direct fluorescent antibody (DFA) staining and viral isolation. Seven hundred and fifty nasopharyngeal swabs were tested for 17 viral agents. In each assay, the sensitivity and specificity for each target were determined against a composite reference standard. Two hundred and eighty-eight out of 750 (38.4%) specimens were positive by DFA or viral isolation, while an additional 214 (28.5%) were positive by multiplex PCR, for a total positivity rate of 66.9%. Of 502 positive specimens, one virus was detected in 420 specimens (83.7%), two in 77 (15.3%), three in four (0.8%) and four in one case (0.2%). Compared with a composite reference standard, the inter-assay accuracy of the multiplex PCR assays varied, but all were superior to conventional diagnostic methods in detecting a broad range of respiratory viral agents in children. In addition, the sensitivity of two commercial assays, Resplex II Plus PRE and Seeplex Influenza A/B Subtyping, was determined relative to the Astra influenza Screen & Type assay for detection of influenza A viruses, including seasonal influenzas and pandemic H1N1 2009 influenza A virus. Using 75 positive and 55 negative nasopharyngeal swabs for influenza A by the Astra assay, the sensitivity of Seeplex and Resplex was 95.9% and 91.8%, respectively, with a specificity of 100% for both.
Using Facebook to Promote Learning: A Case Study.

A growing body of research is examining the use of social media on college campuses. This study explores the use of one social media outlet, specifically Facebook’s closed group feature, in two graduate courses. Findings show that using Facebook can promote student learning. Students used the groups for sharing ideas and support, asking questions, and participating in discussions. This article provides a framework for using Facebook closed groups to advance student learning.
The Changing Context for the Educational Administrator in Tanzania

The fact that the working context of the school administrator is changing fast and the work of heading schools and other educational institutions is more challenging today than at any other time cannot be disputed. In many respects, education has become the rallying point for political legitimacy, and it holds out the hope of economic development and social cohesion. Most times, people’s expectations of what education can accomplish in society are greater than what could ever be realistically achieved by it. For example, education can prepare people for the world of work, but it cannot create jobs; education can socialise people for peaceful co-existence but it cannot prevent war; education can teach people about the need for a stable family life, but it cannot prevent divorce. In other words, as educational administrators and stakeholders, we need to be constantly mindful of education’s limitations and of what it can and cannot do, as education is often heralded as the universal panacea for all social ills and shortcomings. In this presentation I seek to elaborate on what the changing context may mean for heads of schools or other education institutions in Tanzania, and the basic challenges they are likely to face, as well as putting forward propositions for possible ways out.
Moderating Effects of Perceived Control and Need for Clarity on the Relationship Between Role Stressors and Employee Affective Reactions

Abstract The authors examined the salience of perceived control and need for clarity as “buffers” of the adverse consequences of role stressors by using hierarchical regressions on role ambiguity and role conflict, with job satisfaction and psychological strain as the criterion variables. In a sample of U.S. and New Zealand employees, perceived control was directly associated with higher satisfaction and reduced strain but displayed no moderating effect on stressor-outcome relationships. Need for clarity, on the other hand, was a significant moderator of the relationship of role ambiguity and conflict to both satisfaction and strain; that finding suggests that researchers could give more attention to dispositional variables in examining the correlates of role stressors.
Comparison of the remineralizing effect of a sodium fluoride mouthrinse versus a sodium monofluorophosphate and calcium mouthrinse: an in vitro study.

OBJECTIVES The aim of this in vitro study was to compare the remineralizing effect of three rinses: (A) 0.17% sodium monofluorophosphate and 0.05% calcium glycerophosphate (220 ppm fluoride), (B) 0.05% sodium fluoride (220 ppm fluoride) and (C) control mouthrinse (without fluoride or calcium). METHOD AND MATERIALS Demineralized areas were created in 90 pieces of bovine enamel by submerging them in an acid solution (pH 4.4) for 48 hours. Part of the surface was painted with nail varnish to preserve the demineralized area, and the specimens were assigned at random to three groups. The specimens were stored in artificial saliva at pH 7 and 37 degrees C for 30 days. Twice daily they were immersed for 60 seconds in the respective mouthrinse. Following the experimental period, the specimens were bisected and examined by scanning electron microscopy. RESULTS The mean percentage of remineralization produced by the mouthrinses was as follows: (A) 54.08 (95% CI 46.37-61.78), (B) 38.43 (95% CI 30.89-45.98) and (C) 30.18 (95% CI 25.56-34.80). The differences between the three groups were statistically significant. CONCLUSION The results show that the fluoride and calcium mouthrinse has a significantly greater remineralizing capacity than the fluoride mouthrinse with the same fluoride ion concentration under the in vitro conditions of this study.
Estimation of traffic accident costs: a prompted model

Traffic accidents are the reason for 25% of unnatural deaths in Iran. The main objective of this study is to find a simple model for the estimation of economic costs especially in Islamic countries (like Iran) in a straightforward manner. The model can show the magnitude of traffic accident costs with monetary equivalent. Data were collected from different sources that included traffic police records, insurance companies and hospitals. The conceptual framework, in our study, was based on the method of Ayati. He used this method for the estimation of economic costs in Iran. We promoted his method via minimum variables. Our final model has only three available variables which can be taken from insurance companies and police records. The running model showed that the traffic accident costs were US$2.2 million in 2007 for our case study route.
[Genetic composition of the Chilean population. Analysis of mitochondrial DNA polymorphism].

BACKGROUND The analysis of mitochondrial DNA restriction site polymorphisms assigns most Latin American aborgines to four haplogroups. These are characterized by determined polymorphic restriction sites and a deletion of 9 base pairs in the intergenic region V. AIM To study the distribution of mitochondrial DNA haplogroups in Chilean aboriginal groups, as well as in the mixed population of Santiago. MATERIAL AND METHODS One hundred twenty Aymara subjects and 23 Atacameño subjects from the Northern part of Chile and 162 randomly chosen subjects residing in Santiago were studied. DNA was extracted from peripheral lymphocytes. Mitochondrial DNA was amplified by means of polymerase chain reaction. RESULTS The frequency of haplogroup B decreases from north to south. Aymaras in the north have the highest frequency (64%) and it is absent among the Yamanas (previously studied) in the extreme South. Haplogroups C and D show an inverse tendency. It is noteworthy that 84% of mitochondrial haplogroups of the mixed population of Santiago are of Amerindian origin whereas the Y-chromosomes are mainly European. CONCLUSIONS The peculiar distribution of haplotypes indicate that the population of Santiago is the result of an asymmetric mating system in which the females ancestors were mainly Amerindian and the male ancestors mainly European.
Testing the accuracy of a data assimilation algorithm

Variational data assimilation techniques have been successfully used in connection with comprehensive research projects in different fields of science and engineering. The use of the variational data assimilation approach is becoming more and more popular also in the attempts to improve the accuracy of the results obtained by running large-scale air pollution models. Different tests were carried out in order both to check the ability of the data assimilation procedures to improve the initial concentrations and to start building up a benchmark for testing the performance of these procedures on different modern high-speed computers. Selected results from these tests will be presented and discussed in this paper.
Failure of the Expression of Phospholipid Hydroperoxide Glutathione Peroxidase in the Spermatozoa of Human Infertile Males1

Abstract Phospholipid hydroperoxide glutathione peroxidase (PHGPx) was intensely expressed in mitochondria in the midpiece of human spermatozoa by immunostaining with anti-PHGPx monoclonal antibodies. The PHGPx not only reduced phospholipid hydroperoxide but also scavenged hydrogen peroxide in human spermatozoa. We found a dramatic decrease in the level of expression of PHGPx in the spermatozoa of some infertile males by immunoblotting with anti-PHGPx monoclonal antibodies. These individuals accounted for about 10% of the group of 73 infertile males that we examined. All seven patients with PHGPx-defective spermatozoa were classified as suffering from oligoasthenozoospermia, a defect in which both the number and the motility of spermatozoa are significantly below normal. Males with PHGPx-defective spermatozoa accounted for 26% of the 27 infertile males with oligoasthenozoospermia. No defects in expression of PHGPx in spermatozoa were observed in 31 fertile volunteers. After a 3-h incubation, the relative number of motile spermatozoa with low-level expression of PHGPx was significantly lower than that of spermatozoa with normal expression of PHGPx. The PHGPx-defective spermatozoa failed to incorporate rhodamine 123, revealing a loss of mitochondrial membrane potential. Ultrastructual analysis of mitochondria by electron microscopy demonstrated that the morphology of mitochondria in PHGPx-defective spermatozoa was abnormal. The results suggest that failure of the expression of mitochondrial PHGPx in spermatozoa might be one of the causes of oligoasthenozoospermia in infertile men.
Social media, an entrepreneurial opportunity for agriculture-based enterprises

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to analyse the current use of social media in agriculture. The primary focus of the research is to understand the messages and compare social media adopters with non-adopters. The paper addresses wider questions of the use of social media to support on farm entrepreneurship and business and considers what barriers to take up exist within the industry. Design/methodology/approach The paper adopts a case study approach utilising qualitative and quantitative methodology; combining survey data on Welsh farms and semi-structured interviews to gain a deeper understanding of social media use. The research is further informed by online documentary evidence gathered from agricultural Facebook pages and Twitter accounts. The discussion section develops a conceptual model that provides a novel perspective on social media usage in agriculture-based enterprises and discusses the potential for further uptake. Findings The paper identifies barriers to adoption of social media by agriculture-based enterprises. In conclusion, although there are barriers and objections to social media use, its mass influence provides opportunities to engage with stakeholders and develop more entrepreneurial activity. The risk aversion of some users prevents them from moving from the observational mode into one of engagement. Originality/value This paper brings an insight into social media’s potential to assist agriculture-based enterprises in dealing with the tensions between pressures to improve core farming practice and other entrepreneurial activity. The paper raises important implications for policy approaches that might seek to promote a complementary approach to farm technology adoption and entrepreneurial stance.
Full-waveform inversion of crosshole ground penetrating radar data to characterize a gravel aquifer close to the Thur River, Switzerland

Imaging results of crosshole GPR can be significantly improved by using full-waveform inversion compared to conventional ray-based inversion schemes. A recently developed 2D finite difference time domain (FDTD) vectorial full-waveform crosshole radar inversion method was made more flexible to allow using an optimized acquisition setup that reduces the measurement speed and the computational cost. This improved algorithm was used to invert crosshole GPR data acquired within a gravel aquifer in northern Switzerland. Compared to the ray-based inversion, the results from the full-waveform inversion show significantly higher resolution images in the depth range of 6m - 10m. Comparison of the inversion results with borehole logs shows that porosity estimates obtained from Neutron-Neutron data correspond well with the GPR porosities derived from the permittivity distribution in the depth range 6 m - 10 m and that the trends are in good qualitative agreement. Furthermore, there is a good correspondence between the conductivity tomograms and natural Gamma logs at the boundary between the gravel layer and the underlying lacustrine clay sediments.
Susceptibility testing of Propionibacterium acnes comparing agar dilution with E test

Propionibacterium acnes has been identified as a significant agent of nosocomial infections, including endophthalmitis. Data concerning susceptibility of P. acnes to newer beta-lactam antibiotics and fluoroquinolones are limited. Recent reports suggest that quinolones have activity against these organisms sufficient to warrant further study. We undertook a study to select appropriate antimicrobial agents for use in a rabbit model of P. acnes endophthalmitis. We compared the antibiotic susceptibilities of P. acnes by using the National Committee for Clinical Laboratory Standards method of agar dilution with the E test. Thirteen clinical isolates obtained from eye specimens and three American Type Culture Collection control strains were tested against 14 antibiotics. All the clinical isolates were susceptible by both methods to piperacillin, piperacillin-tazobactam, ampicillin-sulbactam, ticarcillin-clavulanate, cefotaxime, cefotetan, ceftriaxone, cefoxitin, and imipenem in addition to clindamycin but were resistant to metronidazole. The clinical P. acnes isolates also displayed high-level susceptibility to ciprofloxacin, sparfloxacin, and ofloxacin. Almost all the P. acnes strains demonstrated E-test MICs within 2 dilutions of the MICs observed by the agar dilution method. Those few strains for which discrepancies were noted exhibited E-test susceptibilities three- to fivefold dilutions lower than the agar dilution method susceptibilities but only with ampicillin-sulbactam, ticarcillin-clavulanate, and/or clindamycin. On the basis of our study, all of clinical eye isolates were susceptible to these newer antimicrobial agents and the two methods demonstrated similar susceptibility patterns.
Collaboration Challenges in Building ML-Enabled Systems: Communication, Documentation, Engineering, and Process

The introduction of machine learning (ML) components in software projects has created the need for software engineers to collabo-rate with data scientists and other specialists. While collaboration can always be challenging, ML introduces additional challenges with its exploratory model development process, additional skills and knowledge needed, difficulties testing ML systems, need for continuous evolution and monitoring, and non-traditional quality requirements such as fairness and explainability. Through inter-views with 45 practitioners from 28 organizations, we identified key collaboration challenges that teams face when building and deploying ML systems into production. We report on common col-laboration points in the development of production ML systems for requirements, data, and integration, as well as corresponding team patterns and challenges. We find that most of these challenges center around communication, documentation, engineering, and process, and collect recommendations to address these challenges.
An Investigation of Extinction-Induced Vocalizations

Children with autism have significant communication delays. Although some children develop vocalizations through shaping and differential reinforcement, others rarely exhibit vocalizations, and alternative methods are targeted in intervention. However, vocal language often remains a goal for caregivers and clinicians. Thus, strategies to increase frequency of vocalizations are needed. In the present study, the authors examined the effect of extinction of previously acquired signed mands on vocalizations in three children diagnosed with autism. Experiment 1 examined the effects of differential reinforcement of vocalizations and extinction of signed mands combined. In Experiment 1, it was unknown whether the reinforcement of vocalizations alone could have produced the effects; therefore, Experiment 2 isolated the effects of reinforcement and extinction by reinforcing vocalizations in baseline. An increase in rate of vocalizations occurred following the application of extinction of signed mands and differential reinforcement of vocalizations in Experiment 1 and following extinction of signed mands in Experiment 2.
A study of hand vein recognition method

In this paper, the theoretical foundation and difficulties of hand vein recognition are introduced at first. Then, the threshold segmentation method and thinning method of hand vein image are deeply studied and a new threshold segmentation method and an improved conditional thinning method are proposed. The method of hand vein image feature extraction based on end points and crossing points is studied initially, and the matching method based on distances is used to match vein images. The matching experiments indicated that this method is efficiently.