Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Reticulocyte haemoglobin content vs. soluble transferrin receptor and ferritin index in iron deficiency anaemia accompanied with inflammation

Sir, as shown by Marcovic et al. (2007), among the noninvasive tests currently available for the recognition of iron deficiency anaemia, both serum transferrin receptor (sTfR) levels and reticulocyte haemoglobin content (CHr) are parameters that appear to be unaffected by the acute phase reaction. It has also been shown that the inverse correlation between sTfR and mean corpuscular haemoglobin (MCH; r = )0.65, P = 0 0001) is steeper than that of sTfR vs. mean corpuscular volume (MCV; r = )0.47, P = 0.009; Kivivouri et al., 2000). Accordingly, the failure to include MCH among the parameters for the diagnosis of iron deficiency (Marcovic et al.,2007) was a missed opportunity to compare the correlation of CHr vs. MCH with the correlation between CHr and MCV, so as to steer clinicians away from the ‘classic description of iron deficiency as a state leading to microcytic anaemia’ (Galloway, Stuart & Smellie, 2006; Marcovic et al.,2007; Zimmermann & Hurrell, 2007a) in favour of a greater recognition that subnormal MCH is the more sensitive indicator of this haematinic deficiency (O’Broin et al.,1990; Jolobe, 2000a; Wright et al.,2004; Francis et al.,2005). As the following examples show, the early recognition of iron deficiency, whether by means of sTfr, CHr, or MCH, confers huge diagnostic and therapeutic opportunities in a variety of contexts where iron deficiency has a pivotal role: where identification of iron deficiency leads to the identification of its underlying cause(s) (Jolobe, 2000b), the diagnostic process can hastened by using sTfr for the early identification of iron deficiency (O’Broin et al.,2005). Where iron deficiency could lead to cognitive decline during childhood (Sachdev, Gera & Nestel, 2005), preventive strategies could be optimized by screening even those who are not yet anaemic, using the CHr, acknowledged to be of use in identifying nonanaemic infants with iron deficiency (Ullrich et al.,2005). Where iron deficiency is deemed to be an indication of poor maternal thyroid status during pregnancy, in addition to sTfR (Zimmermann, Burgi & Hurrell, 2007b), MCH, rather than MCV, might have been the most appropriate parameter to include among the covariates for predicting maternal thyroid status.
Investigating interaction in CAVE virtual environments

An experimental comparison of interaction in the real world and a CAVE virtual environment was carried out, varying interaction with and without virtual hands and comparing two manipulation tasks. The double-handed task was possible in the real world but nearly impossible in the VE, leading to changed behavior. The single-handed task showed more errors in the VE but few behavioral differences. Users encountered more errors in the CAVE condition without the virtual hand than with it, and few errors in the real world. Visual feedback caused many usability problems in both tasks. The implications for VE usability and virtual prototyping are discussed.
Functional aspects of the human salivary cystatins in the oral environment.

OBJECTIVES The aim of this study was to investigate the cysteine protease inhibitory properties of the human salivary cystatins S, SA and SN in order to identify potential in vivo target cysteine proteases which may include those involved in periodontal tissue destruction. In addition, the potential role of the salivary cystatins with respect to the tooth mineral balance and pellicle formation was also investigated. METHODS Salivary cystatins S major, S minor, SA, SAT (a truncated form of SA) and SN were purified from human submandibular sublingual saliva. Sensitive fluorometric assays were used to test the inhibitory action of each purified form of salivary cystatin against a variety of cysteine proteases and to determine whether pH affected their inhibitory activity towards the well-characterized cysteine protease papain. Their potential role in the mineral balance of the tooth was assessed by the measurement of calcium binding and the rate of binding to carbonated apatite (CAP). RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS Salivary cystatin SN was found to inhibit the human lysosomal cathepsins B, H and L and salivary cystatin SA was found to inhibit human lysosomal cathepsin L in vitro. These proteases are involved in periodontal tissue destruction and these data suggest that salivary cystatins SA and SN are involved in the control of the proteolytic events in vivo. Salivary cystatin S was not an inhibitor of the cysteine proteases tested suggesting that its primary role is not as a cysteine protease inhibitor. However, S was able to bind more calcium and bind more rapidly to CAP than SA or SN, suggesting that its primary role in the oral environment is likely to be the involvement with the mineral balance of the tooth.
Volume Splitting and Its Applications

Splitting a volumetric object is a useful operation in volume graphics and its applications, but is not widely supported by existing systems for volume-based modeling and rendering. In this paper, we present an investigation into two main algorithmic approaches, namely, explicit and implicit splitting, for modeling and rendering splitting actions. We consider a generalized notion based on scalar fields, which encompasses discrete specifications (e.g., volume data sets) as well as procedural specifications (e.g., hypertextures) of volumetric objects. We examine the correctness, effectiveness, efficiency, and deficiencies of each approach in specifying and controlling a spatial and temporal specification of splitting. We propose methods for implementing these approaches and for overcoming their deficiencies. We present a modeling tool for creating specifications of splitting functions, and describe the use of volume scene graphs for facilitating direct rendering of volume splitting. We demonstrate the use of these approaches with examples of volume visualization, medical illustration, volume animation, and special effects
Cognitive and Social Themes in Chidren's Public Television Programming in the United States

This study employed inductive analysis to analyze forty-two PBS children's educational television series in the United States for cognitive and social themes. Series were grouped by age bands of 6 years and under, mixed age, and 6 years and over. Memoing resulted in ten social and cognitive categories, which were ranked and weighted for comparison. The weighted data were sorted in multiple ways for analysis revealing Social and Emotional Behavior as the most predominant category in PBS children's programming, and Mathematics was one of the least predominant categories utilized as a main focus across all age groups. These results raise a concern for a socio-economic divide between those who utilize public broadcasting as a free resource for school readiness and those who invest in programming and other media with more mathematical content.
The effects of classroom teaching on students' self-efficacy for personal development

The personal development of students is an essential component of school guidance and counselling programmes, but no published research on guidance and counselling has investigated the effects of regular classroom teaching on students' self-efficacy for personal development. In this study, questionnaire items were constructed to measure classroom teaching, student self-efficacy for personal development and student use of deep learning strategies. Data were collected from 16,208 secondary school students in Hong Kong. Using structural equation modelling, regular classroom teaching was found to have a direct effect on personal development self-efficacy as well as an indirect effect through student use of deep learning strategies. Implications of these findings for implementing a whole-school approach to guidance and counselling are discussed.
Bird Species Recognition Using Support Vector Machines

Automatic identification of bird species by their vocalization is studied in this paper. Bird sounds are represented with two different parametric representations: (i) the mel-cepstrum parameters and (ii) a set of low-level signal parameters, both of which have been found useful for bird species recognition. Recognition is performed in a decision tree with support vector machine (SVM) classifiers at each node that perform classification between two species. Recognition is tested with two sets of bird species whose recognition has been previously tested with alternative methods. Recognition results with the proposed method suggest better or equal performance when compared to existing reference methods.
EMC Research in UWB Communications through Pulse Waveform Design

A pulse design method is proposed as ultra-wideband (UWB) pulse shape by using the approximate prolate spheroidal wave functions (APSWF). The simulations show that the APSWF pulse meets the power spectral constraint of the FCC's spectral mask. According to the coexistence and compatibility to be considered in UWB impulse radio communications, the pulse waveform can be adjusted by this method when the spectral mask changed
Purposes and Functions of Sentencing

American sentencing systems have fragmented since the modern sentencing reform movement began in the 1970s and predominant retributive theories of punishment have become obsolete. Indeterminate sentencing was ubiquitous, but when it lost credibility, no single approach replaced it. Every American jurisdiction has a crazy quilt of diverse and, in principle if not practice, irreconcilable elements. Influential retributive theories of punishment were a 1970s response to 1970s problems that no longer galvanize opinion or reform. They are incompatible with the recent growth of restorative and community justice, therapeutic jurisprudence, prisoner reentry programs, and knowledge about the effectiveness of treatment programs. Theories of punishment can provide normative criteria by which policies and practices can be measured, but to be used in that way they must speak to their own times. New sentencing systems more effective and more just than current fragmented systems can be developed, and they will be better if new normative theories germane to them develop in tandem.
Evidence for recombination in the flagellin locus of Campylobacter jejuni: implications for the flagellin gene typing scheme

The flagellin subunit of the flagellar filament in Campylobacter jejuni is encoded by two highly homologous tandem genes, flaA and flaB. The flaA gene was sequenced in 18 strains of C. jejuni, including isolates from three outbreak groups. Sequences obtained were compared with flaA sequences available in the GenBank database, and all were analyzed for mosaic gene structure by using recently described statistical tests for detecting gene conversion among aligned sets of sequences. Strong evidence was found supporting recombination between flaA genes of different strains (i.e., intergenomic recombination). Intragenomic recombination between the flaA and flaB genes of C. jejuni TGH9011 was also demonstrated. Both mechanisms of recombination may act as a potential means by which pathogenic strains can generate increased antigenic diversity, so allowing them to escape the immunological responses of the host. Furthermore, demonstration of recombination within and between flagellin loci of natural strains suggests that flagellin gene typing (restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis of PCR-amplified flagellin genes) cannot be considered a stable method for long-term monitoring of pathogenic Campylobacter populations.
Biomarker of Early Glomerular Injury in Pre-eclampsia

Objectives: Nephrin is an integral part of podocytes that together with endothelial cells and the basement form the glomerular filtration barrier. Placental ischemia triggers a cascade of events that ultimately result in endothelial malfunction, hypertension, podocytopathy and fetal compromise. Methods: We review the literature to determine if urine nephrin measurements could serve as a useful biomarker to detect early podocyte injury in pre-eclampsia. Results: Our search identifies eight studies published to date. The findings of these studies demonstrate that urine nephrin excretion plays a critical role in the pathogenesis of proteinuria during pre-eclampsia and that this is a good indicator of glomerular injury. Conclusion: There is thus an urgent need for a large multi-centre clinical study using standardized recruitment criteria to determine the full potential of this biomarker in clinical practice.
West African Insurgencies in Agrarian Perspective: Côte d’Ivoire and Sierra Leone Compared

This paper examines agrarian issues in civil wars in Cote d’Ivoire and Sierra Leone. Attention is paid to two different ways in which lineage society evolved during the colonial and post-colonial periods. The motivations of fighters are related to these different trajectories of agrarian social change. In Cote d’Ivoire youth militia fought to uphold a lineage-based social order, but in Sierra Leone a comparable group of young fighters sought to overturn it. Large migrant populations on a forest frontier are an important factor in Cote d’Ivoire, while in Sierra Leone significance attaches to an excluded agrarian underclass. Not all African conflicts are ethnic conflicts; autochthony is shown to be a factor in one conflict and class in the other. Approaches to post-war reconstruction based on undifferentiated notions of community should be resisted.
Negotiating Agents

opinion about his or her negotiation skills. However, even professional negotiators can still improve their skills considerably. “Most people are ineffective negotiators . Fewer than 4 percent of managers reach win-win outcomes when put to the test . Even on issues for which people were in perfect agreement, they fail to realize it 50 percent of the time” (Thompson 2005). Although many forms of negotiation exist, in this article we focus on integrative bargaining (see Walton and McKersie 1965). Negotiation is a prime example of a task for which the human mind is but partially equipped, and for which artificial intelligence (AI) can provide assistance. Among others AI can provide search techniques, computational heuristics to tackle exponential problem spaces, strategic reasoning, argumentation, learning techniques, and affective computing to handle the complications that arise in negotiations. More difficult problems that are not as easily solved by artificial intelligence techniques, however, include obtaining the common knowledge necessary to understand negotiation domains and arbitrary human conversations that take place during negotiations. We aim for synergy between human and agent in such a way that the human weaknesses are covered by the strengths of the agent and the weaknesses of the agent are covered by the strengths of the human. This implies that tasks should be divided over humans and agents in a way that respects those capabilities. On the one hand, humans are better equipped to understand the context and the emotional fluctuations in human-human interaction, they are capable of finding new Articles
Neurochemical pathology and therapeutic strategies in degenerative dementia

The complex pathology of Alzheimer's disease is reviewed in relation to: structural abnormalities such as plaques, tangles and synapse loss; disturbances of the cholinergic, noradrenergic, 5-HT and peptide neurotransmitter systems; the involvement of specific proteins including amyloid precursor protein and microtubule-associated tau; signal transduction systems; and neurotrophic factors. Comparisons are made between classical Alzheimer's disease and Lewy body dementia, which differ in respect to the incidence of psychosis, episodic disturbances of consciousness, the extent of the cholinergic abnormality and the occurrence of both Lewy bodies and tangles—differences which are likely to be of practical importance in relation to the design of rational therapy. Current trends in dementia therapy, assessed on the basis of remits of recent drug trials, generally indicate some benefits with many of the different agents being tested, and emphasize the existence of subgroups of responders. The importance of appre.
Medical Video Summarization using Central Tendency-Based Shot Boundary Detection

Due to the advancement in multimedia technologies and wide spread usage of internet facilities; there is rapid increase in availability of video data. More specifically, enormous collections of Medical videos are available which has its applications in various aspects like medical imaging, medical diagnostics, training the medical professionals, medical research and education. Due to abundant availability of information in the form of videos, it needs an efficient and automatic technique to manage, analyse, index, access and retrieve the information from the repository. The aim of this paper is to extract good visual content representatives-Summary of keyframes. In order to achieve this, the authors propose a new method for video shot segmentation which in turn leads to extraction of better keyframes as representative for summary. The proposed method is experimented and evaluated using publically available medical videos. As a result, better precision and recall is obtained for shot detection when compared to that of the recent related methods. Evaluation of video summary is done using fidelity measure and compression ratio.
Specific Regions of Contact between Human T-cell Leukemia Virus Type I Tax Protein and DNA Identified by Photocross-linking*

The human T-cell leukemia virus type I Tax protein forms a ternary complex on DNA in association with a host factor, the cyclic AMP response element-binding protein (CREB). An understanding of the precise geometry of this complex has been elusive. We have used photocross-linking to investigate Tax-DNA contacts. Our data show that Tax contacts the DNA at two symmetric positions 14 nucleotides apart on either side of the Tax responsive element. The presence of symmetric, widely separated regions of contact suggests that at least two molecules of Tax are present in the complex. Mapping the contacts onto a three-dimensional model of the CREB-DNA binary complex shows that they lie on the same face of the DNA near the regions where the N termini of the CREB bZIP domains enter the major groove. This location correlates well with previous evidence that CREB amino acid residues immediately N-terminal to the bZIP domain are crucial for the formation of the ternary complex. The limited number of cross-links observed suggests that contacts are primarily with the phosphate backbone and does not support the idea that a major structural element of the Tax protein inserts into the major or minor grooves of the DNA.
Does Neighborhood Really Matter?

Theory suggests that it is important to consider the housing-market response to policy in terms of adjustments among housing submarkets. Defining areas as housing submarkets may be better for choosing, analyzing, and predicting the effects of revitalization policies than defining them as historically recognized neighborhoods if these neighborhoods do not reflect consumer behavior. The first key step in the submarket approach is to ascertain whether current definitions of neighborhoods adequately represent submarkets defined by consumer assessments of housing quality. This article uses the neighborhood planning of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, to illustrate how quality-leveldefined housing submarkets compare to planners' administrative boundaries and historically recognized neighborhoods. The housing submarkets of the city diverge substantially from planner-defined geographic areas of analysis. This finding suggests that predefined neighborhoods, while valid for some purposes, do not define areas for predicting the housing-market response to policy.
Exercise training and the promotion of neurogenesis and neurite outgrowth in the hippocampus

There is a developing consensus that physical exercise is useful as a preventive strategy for cognitive impairment found in patients with dementia, particularly those affected by Alzheimer’s disease. Many reports state that the exercise-induced improvement of cognitive performance is an enhanced expression of a brain-derived neurotrophic factor and adult neurogenesis in the hippocampus, which is an area of the brain that is important for learning and memory. The process of adult hippocampal neurogenesis consists of the proliferation of neural progenitor cells (NPCs) and neural differentiation and maturation involving the neurite (axons and dendrites) extension of NPCs. Exercise training is well known as a promoter of cell proliferation and survival in the hippocampus; however, little is known about the effects of exercise training on neurite outgrowth in the hippocampus. This review presents the effect of exercise training on neurogenesis and neurite outgrowth in the hippocampus.
Adaptive Top-k Algorithm in SLCA-Based XML Keyword Search

Computing top-k results matching XML queries is gaining importance due to the increasing of large XML repositories. In this paper, we propose a novel two-layer-based index construction and associated algorithms for efficiently computing top-k results for SLCA-based XML keyword search. We have conducted expensive experiments and the results show great advantage on efficiency compared with existing approaches.
Extended- Versus Narrower-Spectrum Antibiotics for Appendicitis

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Appendicitis guidelines recommend either narrower- or extended-spectrum antibiotics for treatment of complicated appendicitis. The goal of this study was to compare the effectiveness of extended-spectrum versus narrower-spectrum antibiotics for children with appendicitis. METHODS: We performed a retrospective cohort study of children aged 3 to 18 years discharged between 2011 and 2013 from 23 freestanding children’s hospitals with an appendicitis diagnosis and appendectomy performed. Subjects were classified as having complicated appendicitis if they had a postoperative length of stay ≥3 days, a central venous catheter placed, major or severe illness classification, or ICU admission. The exposure of interest was receipt of systemic extended-spectrum antibiotics (piperacillin ± tazobactam, ticarcillin ± clavulanate, ceftazidime, cefepime, or a carbapenem) on the day of appendectomy or the day after. The primary outcome was 30-day readmission for wound infection or repeat abdominal surgery. Multivariable logistic regression, propensity score weighting, and subgroup analyses were used to control for confounding by indication. RESULTS: Of 24 984 patients, 17 654 (70.7%) had uncomplicated appendicitis and 7330 (29.3%) had complicated appendicitis. Overall, 664 (2.7%) patients experienced the primary outcome, 1.1% among uncomplicated cases and 6.4% among complicated cases (P < .001). Extended-spectrum antibiotic exposure was significantly associated with the primary outcome in complicated (adjusted odds ratio, 1.43 [95% confidence interval, 1.06 to 1.93]), but not uncomplicated, (adjusted odds ratio, 1.32 [95% confidence interval, 0.88 to 1.98]) appendicitis. These odds ratios remained consistent across additional analyses. CONCLUSIONS: Extended-spectrum antibiotics seem to offer no advantage over narrower-spectrum agents for children with surgically managed acute uncomplicated or complicated appendicitis.