Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Preanalytical phase – a continuous challenge for laboratory professionals

Preanalytical phase is the most vulnerable part of the total testing process and is considered to be among the greatest challenges to the laboratory professionals. However, preanalytical activities, management of unsuitable specimens and reporting policies are not fully standardized, nor harmonized worldwide. Several standards related to blood sampling and sample transportation and handling are available, but compliance to those guidelines is low, especially outside the laboratory and if blood sampling is done without the direct supervision of the laboratory staff. Furthermore, for some most critical procedures within the preanalytical phase, internationally accepted guidelines and recommendations as well as related quality measures are unfortunately unavailable. There is large heterogeneity in the criteria for sample rejection, the diff erent strategies by which unacceptable samples are managed, processed and test results reported worldwide. Management of unacceptable specimens warrants therefore immediate harmonization. Alongside the challenging and long road of patient safety, preanalytical phase off ers room for improvement, and Editors at Biochemia Medica Journal definitely hope to continue providing a respective mean for reporting studies on diff erent preanalytical phase topics. With pleasure and delight we invite potential future authors to submit their articles examining the quality of various preanalytical activities to Biochemia Medica. We will keep nurturing this topic as our prominent feature and by this we hope to be able to deliver valid evidence for some future guidelines and recommendations.
The impact of high grade glial neoplasms on human cortical electrophysiology

Objective The brain’s functional architecture of interconnected network-related oscillatory patterns in discrete cortical regions has been well established with functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) studies or direct cortical electrophysiology from electrodes placed on the surface of the brain, or electrocorticography (ECoG). These resting state networks exhibit a robust functional architecture that persists through all stages of sleep and under anesthesia. While the stability of these networks provides a fundamental understanding of the organization of the brain, understanding how these regions can be perturbed is also critical in defining the brain’s ability to adapt while learning and recovering from injury. Methods Patients undergoing an awake craniotomy for resection of a tumor were studied as a unique model of an evolving injury to help define how the cortical physiology and the associated networks were altered by the presence of an invasive brain tumor. Results This study demonstrates that there is a distinct pattern of alteration of cortical physiology in the setting of a malignant glioma. These changes lead to a physiologic sequestration and progressive synaptic homogeneity suggesting that a de-learning phenomenon occurs within the tumoral tissue compared to its surroundings. Significance These findings provide insight into how the brain accommodates a region of “defunctionalized” cortex. Additionally, these findings may have important implications for emerging techniques in brain mapping using endogenous cortical physiology.
Layered backpressure scheduling for delay reduction in ad hoc networks

Packet scheduling in wireless ad hoc networks is a fundamental problem for ad hoc networking. Backpressure scheduling is a solid and throughput optimal policy for such networks, but suffers from increased delays. In this article, we present an holistic approach to improve upon the delay problems of backpressure-type algorithms. We develop two scheduling policies, namely Voting-based and Layered backpressure routing which both are throughput optimal. We experimentally compare the proposed policies against all the delay-aware backpressure policies and conclude that Layered backpressure is a high performance policy compromising a little delay for robustness, low computational complexity and simplicity.
Interplay between Inflammation and Cellular Stress Triggered by Flaviviridae Viruses

The Flaviviridae family comprises several human pathogens, including Dengue, Zika, Yellow Fever, West Nile, Japanese Encephalitis viruses, and Hepatitis C Virus. Those are enveloped, single-stranded positive sense RNA viruses, which replicate mostly in intracellular compartments associated to endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and Golgi complex. Virus replication results in abundant viral RNAs and proteins, which are recognized by cellular mechanisms evolved to prevent virus infection, resulting in inflammation and stress responses. Virus RNA molecules are sensed by Toll-like receptors (TLRs), RIG-I-like receptors (RIG-I and MDA5) and RNA-dependent protein kinases (PKR), inducing the production of inflammatory mediators and interferons. Simultaneously, the synthesis of virus RNA and proteins are distinguished in different compartments such as mitochondria, ER and cytoplasmic granules, triggering intracellular stress pathways, including oxidative stress, unfolded protein response pathway, and stress granules assembly. Here, we review the new findings that connect the inflammatory pathways to cellular stress sensors and the strategies of Flaviviridae members to counteract these cellular mechanisms and escape immune response.
GAT-3, a High-Affinity GABA Plasma Membrane Transporter, Is Localized to Astrocytic Processes, and It Is Not Confined to the Vicinity of GABAergic Synapses in the Cerebral Cortex

The termination of GABA synaptic action by high-affinity, Na+-dependent, neuronal, and glial plasma membrane transporters plays an important role in regulating neuronal activity in physiological and pathological conditions. We have investigated the cellular localization and distribution in the cerebral cortex of adult rats of one GABA transporter (GAT), GAT-3, by immunocytochemistry with affinity-purified polyclonal antibodies directed to its predicted C terminus that react monospecifically with a protein of ∼70 kDa. Light microscopic studies revealed specific GAT-3 immunoreactivity (ir) in small punctate structures, and it was never observed in fibers or cell bodies. No changes in immunostaining were observed in sections incubated with GAT-3 antibodies preadsorbed with the related rat GAT-1 or mouse GAT-2/BGT-1 C-terminal peptides, whereas in sections incubated with GAT-3 antibodies preadsorbed with rat GAT-3 C-terminal peptide, ir was not present. The highest number of GAT-3-positive puncta was in layer IV and in a narrow band corresponding to layer Vb, followed by layers II and III. Many GAT-3-positive puncta were in close association with pyramidal and nonpyramidal neuron cell bodies. Ultrastructural studies showed that GAT-3 ir was localized exclusively to astrocytic processes, which were found in the neuropil and adjacent to axon terminals having either symmetric or asymmetric specializations. In sections processed by both preembedding labeling for GAT-3 and postembedding immunogold labeling for GABA, only some of the GAT-3-positive astrocytic processes were found close to GABAergic profiles. These findings on the localization of GAT-3 in the cerebral cortex indicate that this transporter mediates GABA uptake into glial cells, and suggest that glial GABA uptake may function to limit the spread of GABA from the synapse, as well as to regulate overall GABA levels in the neuropil.
Anatomy of the facial and vestibulocochlear nerves in the internal auditory canal.

PURPOSE To define the anatomy of the facial and vestibulocochlear nerves in the internal auditory canal on parasagittal CT scans of cadaveric specimens and to compare this anatomy with findings on in vivo T2-weighted two-dimensional fast spin-echo and three-dimensional turbo spin-echo MR images. METHODS Thirty-eight formalin-fixed cadaveric temporal bones were examined with 1-mm-thick contiguous parasagittal CT sections to determine the anatomy of the nerves in the internal auditory canal. Ten specimens underwent limited dissection. Fourteen canals in 12 patients were examined with T2-weighted two-dimensional fast spin-echo oblique parasagittal MR imaging and 12 canals in 8 patients were examined with T2-weighted three-dimensional turbo spin-echo MR imaging. The anatomy depicted on MR images was compared with the cadaveric anatomy. RESULTS On cadaveric specimens, the facial nerve coursed superior and anterior to the vestibulocochlear nerve as a tubular structure throughout the length of the canal. The vestibulocochlear nerve entered the canal as a tubular structure but became crescent shaped in cross section in the middle portion of the canal and separated into individual nerves only in the most lateral portion of the canal. The anatomy of the nerves differed among the specimens. Similar anatomy was demonstrated by MR imaging. CONCLUSION The ability to define the nerves in the internal auditory canal in the parasagittal plane may provide greater sensitivity and specificity in identifying abnormalities of this anatomic structure.
Analyzing Test Case Selection using Proposed Hybrid Technique based on BCO and Genetic Algorithm and a Comparison with ACO

Regression Testing is primarily a maintenance activity that is performed to ensure the validity of modified software. But due to time and cost constraint entire test suite can't be executed. Thus, it becomes a necessity to reduce the test case suite and select a subset of test cases from test suite that can be executed in minimum time and has the ability to cover all the faults. A new hybrid approach based on bee colony optimization and genetic algorithm was proposed to reduce the test suite. This paper presents a tool named HBG_TCS that implements the proposed approach and the study is done to evaluate the correctness and efficiency of the proposed tool and a comparison of the proposed approach is made with the ant colony optimization.
Executive Pay, Free Float, and Firm Performance: Evidence from Germany

In this paper we examine potential structural changes in the setup of executive payment schemes in Germany during the 1990 to 2002 period. Given substantial changes in corporate governance during this period, our initial hypothesis is that executive pay in later periods shows a stronger relation with firm performance than it was the case in the early 1990s. However, empirical evidence based on 1990 to 1993 versus 1998 to 2002 data does not support this hypothesis. Regression results based on a WLS-WITHIN estimator explain up to 90 percent of the variability of normalized executive pay while the relation with measures of firm performance rather weakens for the later period. Normalized executive pay significantly increases with free float. Also, a substantial increase in payments during the 1990s, which amounts to a 47 percent increase on average, is higher for companies with larger free float. We additionally find that German companies which obtained a U.S. listing show higher increases in normalized payments. Our overall evidence is consistent with the hypothesis that executive payment decisions may result under deficient mechanisms of corporate control.
Histogram Enhancement Using Adaptive Segmentation Algorithm

An image enhancement algorithm based on adaptive segmentation for image contrast enhancement is presented. In this study, an automatic adaptive segmentation histogram enhancement (ASHE), based on discriminant analysis, is utilized to recursively segment an image into several clusters first. After segmentation, different object and background components are segmented into separate clusters, called object planes. Then, the dynamic range of each object plane is adjusted according to its visual characteristics. Finally, each object plane is enhanced within the new dynamic range respectively. Because the proposed algorithm can automatically segment an image into different object planes and enhance the image according to the visual characteristic of each object plane, each object and background components of the image can be well enhanced. Experimental results for poor-contrast images and the comparisons for some of the previous studies are provided to demonstrate the robustness, visual quality, and effectiveness of the proposed algorithm.
Exploring Controversy in Twitter

Among the topics discussed on social media, some spark more heated debate than others. For example, experience suggests that major political events, such as a vote for healthcare law in the US, would spark more debate be-tween opposing sides than other events, such as a concert of a popular music band. Exploring the topics of discussion on Twitter and understanding which ones are controver-sial is extremely useful for a variety of purposes, such as for journalists to understand what issues divide the public, or for social scientists to understand how controversy is manifested in social interactions.
5 R 1 : Stochastic Processes Coursework

The vast improvements in computational power have led to a surge in interest in Markov Chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) methods. MCMC in the form of the Gibbs sampler and the Metropolis-Hastings algorithm allows any distribution to be simulated on a finite-dimensional state space specified by any conditional density. The underlying principle is simple: if one wishes to sample randomly from a specific probability distribution, one should design a Markov chain whose equilibrium state is that particular distribution. Then if the number of iterations reaches burn-in, the record of the state of the Markov chain is an approximate draw from equilibrium. Unlike expectation-maximization (EM) [1], the Markov chain can be simulated from any arbitrary starting point and convergence in distribution to the target distribution π(ω) is guaranteed when the number of iterations reaches burn-in. However once convergence is reached, further samples represent those from the target density π(ω).
An oral spleen tyrosine kinase (Syk) inhibitor for rheumatoid arthritis.

BACKGROUND Spleen tyrosine kinase (Syk) is an important modulator of immune signaling. The objective of this phase 2 study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of R788, an oral inhibitor of Syk, in patients with active rheumatoid arthritis despite methotrexate therapy. METHODS We enrolled 457 patients who had active rheumatoid arthritis despite long-term methotrexate therapy in a 6-month, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. The primary outcome was the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) 20 response (which indicates at least a 20% reduction in the number of both tender and swollen joints and improvement in at least three of five other criteria) at month 6. RESULTS R788, at a dose of 100 mg twice daily and at a dose of 150 mg once daily, was significantly superior to placebo at month 6 (ACR 20 response rates of 67% and 57%, respectively, vs. 35%; P<0.001 for the comparison of both doses with placebo). It was also significantly superior with respect to ACR 50, which indicates at least a 50% improvement (43% and 32% vs. 19%; P<0.001 for the comparison of the 100-mg dose with placebo, P=0.007 for the comparison of the 150-mg dose with placebo) and ACR 70 (28% and 14% vs. 10%; P<0.001 for the comparison of the 100-mg dose with placebo, P=0.34 for the comparison of the 150-mg dose with placebo). A clinically significant effect was noted by the end of the first week of treatment. Adverse effects included diarrhea (in 19% of subjects taking the 100-mg dose of R788 vs. 3% of those taking placebo), upper respiratory infections (14% vs. 7%), and neutropenia (6% vs. 1%). R788 was associated with an increase in systolic blood pressure of approximately 3 mm Hg between baseline and month 1, as compared with a decrease of 2 mm Hg with placebo; 23% of the patients taking R788 vs. 7% of the patients receiving placebo required the initiation of or a change in antihypertensive therapy. CONCLUSIONS In this phase 2 study, a Syk inhibitor reduced disease activity in patients with rheumatoid arthritis; adverse events included diarrhea, hypertension, and neutropenia. Additional studies will be needed to further assess the safety and efficacy of Syk-inhibition therapy in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. (Funded by Rigel; ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT00665925.)
AÇÃO AFIRMATIVA NO BRASIL: MULTICULTURALISMO OU JUSTIÇA SOCIAL?

O presente artigo pretende responder se as politicas de acao afirmativa racial hoje adotadas no Brasil se encaixam no modelo de politicas multiculturais da maneira como as concebe Will Kymlicka. A questao se justifica para alem do interesse teorico, porque elas foram tomadas como uma importacao do multiculturalismo anglo-saxao pelos detratores da acao afirmativa. Para tal, emprestamos o conceito de cultura societal, formulado por Kymlicka, e examinamos como a acao afirmativa opera em relacao a ele. Em seguida, examinamos os argumentos acerca dessas politicas em varios âmbitos de debate e deliberacao (Constituicao de 1988, Governo Federal, STF, Programas de Cotas de universidades publicas e jornalismo), para mostrar que a acao afirmativa no Brasil esta longe de ser uma politica tipica do multiculturalismo, ou seja, do reconhecimento da diferenca cultural. Ha tracos aqui e ali de argumentos multiculturalistas na Constituicao, no debate publico e mesmo na decisao do STF, mas a logica principal que vigora e a da justica social, nos termos de um liberalismo igualitario.
Tachyon Matter

It is shown that classical decay of unstable D-branes in bosonic and superstring theories produces pressureless gas with non-zero energy density. The energy density is stored in the open string ﬁelds, even though around the minimum of the tachyon potential there are no open string degrees of freedom. We also give a description of this phenomenon in an eﬀective ﬁeld theory.
A Situated , Embodied Spoken Language System for Household Robotics

We present an embodied, situated natural language user in the form of a spoken dialog system on the STanford AI Robot (STAIR). Combining a limited vocabulary HMM-based speech recognizer with sliding window object detection from monocular vision and and robotic manipulation with a five degree-offreedom arm, we demonstrate the feasability of a mobile robot able to find (perceive) and manipulate common household objects. Our main focus is on the connection from speech and language to non-linguistic knowledge (perception of objects currently in the visual field) and capabilities (e.g. grasping of objects or speech synthesis). This task provides a natural extrinsic evaluation of the various subcomponents. We can now more accurately address questions such as how accurate our object recognition system needs to be to realize a concrete activity.
Gallai Theorems Involving Domination Parameters

In 1959 Gallai [5] showed that the vertex independence number and the vertex covering number of a graph G = (V,E) sum to |V |. Over the last twenty years, many results similar to Gallai’s Theorem have been observed [3]. These theorems are referred to as “Gallai Theorems” and usually have the form: + = n. Slater [17] described several graph subset parameters using linear programs (LP) and integer programs. Gallai Theorems for the resulting parameters may be obtained by using the concepts of LPduality and complementarity. Slater defines several of the parameters This work was done while the author visited Clemson University.
Transposable element insertion location bias and the dynamics of gene drive in mosquito populations

Some vector‐borne disease control strategies using transgenic mosquitoes require transgene spread to high frequency in populations. Transposable elements (TEs) are DNA sequences that replicate and transpose within the genomes of other organisms and may therefore be represented in the next generation in higher frequencies than predicted by Mendelian segregation. This over‐representation has allowed some TEs to spread through natural populations. Transgenes incorporated within a TE sequence are expected to be driven into populations as long as there is a positive balance between fitness costs and over‐representation. Models have been used to examine parameters that affect this balance but did not take into account biased insertion of TEs to linked sites in the genome. A simulation model was created to examine the impact of insertion bias on TE spread in mosquito populations. TEs that induce no fitness costs are predicted to increase in frequency over a wide range of parameter values but spread is slower for lower levels of transposition and non‐local movement. If TEs are costly, high proportions of local movement can slow or halt spread. To function as a robust transgene drive mechanism a TE should replicate and transpose > 10%/insert/generation, induce < 1% fitness cost/insert, and move preferentially to unlinked sites in the genome.
Use and Effects of Malaria Control Measures in Pregnancy in Lagos, Nigeria

In Nigeria, malaria causes up to 11% of maternal mortality. Our main aim was to find out the most common mosquito control measures employed by the pregnant women in Lagos and their effects on malaria infection. The study was carried out over a period of 6 months during which trained interviewers administered questionnaires to 400 pregnant women. The prevalence of malaria was 8.4%. There was no significant association between the prevalence of malaria and age, level of education, or occupation of the participants. Pregnant women in the age range 26-30 had the mean parasite density (409.9±196.80). Insecticide spray (32.8%), mosquito coil (27.5%), and insecticide-treated nets (ITN) (15.5%) were the major mosquito control measures employed by the participants while the prevalence of infection among them were 2.3%, 6.2%, and 3.2%, respectively (P<0.05). Only 18.3% of the women had taken more than one dose of intermittent preventive treatment (IPT), while another 11.8% had taken a single dose. The infection rate among them was 4.1% and 6.4%, respectively. Malaria prevalence was highest among those who had not received any dose of IPT (10%). This study showed that the use of ITN and IPT among the pregnant women were still unacceptably low. It also showed that the use of insecticide spray which was the most common malaria control measure adopted by the participants was effective despite the fact that it is not a National Malaria Control Policy. We recommend that a sustained integrated mosquito management and public education should be strengthened in Nigeria.
Quantification of skin movements artefacts using MRI

we present a methodology for anatomical modeling, motion tracking and skin movement quantification of the hip joint using Magnetic Resonance Imaging. First, we capture the subject’s anatomy with a static protocol and reconstruct the three-dimensional models of the hip joint. Then reflective markers are attached to the subject’s limb and a dynamic protocol is used to track their trajectories. It is known that the skin surface deforms while in motion due to muscle contraction leading to errors in trajectories estimation. In this study, the displacements of the markers relative to the underlying bone are observed and quantified in all three axes. A statistical analysis is performed on the data and a strong correlation is determined between the skin movements and the instantaneous kinematics variables of the joint especially for hip rotations. The quantification of these errors could be used as a basis for a correction procedure for hip joint kinematics. Keywords-component; hip joint; MRI, skin aretefacts, statistical analysis;