Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Regression analysis of overdispersed correlated count data with subject specific covariates

A robust likelihood approach for the analysis of overdispersed correlated count data that takes into account cluster varying covariates is proposed. We emphasise two characteristics of the proposed method: That the correlation structure satisfies the constraints on the second moments and that the estimation of the correlation structure guarantees consistent estimates of the regression coefficients. In addition we extend the mean specification to include within‐ and between‐cluster effects. The method is illustrated through the analysis of data from two studies. In the first study, cross‐sectional count data from a randomised controlled trial are analysed to evaluate the efficacy of a communication skills training programme. The second study involves longitudinal count data which represent counts of damaged hand joints in patients with psoriatic arthritis. Motivated by this study, we generalize our model to accommodate for a subpopulation of patients who are not susceptible to the development of damaged hand joints. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Ultrastructure of Viruses of Myeloblastosis and Erythroblastosis Isolated from Plasma of Leukemic Chickens.∗

Summary Ultrathin sections of the pellets formed by ultracentrifugation of plasmas from birds with myeloblastosis and erythroblastosis have been examined by electron microscopy. In the material from both diseases there were observed structures of similar appearance represented by images of round or oval shape consisting centrally of a dense core of about 40 mμ diameter. These were surrounded by a less dense material and were limited by an outer membrane-like structure with a total particle diameter of about 80 mμ. In many instances the limiting membrane appeared to be double. The ultrastructure of these agents of the avian leukemic diseases was very similar, if not identical, to that of the viruses of other chicken neoplasms. No particles of these characteristics were obtained from the plasmas of apparently healthy chickens.
Hepatic Involvement in Hereditary Hemorrhagic Telangiectasia: Helical Computed Tomography Features in 24 Consecutive Patients

Objective: Among the various organs that may be affected by hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia (HHT), the liver can show various degrees of vascular and parenchymal involvement. The purpose of this prospective study comprising a large series of patients was to reassess the computed tomography (CT) features of hepatic involvement in HHT using helical CT. Methods: Twenty-four consecutive patients with HHT had prospective helical CT of the liver, including noncontrast, arterial-dominant, and portal-dominant phases. The CT images were analyzed by 2 readers in consensus to determine the presence of vascular and parenchymal abnormalities. The diameter of the proper hepatic artery in these 24 patients was compared with that in 24 healthy subjects (Student t test). Results: Helical CT was normal in 5 patients (21%) and abnormal in 19 patients (79%). Vascular abnormalities were found in 16 patients (67%), consisting of marked dilatation of the hepatic artery (n = 16), intrahepatic telangiectases (n = 12), arteriovenous shunting (n = 5), and arterioportal shunting (n=3). The diameter of the proper hepatic artery was greater in the patients with HHT than in control subjects (6.12 ± 2.52 mm vs. 3.29 ± 0.65 mm, respectively; P < 0.05). Helical CT showed nodular hyperplasia in 1 patient with vascular and parenchymal abnormalities, cavernous hemangiomas in 2 patients (1 in a patient with an enlarged hepatic artery, intrahepatic telangiectases, and arteriovenous shunting and 1 in a patient with an isolated enlarged hepatic artery), and biliary cysts in 3 patients (2 biliary cysts were present in 2 patients with an enlarged hepatic artery and intrahepatic telangiectases, and 1 biliary cyst was present without any manifestations in the third patient). Conclusions: Liver involvement in HHT is associated with a constellation of findings on helical CT, including significant dilatation of the proper hepatic artery, telangiectases, arteriovenous shunting, and focal liver lesions. Familiarity with these findings will result in more accurate diagnosis and allows better therapeutic options if necessary.
Cancer survivorship research: State of knowledge, challenges and opportunities

Introduction. Seminal advances in early detection of and treatment strategies for cancer have led to burgeoning numbers of cancer survivors. While most therapeutic modalities for cancer are beneficial and lifesaving, they are associated with adverse long-term and late sequelae. Materials and Methods. Literature review using MEDLINE to identify studies examining adverse medical outcomes and post-treatment follow-up care among long-term survivors. Emerging concepts in survivorship research such as definitional issues, research paradigms and methodologic concerns were also examined. Results. Long-term or late adverse sequelae are more prevalent, serious, and persistent than expected in survivors of pediatric and adult cancer, but remain understudied especially among those diagnosed as adults. Follow-up care relevant to survivorship outcomes is neither standardized nor guideline or evidence based for most adult cancers, and optimal practices have yet to be defined. Discussion. Adverse sequelae contribute to burden of illness, health care costs, and decreased length and quality of survival. To-date, very few studies have compared survivor outcomes pre-and post diagnosis. It is critical to examine under-researched questions and understudied survivor groups. Regular follow-up care and monitoring of health status post cancer treatment should 1) permit the timely diagnosis and treatment of adverse outcomes; 2) enable timely diagnosis and treatment of recurrences; 3) facilitate screening and early detection of second cancer(s); 4) allow for detection and management of co-morbidities; and 5) provide the opportunity for preventive strategies such as lifestyle changes. Research findings to-date underscore the need for continued cancer survivorship research that will: inform our understanding of the mechanisms underlying adverse sequelae; lead to the design of less toxic treatments; test the effectiveness of interventions – medical, pharmacologic, and behavioral – that reduce adverse outcomes; test models of post-treatment follow-up care; develop an evidence base for optimal follow-up care practices; and inform survivor and provider decision making.
Terra firma-forme dermatosis: A report of ten individuals with Duncan’s dirty dermatosis and literature review

Background: Terra-firma forme dermatosis, also known as Duncan’s dirty dermatosis, is a benign skin condition that presents as dirt-like plaques in patients of all ages. Purpose: We describe a series of ten patients that presented with terra-firma forme dermatosis. Methods and Materials: We reviewed PubMed for the following terms: dermatosis, Duncan’s dirty dermatosis, isopropyl alcohol, terra firma, and terra firma-forme dermatosis. We also reviewed papers containing these terms and their references. Results: The diagnosis of terra firma-forme dermatosis was confirmed in all patients who had complete resolution of each lesion after the application of 70% isopropyl alcohol. Conclusions: Terra-firma forme dermatosis is easily diagnosed and treated with 70% isopropyl alcohol. It is important to recognize this benign dermatologic condition since it can be confused with other cutaneous disorders. Therefore, in order to avoid unnecessary referrals, biopsies, blood tests, and medications, we suggest a trial of wiping the skin lesion with 70% isopropyl alcohol pads when the diagnosis of terra-firma forme dermatosis is considered.
Neutrophil Expression of Fas Ligand and Perforin Directs Effector CD8 T Cell Infiltration into Antigen-Challenged Skin

Contact hypersensitivity (CHS) is a T cell response to hapten skin challenge of sensitized individuals proposed to be mediated by hapten-primed CD8 cytolytic T cells. Effector CD8 T cell recruitment into hapten challenge sites to elicit CHS requires prior CXCL1- and CXCL2-mediated neutrophil infiltration into the site. We investigated whether neutrophil activities directing hapten-primed CD8 T cell skin infiltration in response to 2,4-dinitro-1-fluorobenzene (DNFB) required Fas ligand (FasL) and perforin expression. Although DNFB sensitization of gld/perforin−/− mice induced hapten-specific CD8 T cells producing IFN-γ and IL-17, these T cells did not infiltrate the DNFB challenge site to elicit CHS but did infiltrate the challenge site and elicit CHS when transferred to hapten-challenged naive wild-type recipients. Hapten-primed wild-type CD8 T cells, however, did not elicit CHS when transferred to naive gld/perforin−/− recipients. Wild-type bone marrow neutrophils expressed FasL and perforin, and when transferred to sensitized gld/perforin−/− mice, they restored hapten-primed CD8 T cell infiltration into the challenge site and CHS. The FasL/perforin-mediated activity of wild-type neutrophils induced the expression of T cell chemoattractants, CCL1, CCL2, and CCL5, within the hapten-challenged skin. These results indicate FasL/perforin-independent functions of hapten-primed CD8 T cells in CHS and identify new functions for neutrophils in regulating effector CD8 T cell recruitment and immune responses in the skin.
Development of a Very Brief Measure of ADHD: The CHAOS Scale

Objective: We sought to develop a brief, easy to use behavior checklist to address common limitations in the use of ADHD rating scales in busy clinical settings. Method: Items for the CHAOS (Conduct-Hyperactive-Attention Problem-Oppositional Symptom) scale were developed based on the ratings of Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (4th ed.; DSM-IV) criteria provided by experienced clinicians. The scale was administered to mothers of 205 clinically referred children for the purpose of subscale creation based on principal components analysis (PCA). Reliability and validity were analyzed using a separate sample of 139 children referred for psychological testing. Results: PCA resulted in four subscales (Attention Problems, Hyperactivity-Impulsivity, Oppositional Behavior, and Conduct Problems), which demonstrated moderate to high test–retest and interrater reliability. Subscale scores correlated significantly with subscales from a DSM-referenced behavior checklist, along with tests of executive functioning. Conclusion: These data suggest that the CHAOS scale is a brief, psychometrically sound tool for evaluation and monitoring of ADHD symptoms.
A Consensus Approach Toward the Standardization of Back Pain Definitions for Use in Prevalence Studies

Study Design. A modified Delphi study conducted with 28 experts in back pain research from 12 countries. Objective. To identify standardized definitions of low back pain that could be consistently used by investigators in prevalence studies to provide comparable data. Summary of Background Data. Differences in the definition of back pain prevalence in population studies lead to heterogeneity in study findings, and limitations or impossibilities in comparing or summarizing prevalence figures from different studies. Methods. Back pain definitions were identified from 51 articles reporting population-based prevalence studies, and dissected into 77 items documenting 7 elements. These items were submitted to a panel of experts for rating and reduction, in 3 rounds (participation: 76%). Preliminary results were presented and discussed during the Amsterdam Forum VIII for Primary Care Research on Low Back Pain, compared with scientific evidence and confirmed and fine-tuned by the panel in a fourth round and the preparation of the current article. Results. Two definitions were agreed on a minimal definition (with 1 question covering site of low back pain, symptoms observed, and time frame of the measure, and a second question on severity of low back pain) and an optimal definition that is made from the minimal definition and add-ons (covering frequency and duration of symptoms, an additional measure of severity, sciatica, and exclusions) that can be adapted to different needs. Conclusion. These definitions provide standards that may improve future comparisons of low back pain prevalence figures by person, place and time characteristics, and offer opportunities for statistical summaries.
Heavy metal accumulation of Danube river aquatic plants — indication of chemical contamination

In this paper, the ecological status of a section of the Danube River flowing through Serbia from Bezdan to Djerdap was evalutated. Using the chemical composition of water, sediment samples from the littoral zone and dominant aquatic macrophytes, the level of chemical pollution was ascertained. Chemical analyses of the water and sediment indicated that the tributaries flowing into the Danube significantly influenced the chemical load of the water and as a direct consequence, the sediment. The concentration of heavy metals including Cu, Mn and Cd found in plants of the Potamogeton genus, further indicated significant chemical pollution, establishing a clear link between the chemical composition of plant tissues and the chemical composition of water and sediment. This paper therefore describes how the chemical composition of aquatic plants can be used as a reliable indicator for heavy metal pollution of aquatic ecosystems.
A 0.5 V 60 nW fully-differential log-domain band-pass filter with tunable cutoff frequency for biosensor applications

This paper presents a new architecture to implement an analogue continues-time band-pass filter (BPF) with tunable cutoff frequency by employing the log-domain principle for low voltage biosensor applications. The new proposal is based on the analytical description of MOS transistor models in subthreshold regime. The fully-differential BPF is implemented by using two log-domain low-pass filters (LPFs) with different time constants. Meanwhile, a voltage-current converter with good linear performance is also integrated for weak voltage signal conditioning. All these blocks operate in a 0.5 V supply voltage without degrading of the dynamic range and noise performance. The core circuit of the BPF occupies an active area of 0.032 mm2 in a 180 nm standard CMOS process. Post-simulation results show that the BPF has a wide range of cutoff frequencies, which can be tuned from 1 mHz to 10 kHz. The integrated root-mean-square (RMS) of input-referred noise current is 87.8 pArms in the frequency range of 1m Hz to 10 kHz, and the power consumption is only 60 nW at a single 0.5 V supply voltage.
Cytogenetics adds independent prognostic information in adults with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia on MRC trial UKALL XA

Cytogenetic classification of 350 adults with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia on MRC UKALL XA trial showed the following statistically significant associations: t(9;22) (11%) increased with increasing age and leucocyte counts (WBC) and most had a C/pre‐B immunophenotype. t(4;11) (3%) was associated with higher WBCs, increasing age and null immunophenotype. Other abnormalities of 11q (abn11q) (4%) were associated with male sex and T‐cell ALL. High hyperdiploidy (7%) and abn9p (5%) decreased with increasing WBC. High hyperdiploid patients were younger and tended to have C/pre‐B ALL. Triploidy/tetraploidy (3%) decreased and pseudodiploidy (11%) increased with increasing WBC. Cytogenetic classification was prognostically important (chi‐square for heterogeneity of classification = 53.36; P < 0.0001) and added significance to age, sex and WBC. A poor prognosis for patients classed as t(9;22) (13% disease‐free survival at 3 years), as t(4;11) 24% at 3 years) and hypodiploid (11% at 3 years), and good prognosis for abn12p (4% of subjects) and high hyperdiploidy (74% and 59% at 3 years respectively) were statistically significant, but the 54% 3‐year disease‐free survival for patients with t(1;19) was not. The prognosis of patients classed as t(9;22) was independent of other single variables. Abn12p, abnormalities of 11q (including t(4;11) cases) and hypodiploidy added prognostic significance to all other variables combined.
Voronoi Diagrams on Periodic Graphs

A periodic graph models various natural and artficial periodic patterns with repetitions of a given static graph, and have vast applications in crystallography, scheduling, VLSI circuits and systems of uniform recurrence equations. This paper considers a graph Voronoi diagram for a given subset of vertices on a periodic graph. The simplest two-dimensional periodic graph is a square lattice, and the Voronoi diagram on the lattice geometrically corresponds to the $L_1$ Voronoi diagram in the plane. We extend this geometric relation for the two-dimensional periodic graphs, including the honeycomb lattice, kagom\'{e} lattice and two-dimensional periodic graph with small static graph. For these graphs, the graph Voronoi diagram can be represented implicitly by Voronoi diagrams with respect to appropriate? convex-distance functions with extra elaborations.
LE COMITE NATIONAL D'EVALUATION : LES EFFETS DE L'AUTOEVALUATION

Cette these propose d'identifier les effets de l'evaluation dans les etablissements d'enseignement superieur en France. Les questions de notre recherche se sont centrees autour des effets de l'autoevaluation (« evaluation interne ») proposee par le Comite national d'evaluation (CNE) a partir du guide d'evaluation interne le Livre des references (2003). Une etude de terrain, a base d'entretiens aupres de 37 responsables de 17 etablissements d'enseignement superieur evalues par cette procedure, examine les effets obtenus. Les responsables d'etablissements ont exprime librement ce qu'ils ont vecu pendant et apres ces evaluations, quels en ont ete les effets, quelle est leur position concernant la procedure et le guide d'evaluation utilise. Les cadres de nos analyses ont ete les sciences de l'education (pour l'« evaluation » et le systeme d'enseignement superieur) et la sociologie des organisations (pour l'organisation et le fonctionnement des institutions publiques, universites et autres). On conclue sur la situation actuelle de l'evaluation institutionnelle : la creation de la nouvelle Agence d'evaluation de la recherche et de l'enseignement superieur (AERES, 2007), et le passage d'evaluations « formatives » developpees par les CNE, a des evaluations « sommatives ». Les etablissements sont mis devant de nouvelles responsabilites centrees, non sur les processus qu'ils mettent en oeuvre, mais sur les resultats a obtenir.
La dynamique des conseils d'administration des entreprises Tunisiennes : Mouvements de rôles, conflits et changement

Cette these avait pour ambition de mettre en evidence l'effet des conflits sur la dynamique du conseil d'administration. Ceci a ete possible en observant de plus pres ce terrain habituellement caracterise par son opacite et son hermetisme. Ainsi, une approche par etude de cas a ete preconisee. Il a ete possible de mettre en evidence que le conseil d'administration est un organe de gouvernance dynamique et evolutif meme lorsque les objectifs de la ou des personnes qui le dominent se focalisent sur un seul role ou, au mieux, sur deux. Ainsi, il a ete possible de demontrer que les conflits sont susceptibles de modifier la configuration des roles du conseil d'administration. Cependant et contrairement a ce qui a ete avance, aucun cas de changement du role dominant n'a ete verifie parmi les six cas etudies. Ceci nous a permis de conclure que le conflit, meme s’il agit sur les dynamiques du conseil, n’entraine pas forcement une reconfiguration des roles ou un changement du role dominant. Par ailleurs, nous avons considere le role de mediation comme etant un role independant assume par le conseil d’administration (van Ees et al., 2009).
Approaches to a color scannerless range imaging system

Capturing range data for every pixel within an image has the potential for a wide array of new imaging applications. While there are many approaches to accomplishing this goal, one that has been the subject of current research and advanced development is the so-called scannerless range imaging system (SRI) that is based upon an innovation by M.W. Scott (1990) from Sandia National Laboratories. While the design of the SRI system has many desirable features, one of its limitations has been the inability to capture full color images along with the range data. To overcome this limitation several approaches have been proposed. This paper reviews the fundamental SRI concept, describes the alternative approaches to achieve a color version of the system and the advantages, the technological risks, and the limitations of each approach.
Viability Bounds of M2M Communication Using Energy-Harvesting and Passive Wake-Up Radio

Techniques for wireless energy harvesting (WEH) are being emerged as a fascinating set of solutions to extend the lifetime of energy-constrained wireless networks. They are commonly regarded as a key functional technique for almost perpetual communications. With the WEH technology, wireless devices are able to harvest energy from, e.g., different light sources or RF signals broadcast by ambient/dedicated wireless transmitters to support their operation and communications capabilities. The WEH technology will have increasingly wider range of use in upcoming applications for, e.g., wireless sensor networks, machine-to-machine (M2M) communications, and the Internet of Things (IoT). In this paper, the usability and fundamental limits of solar cell or photovoltaic harvesting-based M2M communication systems are studied and presented. The derived theoretical bounds are in essence based on the Shannon capacity theorem, combined with selected propagation loss models, assumed additional link nonidealities, as well as the given energy harvesting and storage capabilities. Fundamental performance limits and available capacity of the communicating link are derived and analyzed, together with extensive numerical results evaluated in different practical scenarios, including realistic implementation losses and the state-of-the-art printed supercapacitor performances. In particular, low-power sensor-type communication applications using passive wake-up radio (WuR)-assisted operation are addressed in this paper. The results show the benefits of using passive WuR, especially when the number of nodes is small. Moreover, the presented analysis principles and results establish clear feasibility regions and performance bounds for WEH-based low rate M2M communications in the future IoT networks.
Steganalysis of least significant bit matching using multi-order differences

This paper presents a learning-based steganalysis/detection method to attack spatial domain least significant bit LSB matching steganography in grayscale images, which is the antetype of many sophisticated steganographic methods. We model the message embedded by LSB matching as the independent noise to the image, and theoretically prove that LSB matching smoothes the histogram of multi-order differences. Because of the dependency among neighboring pixels, histogram of low order differences can be approximated by Laplace distribution. The smoothness caused by LSB matching is especially apparent at the peak of the histogram. Consequently, the low order differences of image pixels are calculated. The co-occurrence matrix is utilized to model the differences with the small absolute value in order to extract features. Finally, support vector machine classifiers are trained with the features so as to identify a test image either an original or a stego image. The proposed method is evaluated by LSB matching and its improved version "Hugo". In addition, the proposed method is compared with state-of-the-art steganalytic methods. The experimental results demonstrate the reliability of the new detector. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.