Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Peripheral Blood Neutrophil to Lymphocyte Ratio is Positively Correlated with Tumour Aggressiveness in Testicular Cancer

Introduction:Testicular cancer represents between 1% to 1.5% of all male neoplasms and 5% of urological tumours in general. The Neutrophil to Lymphocyte Ratio (NLR), which can easily be calculated from routine Complete Blood Counts (CBCs) with differentials, is a marker of host inflammation and has been shown to be an independent prognosticator for a variety of solid malignancies. Materials and Methods: We have retrospectively analyzed 128 patients who diagnosed testicular cancer between January 2006 and July 2012. Patient demographics, preoperative full blood count and standard histologic tumour characteristics were recorded. Factors analyzed included patient age, tumour size, histological subtype, Pathological Tumour (pT) stage, N stage, neutrophil count, lymphocyte count, preoperative and postoperative NLR, alfa fetoprotein, B-HCG and LDH levels. Routine full blood count results were collected as part of the pre-treatment protocols. Results: Totaly 128 patients were analyzed retrospectively. The mean lymphocyte counts of all patients were 4.74 ±2.88 (range 0.32-5.72) and neutrophil counts were 5.93 ± 2.88 (range 1.87-17). The mean NLR was 3.70 ± 2.87 (range 1.04-21.94). The cut-off rate for NLR was calculated as 3,72. 87 patients were <3,72 NLR and 41 patients were ≥3,72 NLR. The mean age for the group <3,72 NLR were 41 (10,6%) and for group ≥3,72 NLR were 34,9 (8,5%) months. There were statistically significant association between age and NLR ratio (p: 0,002). Discussion: NLR is one of the widely used markers for systemic inflammatory reactions. Although increased pretreatment NLR is associated with a poor outcome for various types of cancers, we found a positive association between preoperative NLR and age, tumour histopathology, preoperative serum markers and rete testes invasion. In the group of NLR < 3,72 , tumour serum markers were lower than NLR>3,72 group. In the seminoma histopathology NLR value was < 3,72 and that was statistically significant. Conclusion: NLR is a simple, rapid and reliable method of how to evaluate the extent of stress or systemic inflammation. Our prognostic model based on the NLR and pathologic factors could be helpful in clinical practice. Also, clinicians should remember that baseline NLR differs among individuals.
Anticancer agents : qualitative and quantitative aspects

Typically, regulation of human exposure to carcinogenic compounds is based mainly on qualitative considerations for compounds that cause cancer in experimental animals. This approach is based on the old paradigm of using animal models to understand human physiology and pathology; in the regulatory setting, no alternatives to this paradigm have been available specifically in relation to cancer (Maronpot et al., 2004). Quantitative aspects of carcinogenesis, including estimates of carcinogenic potency in animals and in humans, would have both regulatory and scientific implications. For animals, a systematic assessment of potency based on bioassay data has been generated from values of TD50, i.e. the chronic dose rate (in mg/kg body weight [bw]/day) that is estimated to reduce the proportion of tumour-free animals by 50% (Gold et al., 2005). For humans, exposures to ionizing radiation, occupational carcinogens, and tobacco smoke have been the primary sources of quantitative data on cancer risks, including considerations of dose, duration of exposure, and latency period (i.e. time from exposure to occurrence of cancer) (Breslow and Day, 1987; Moolgavkar et al., 1999; Brenner et al., 2003; Pierce and Vaeth, 2003; Preston et al., 2003, 2004; IARC, 2004). However, because of the complexities of these various human exposures, comparisons of potency assessments with data from animals have been hampered. An additional source of quantitative data on cancer risks is the group of patients who are survivors of first primary cancers after treatment with anticancer therapy and who are monitored for treatment-related risks of second primary cancers (Travis, 2006; Travis et al., 2006). Active research on second cancers has been carried out since the 1980s, but because of the increasing numbers of patients enrolled and the extended periods of follow-up, the more recent studies provide the most comprehensive evidence on the magnitude of the effects part 1.
AutoCV Challenge Design and Baseline Results

We present the design and beta tests of a new machine learning challenge called AutoCV (for Automated Computer Vision), which is the first event in a series of challenges we are planning on the theme of Automated Deep Learning. We target applications for which Deep Learning methods have had great success in the past few years, with the aim of pushing the state of the art in fully automated methods to design the architecture of neural networks and train them without any human intervention. The tasks are restricted to multi-label image classification problems, from domains including medical, areal, people, object, and handwriting imaging. Thus the type of images will vary a lot in scales, textures, and structure. Raw data are provided (no features extracted), but all datasets are formatted in a uniform tensor manner (although images may have fixed or variable sizes within a dataset). The participants's code will be blind tested on a challenge platform in a controlled manner, with restrictions on training and test time and memory limitations. The challenge is part of the official selection of IJCNN 2019.
Network analysis literacy, data analysis literacy, and socioinformatics

Abstract Complex network analysis is concerned with identifying statistically significant patterns in large and complex networks. A complex network is an abstract model of a complex system; it represents a well-chosen set of entities as nodes and one or more types of relationships between them as edges. Methods from complex network analysis have been used to identify small molecules called miRNAs that are able to stop breast cancer [13], to understand possible privacy breaches [9], or to analyze how humans solve complex problems [10]. As many areas in our globalized world tend to get more interconnected, the methods from complex network analysis became more important: for complex systems with an underlying network structure, the framework of complex network analysis provides the potential to identify central nodes, to describe deviating substructures, and to reveal the interaction between structure and function of complex networks. Based on this potential impact of network analysis on many fields of society, my work concentrates on understanding when to use which kind of network measure to analyze complex networks and where their limits are, a field I call network analysis literacy. This question can easily be generalized to data analysis literacy which can be even more generalized to the influence of our modern IT-systems on the individual, on organizations, and on society at large, which culminates in a new field of study called socioinformatics.
ysfonction myocardique post-arrêt cardiaque yocardial dysfunction after cardiac arrest

MOTS CLÉS Arrêt cardiaque ; Sidération myocardique ; Insuffisance circulatoire aiguë Résumé L’apparition d’un état de choc au décours d’un arrêt cardiorespiratoire réanimé est fréquente, indépendamment de son étiologie. En l’absence d’évolution vers le décès dans un tableau de défaillance multiviscérale, ce syndrome post-arrêt cardiaque est susceptible de majorer les lésions cérébrales initiales, et constitue une cible thérapeutique majeure de la phase hospitalière. Ce choc est caractérisé par la survenue d’une dysfonction myocardique précoce, intéressant les fonctions systoliques et diastoliques ventriculaires, habituellement réversible en 48 à 72 heures. Son intensité semble liée aux caractéristiques de la réanimation, ainsi qu’au délai nécessaire à la restauration d’une activité circulatoire spontanée. Les mécanismes physiopathologiques évoqués sont multiples et complexes, impliquant principalement les phénomènes d’ischémie—reperfusion, à l’origine d’une diminution de la sensibilité des myofilaments au calcium. Cette sidération myocardique s’associe secondairement à une forte composante vasoplégique, conséquence de la réponse inflammatoire systémique initiée par la reperfusion. L’administration précoce d’un agent pharmacologique inotrope permet de corriger partiellement la fonction cardiaque, traduisant l’existence d’une réserve contractile. La correction d’un éventuel déficit volémique, voire l’utilisation de vasoconstricteurs en cas de forte vasoplégie, sont également des points essentiels du traitement. L’échocardiographie au lit du patient permet le diagnostic et le traitement adapté des différentes composantes de l’état de choc du syndrome post-arrêt cardiaque, nécessaires à l’amélioration du pronostic. © 2008 Société de réanimation de langue française. Publié par Elsevier Masson SAS. Tous droits réservés.
Analysis of antibacterial and antioxidant activity of Taxus baccata Linn

The use of plants for treating various diseases is as old as the human civilization. Plant products have served as a major source of drugs for centuries and about half of the pharmaceuticals in use today are derived from these herbal products. The efficacy and safety of herbal medicines have attracted the major pharmaceutical population towards medicinal plants research. The current study was designed to investigate the leaf extract of Taxus baccata Linn. for its antibacterial and antioxidant activity. The antibacterial activity of the acetone, aqueous and methanol leaf extracts was determined in-vitro against medically important pathogens such as Escherichia coli, Yersinia pestis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Bacillus cereus, Listeria monocytogenes and Staphylococcus aureus following agar-well diffusion method using different concentrations (25%, 50%, 75% and 100%). Results showed low to significant antibacterial activity against the mentioned bacterial species. Methanol leaf extract was found to be more effective against selected pathogenic bacterial species as compared to acetone and aqueous leaf extracts. Further the leaf extract inhibited grampositive bacteria more efficiently than gramnegative bacteria. The antioxidant capacity of the different extracts (methanol, acetone and aqueous) of T. baccata was evaluated by DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl) and reducing power tests at different concentrations (20-100 μg/mL). The plant exhibited good DPPH radical scavenging and reducing power potential (≥50% at 100 μg/mL). Therefore, the leaf extracts of this plant can be selected for further investigation to determine their therapeutic potential.
Towards system identification using single channel measurement in wireless sensing network

In the last few years, structural health monitoring has gained significant popularity to perform real-time condition assessment of civil structures. With the aid of mobile sensing network, movable wireless sensors have made a paradigm shift in costeffective and faster deployment of sensors in large-scale structures. A wide range of system identification methods has been developed by different researchers to accurately identify modal parameters from the measured vibration data. However, most of these techniques are suitable only when all key locations of the structures are instrumented. In the case of mobile sensing network where a sensor is autonomously moved from one location to another, only a few sensors are available at any time. In this research, a newer time-frequency method, namely the empirical mode decomposition (EMD), is explored and improved to conduct system identification using single channel measurement. The original EMD method results in significant mode-mixing in the modal responses when utilizing closely-spaced modes and data with measurement noise. In this thesis, time-varying filtering based empirical mode decomposition (TVF-EMD) is proposed to undertake ambient modal identification. The proposed method is fully adaptive and suitable for automation since it uses only one channel of data at a time. An energy-based thresholding criterion is proposed to identify dominant frequency components of the vibration data. Once the key signal components are identified, a cluster diagram is integrated with TVF-EMD to identify modal responses that are utilized for modal identification. Such modification shows improved performance of the x TVF-EMD in identifying modal parameters using single channel measurement under a wide-range of challenging situations including closely-spaced modes and measurement noise. The proposed method is verified using a suite of numerical, experimental and full-scale studies using wireless sensors in a decentralized manner. The proposed methodology shows significant potential towards its application in modern mobile and robotic sensors.
Discourse referents for nonspecific entities of described nonfactual situations

There is wide agreement in text comprehension research that entities that are mentioned within the descriptions of factual situations are represented by unique discourse referents. But how about entities that are mentioned within descriptions of nonfactual situations? Take for example a sentence such as Antoine wants to marry a hairdresser, which describes a nonfactual, desired situation. There are two readings of this sentence depending on how the indefinite noun phrase a hairdresser is interpreted. On the specific interpretation, Antoine wants to marry a particular woman who is known by him and merely happens to be a hairdresser. That is, the hairdresser is already an element of Antoine’s factual situation. Accordingly, the hairdresser should be represented by a unique discourse referent, just as an entity that is mentioned within the description of a factual situation. On the nonspecific interpretation, Antoine wants to marry some woman who should meet the condition of being a hairdresser. That is, a hairdresser does not refer to a specific entity, but merely denotes a condition to be satisfied. Hence, one may assume that nonspecific entities of nonfactual situations are not represented by unique discourse referents (cf. Chafe, 1972). Yet, it is possible to anaphorically refer to such nonspecific entities. For example, the sentence about Antoine could be continued with He would ask her every day to do his hair. Crucially, the pronominal anaphor her seems to be easily resolvable, even with a nonspecific interpretation of a hairdresser.
Optimal Tax Systems with Behavioral Agents

We develop an optimal tax framework that combines two recent extensions of tax analysis: a taxsystems emphasis on non-rate policy instruments, and taxation with behavioral biases. Although the implications of taxpayers’ biases for optimal tax rates has received considerable attention, a complete analysis of this aspect of optimal tax theory must account for the fact that such biases may be endogenous to the non-rate aspects of a tax system. We extend optimal tax systems analysis to incorporate behavioral biases, illustrating the implications of this perspective using two simple models. We characterize the optimal tax system in this setting under a fairly general formulation of taxpayer bias and (potentially costly) non-rate policies. We also discuss the implications of our framework for applied welfare analysis with behavioral agents, documenting new possibilities and challenges for such work that a tax-systems
CLAUS BECH-DANIELSEN, MADELEINE GRANVIK AND ANNI VARTOLA IMPACT OF SPACE REQUIREMENTS ON OUTDOOR PLAY AREAS

Densification is today a popular strategy among planners and planning researchers to promote sustainable urban development. Some common arguments are that urban neighbourhoods with higher population densities can reduce car traffic and promote public transport, biking and walking – thereby reducing the environmental impact from transport. Densification is also presumed to provide a better economic basis for municipal services. The effects of densification has–however-seldom been evaluated and needs to be discussed in a nuanced and critical way. This paper discusses densification as a planning strategy mainly from a theoretical and conceptual point of view. Focus is on what kind of densification strategies and meanings that are to be found in different townscape areas in typical Swedish cities. We suggest a conceptual framework, developed from the main concept Functional Density.
DEVELOPING SUSTAINABLE COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGE BY BARCLAYS BANK OF KENYA

Competitive advantage is the heart of a firm's performance in competitive market. It is, in its very basic words, a position a firm occupies against its competitors. The objective of this study was to determine the strategies that Barclays Bank of Kenya (BBK) adopts to achieve sustainable competitive advantage. BBK has operated in Kenya for 95 years and it remains the biggest bank in the country in terms of asset base, capitalization and profitability. It has built a strong brand name, and continues to be a leading and dominant bank in Kenya. It was therefore of interest to study and find out, the strategies it adopts to remain a top bank throughout the years. This would therefore be useful to scholars and policy makers. This study was conducted using a case study design to gain in-depth knowledge. Primary data was collected using a semi-structured interview guide administered through one on one interview. Secondary data was used to enrich understanding of the / bank and the industry as a whole. Data was then analyzed using conceptual content analysis as presented through tables and figures. The respondents were the senior management staff of Barclays bank of Kenya. The research findings reveal that Barclays bank has a clear drive for competitive advantage and is motivated by top management's vision of the firms' future. To achieve the goal of competitive advantage, BBK offers value to its customers at a cost that produces economic performance superior to rivals. BBK then defends this position from the competition to achieve high sustainable performance. In conclusion, with the dynamic business environment, organizations should undertake to align their strategies to the ever changing demands of external environment. All managerial tasks including resource allocation and organization design should be directed at building the firm's market position.
Compression of Remote Sensing Images Using an Improved SPIHT Algorithm

: It is difficult to store the remote sensing images that feature high resolution and high information capacity. To address this problem, we perform three-level wavelet decomposition on the images using the optimal biorthogonal wavelet. Afterwards, the images are coded via SPIHT. The SPIHT algorithm is improved to achieve fixed-scale compression. Extension simulations are conducted. The results show that the proposed method increases PSNR and decreases the compression and decompression time.
Smart Wearable Body Equilibrium Correction System with Mobile Device

In recent decades, employees who worked in office suffered from bone diseases and muscle stress, mainly due to improper sitting posture. This paper is proposed to develop a novel body equilibrium correction to meet solve such issue. The system consists of four modules. A motion sensor module is placed on the center of the user’s chest to measure the sitting orientation. Moreover, an electromyography (EMG) module is located at the both side of the shoulders to measure the user’s muscle tension as incorrect sitting position over a long period of time tends to increase the pain and tense at the shoulders. Thus, it is reliable to serve as references in accordance to the sitting orientation. Both sensor modules transmit the raw data to a processing module. This module integrates the raw data under a packet and further transmits the data packet to a mobile device. A mobile application is implemented to classify the correctness of sitting position. In case the incorrect position is detected, alert is triggered to user by the vibrator motor and light emitting diodes (LEDs) installed along with the system. The proposed system is able to measure and detect any abnormal sitting positon with average true accuracy of 98% with low-cost implementation.
The University of Chicago Niche versus Neutrality : A Dynamical Analysis

Understanding the forces shaping ecological communities is of crucial importance for basic science and conservation. After 50 years in which ecological theory has focused on either stable communities driven by niche-based forces or nonstable “neutral” communities driven by demographic stochasticity, contemporary theories suggest that ecological communities are driven by the simultaneous effects of both types of mechanisms. Here we examine this paradigm using the longest available records for the dynamics of tropical trees and breeding birds. Applying a macroecological approach and fluctuation analysis techniques borrowed from statistical physics, we show that both stabilizing mechanisms and demographic stochasticity fail to play a dominant role in shaping assemblages over time. Rather, community dynamics in these two very different systems is predominantly driven by environmental stochasticity. Clearly, the current melding of niche and neutral theories cannot account for such dynamics. Our results highlight the need for a new theory of community dynamics integrating environmental stochasticity with weak stabilizing forces and suggest that such theory may better describe the dynamics of ecological communities than current neutral theories, deterministic niche-based theories, or recent hybrids.
Market reaction to goodwill impairment losses

Since 2005 goodwill does not disappear from the balance sheet as time passes since it is no longer amortized; instead IFRS require annual impairment tests of goodwill. This paper examines the empirical relation between stock price reactions and reported goodwill impairment losses since the introduction of the new regulatory framework. An event study is conducted on companies listed on Nasdaq OMX Stockholm between 2009 and 2013. Statistically significant cumulative abnormal returns are documented in the event window surrounding announcements, suggesting goodwill impairment losses are value relevant. Using Calendar-Time Portfolio no statistically significant abnormal returns are documented in the long-term, although data indicate minor negative abnormal returns. Authors: Mattias Lundkvist* and Anton Wahlberg** Tutor: Stina Skogsvik
Efficacy of norepinephrine , dopamine or vasopressor in the management of septic shock and severe sepsis : a meta-analysis

The aim of this study was to assess and compare the clinical efficacy of norepinephrine, dopamine, and vasopressors in severe sepsis and septic shock. A literature search of the following databases was used to identify the relevant randomized controlled trials: PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, and ClinicalTrials.gov (search performed until January 15th, 2017). Data analysis was performed using Stata 14.0. Eight eligible studies out of 697 publications in the electronic databases were included in this study. The comparison of mortality between the norepinephrine and dopamine groups (RR=1.07, 95% CIs [0.96, 1.18], I2=0.0%, P=0.884), as well as between the norepinephrine and vasopressor groups (RR=0.96, 95% CIs [0.84, 1.10], I2=0.0%, P=0.921) indicated no statistically significant difference under the fixed-effects model. For the outcomes of changes in DO2 (MD=86.00, 95% CIs [-142.45, 29.54], I2=0.0%, P=0.803) and changes in VO2 (MD=10.90, 95% CIs [-23.12, 1.33], I2=0.0%, P=0.842) in the norepinephrine and dopamine groups, a significant difference was indicated under the fixed-effects model. Other outcomes are reported in the results section. No publication bias was observed for any of the outcomes, as evidenced by the symmetry of the funnel plots. Based on these findings, dopamine should be recommended for the treatment of severe sepsis and septic shock in adults.