Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Automated Localization and Segmentation of Mononuclear Cell Aggregates in Kidney Histological Images Using Deep Learning

Allograft rejection is a major concern in kidney transplantation. Inflammatory processes in patients with kidney allografts involve various patterns of immune cell recruitment and distributions. Lymphoid aggregates (LAs) are commonly observed in patients with kidney allografts and their presence and localization may correlate with severity of acute rejection. Alongside with other markers of inflammation, LAs assessment is currently performed by pathologists manually in a qualitative way, which is both time consuming and far from precise. Here we present the first automated method of identifying LAs and measuring their densities in whole slide images of transplant kidney biopsies. We trained a deep convolutional neural network based on U-Net on 44 core needle kidney biopsy slides, monitoring loss on a validation set (n=7 slides). The model was subsequently tested on a hold-out set (n=10 slides). We found that the coarse pattern of LAs localization agrees between the annotations and predictions, which is reflected by high correlation between the annotated and predicted fraction of LAs area per slide (Pearson R of 0.9756). Furthermore, the network achieves an auROC of 97.78 {+/-} 0.93% and an IoU score of 69.72 {+/-} 6.24 % per LA-containing slide in the test set. Our study demonstrates that a deep convolutional neural network can accurately identify lymphoid aggregates in digitized histological slides of kidney. This study presents a first automatic DL-based approach for quantifying inflammation marks in allograft kidney, which can greatly improve precision and speed of assessment of allograft kidney biopsies when implemented as a part of computer-aided diagnosis system.
Title of Thesis : “ Atypical Depression , Body Mass , and Left Ventricular Mass : Analysis of Data from CARDIA ” Name of Candidate

Title of Thesis: Atypical Depression, Body Mass, and Left Ventricular Mass: Analysis of Data from CARDIA Sari D. Schwartz, Master of Science, 2005 Thesis directed by: David S. Krantz, Ph.D. Professor & Chair Department of Medical and Clinical Psychology This study investigated possible relationships among subtypes of depression (typical vs. atypical), body mass, and left ventricular mass (LVM). Data from the CARDIA study (years 5 and 10) were used to investigate the model. Depression subtype was determined from CES-D scores at year 5 identifying atypical depression (AD) specifier symptoms. Body mass index (BMI) was calculated at years 5 and 10 (kg/m2). M-mode echocardiography ascertained LVM at years 5 and 10. BMI increases were significantly associated with LVM increases (p<0.001). There was a race-by-sex-by-depression group interaction (p=0.016), such that depression was associated with year 10 LVM in white males only, but AD did not fully explain the relationship. Mediational analyses indicated that in white males, BMI mediated all depression subtype associations with LVM except the AD vs. typical depression comparison. These results suggest the potential importance of depression subtypes in CVD risk assessment. The model and three-way interaction should be investigated further.
Towards an Adaptive OS Noise Mitigation Technique for Microbenchmarking on Apple Ipad Devices

This study investigates levels of Operating System (OS) noise on Apple iPad mobile devices. OS noise causes variations in application performance that interfere with microbenchmark results. OS noise manifests in collected data through extreme outliers and variations in skewness. Using our collected data, we develop an iterative, semi-automated outlier removal process for Apple iPad OS noise profiles. The profiles generated by outlier removal represent the first step toward an adaptive noise mitigation technique, which presents opportunities for use in microbenchmarking across other mobile platforms
Cryptocurrency Market , A Bubble ?-A Unit Root Approach

The behaviour of the cryptocurrency market has often been characterized as a bubble in a vast number of publications. Due to the lack of the fundamental value, or rather the intrinsic value of cryptocurrencies, one can only apply several econometric methods to test for a bubble-like behaviour with accordance to the price development. This paper makes use of a recently developed econometric bubble method that relies on a unit root approach. Furthermore, the growing number of studies on whether a contagion effect by a specific cryptocurrency lays in another coin, is taken as a motivation in this study for the use of a bivariate Granger causality test. An empirical application uses six cryptocurrency coins in which a general evidence of a bubble is confirmed. It further concludes possible patterns to give a clue of such contagion effects. The findings of this paper could motivate further studies of testing bubbles in the cryptocurrency market with an augmentation of contagion market effects.
Rethinking the paradox: tradeoffs in work-family policy and patterns of gender inequality

On the basis of aggregated data from the most recent ISSP surveys and data from secondary sources, this paper analyzes a wide range of country-level indicators that reflect different dimensions of gender inequality and pertain to the economic position of women in different class situations. The findings reveal that indicators of gender inequality pertaining to women in different class positions are oppositely related to the scope and levels of family policy. Specifically, countries characterized by generous family policies tend to address gender equality among disadvantaged groups, while exhibiting an unequal pattern of gender inequality on indicators related to advantaged groups. By contrast, countries characterized by ungenerous family policies tend to advance equality on parameters related to advantaged groups but perform very poorly on parameters of gender inequality pertaining to disadvantaged groups.
Application of the triacylglycerol/sterol condition index to the interpretation of larval lobster Homarus americanus distribution in close proximity to Georges Bank, Gulf of Maine

The triacylglycerol/sterol condition index was applied to larval lobster populations in the vicinity of Georges Bank in the Gulf of Maine, This index is related to larval size by an increasing power function which explains around 40 % of the variation. The poor fit can be explained by the uneven increase in triacylglycerol levels during development within each moult stage. Increased pigmentation is not related to larval condition, as measured by lipid storage, and masks the increased yellowish hue of lipids as development proceeds. The larval triacylglycerol/sterol index appears to undergo a diurnal cycle in Stage III and [V lobsters, with lowest values at midday and highest values after dark. This pattern cannot be explained by nocturnal feeding, which leaves the possibilities that satiated larvae descend below the surface metre during daylight and are therefore underrepresented in our collections by being more vertically diffuse, and/or that healthy well-fed larvae would be more likely to detect the trawl and escape during daylight. Few Stage I and II lobster larvae were found in the vicinity of Georges Bank with a condition index less than 0.1, which is the level laboratory studies indicate approaches the 'point-of-no-return'. The condition of all developmental stages was found to be better in individuals located off Georges Bank. This is not ecologically significant in the case of the first 2 stages because such a small proportion of the population was actually located off the bank. It is not resolved how the third and fourth stages arrive off Georges Bank, since shoal water hatching is the norm, but their lipid reserves are significantly greater than identical developmental stages located on the bank. Finally, the density of Stage IV larvae in the adjacent surface waters over the Gulf of Maine is twice that found over Georges Bank. This suggests that the lobster has evolved a life cycle in offshore waters in which larvae are hatched in shoal waters over the banks but the last 2 planktonic/pelagic stages either seek or are transported to, and by Stage IV thrive in, the warmer stratified layer over the deeper waters of the Gulf of Maine.
Categorical dilemmas: challenges for HIV prevention among men who have sex with men and transgender women in Vietnam

Abstract In Vietnam, HIV continues disproportionately to affect men who have sex with men and transgender women, and the increase in HIV prevalence in these populations may be related to a lack of tailoring of current prevention approaches, which often fail to address social diversity within these populations. To effectively respond to HIV in Vietnam, it is imperative to identify sub-populations within the broad category of ‘men who have sex with men’ (MSM), a term which in Vietnam as in many other sites frequently subsumes transgender women. In this paper, we document the different categories used to describe people who engage in same-sex sexual practices and/or non-normative gender performances drawing on data collected via in-depth interviews and focus groups with a total of 79 participants in Hanoi. We identified over 40 different categories used to describe men who have sex with men and/or transgender women. These categories could be described as behaviourally-based, identity-based, or emic, and each carried different meanings, uses (based on age and geography) and levels of stigma. The categories shine light on the complexity of identities among men who have sex with men and transgender women and have utility for future research and programming to more comprehensively address HIV in Vietnam.
Addressing the Quantitative and Qualitative: A View to Complementarity—From the Synaptic to the Social

History and anthropology reveal the perdurable human characteristic of attempting to create and employ some form of quantifiable representation of the qualitative aspects of life and the natural world. The recent revolution in the ability to quantify neurobiological processes through advanced neurotechnologies, and the announcement of comprehensive mapping of neuronal pathways as priorities both within the United States (e.g. the Brain Research through Advancing Innovative Neurotechnology, BRAIN, Initiative), and internationally (e.g. the European Union’s Human Brain Project) call forth questions about how data, both quantitative and qualitative, can and should be leveraged to sustain neuroscientific research and related applications that are ethically sound, technically viable, and socially relevant. As neuroscience evermore gains influence in medical, public, economic and political spheres, it will be important to ask (early and iteratively) what such science—as a human endeavor—seeks to achieve, and how the methods selected (whether quantitative, qualitative, or some combination thereof) may help to realize such goals. In this paper we explore potential sources of tension, alignment, and integration with respect to the quantitative and qualitative domains of neuroscientific research, its influence upon society, and the role that the field of neuroethics can—and arguably should—play in rendering balance to the use of neuroscientific knowledge as both lens into the brain, and mirror upon human thought and action. Ultimately, we propose a stance of complementarity with a view toward maximizing the benefits of both the quantitative and qualitative domains.
ESTIMATION OF DEMAND AND SUPPLY FUNCTIONS FOR FRESH AND INDUSTRIAL MILK IN SOUTH AFRICA

ABSTRACT The average price elasticity of demand for fresh milk is estimated from time series data at −0,78 at retail level and −0,51 at farm level. Demand functions indicate that the elasticity of fresh milk demand increased over time to near unity at retail level, due to growing proportion of Black consumers and increasing prevalence of substitutes. Elasticity estimates of industrial milk varied from −0,47 at the farm level to −0,93 at retail level. Elasticities of industrial milk was also found to increase over time. Income elasticities for fresh and industrial milk using cross sectional data were +0,44 for fresh milk and +0,40 for industrial milk. Estimates agree with the Slutsky-Schultz and Hicks Allen relation (Wold and Jureen) stating that as a rule income elasticities of necessity are smaller than price elasticities. The increase in the price elasticity of milk implies that consumption has become slightly more price responsive and that price may become a more important feature in the selling of mil.
Language for Specific Purposes and Graphic-Adventure Videogames: Supporting Content and Language Learning

The use of videogames for educational purposes seems to increasingly be in the eye of teachers and publishers of didactic materials. Videogames can be a great support for language learners since they increase their time of exposure in an entertaining way. This research is a literature review which focuses on supporting language for specific purposes (LSP) students with graphic adventure videogames. This paper introduces theories of LSP teaching and learning combined with the characteristics of educational videogames with the aim of describing the needs to be considered when developing LSP videogames. In this sense, these videogames should be designed and adapted to particular professions related to the communication purposes of the target language. This proposal is addressed to LSP teaching professionals as well as for publishers of didactic materials.
Teachers’ Organizational Citizenship Behaviour: A Causal Relationship Model

This research aimed to examine the direct, indirect and overall influences as well as validate the appropriateness of the causal relationship model of teachers’ organizational citizenship behaviour under the Office of Khon Kaen Secondary Educational Service Area 25. A total of 300 teachers were selected as research samples utilizing multistage random sampling technique. A survey quantitative research design was employed using questionnaire as an instrument to collect data thus developed evident from theories. The instrument comprised of five sections including demographic factors, factors influencing organizational citizenship behaviour namely job satisfaction, organizational commitment and servant leadership and organizational citizenship behaviour. Data was analyzed by using the mPlus program. Results of the study indicated that causal relationship model of teachers’ organizational citizenship behaviour is appropriately fit in accordance with the statistic values ( χ 2 = 76.461, χ 2 /df = 1.274, CFI = 0.994 , TLI = 0.990, SRMR = 0.027 and RMSEA = 0.030). In addition, result of the study revealed that all the three independent variables have significant direct influence toward organizational citizenship behaviour. Organizational commitment (β = 0.748) and servant leadership (β = 0.195) have positive, significant and direct influence but job satisfaction (β = -0.303) has negative, significant and direct influence on organizational citizenship behaviour at 0.01 level. School administrators should emphasize on servant leadership, organization commitment and job satisfaction in order to have overall influence on organizational citizenship behaviour.
Safety of testosterone therapy in men with prostate cancer

ABSTRACT Introduction: The use of testosterone therapy (TTh) in men with prostate cancer (PCa) is relatively new, and controversial, due to the longstanding maxim that TTh is contraindicated in men with PCa. Scientific advances have prompted a reevaluation of the potential role for TTh in men with PCa, particularly as TTh has been shown to provide important symptomatic and general health benefits to men with testosterone deficiency (TD), including many men with PCa who may expect to live 30–50 years after diagnosis. Areas covered: This review outlines the historical underpinnings of the historical belief that TTh ‘fuels’ PCa and the experimental and clinical studies that have radically altered this view, including description of the saturation model. The authors review studies of TTh in men with PCa following radical prostatectomy and radiation therapy, in men on active surveillance, and in men with advanced or metastatic PCa. Expert opinion: TTh provides important symptomatic and overall health benefits for men with PCa who have TD. Although more safety studies are needed, TTh is a reasonable therapeutic option for men with low-risk PCa after surgery or radiation. Data in men on active surveillance are limited, but initial reports are reassuring.
Dietary administration of resistant starch improved caecal barrier function by enhancing intestinal morphology and modulating microbiota composition in meat duck

Abstract Resistant starch (RS) was recently approved to exert a powerful influence on gut health, but the effect of RS on the caecal barrier function in meat ducks has not been well defined. Thus, the effect of raw potato starch (RPS), a widely adopted RS material, on microbial composition and barrier function of caecum for meat ducks was determined. A total of 360 Cherry Valley male ducks of 1-d-old were randomly divided and fed diets with 0 (control), 12, or 24 % RPS for 35 d. Diets supplemented with RPS significantly elevated villus height and villus height:crypt depth ratio in the caecum. The 16S rRNA sequence analysis indicated that the diet with 12 % RPS had a higher relative abundance of Firmicutes and the butyrate-producing bacteria Faecalibacterium, Subdoligranulum, and Erysipelatoclostridium were enriched in all diets. Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium were significantly increased in the 24 % RPS diet v. the control diet. When compared with the control diet, the diet with 12 % RPS was also found to notably increase acetate, propionate and butyrate contents and up-regulated barrier-related genes including claudin-1, zonula occludens-1, mucin-2 and proglucagon in the caecum. Furthermore, the addition of 12 % RPS significantly reduced plasma TNF-α, IL-1β and endotoxin concentrations. These data revealed that diets supplemented with 12 % RPS partially improved caecal barrier function in meat ducks by enhancing intestinal morphology and barrier markers expression, modulating the microbiota composition and attenuating inflammatory markers.
To Teach or Not to Teach ''Social'' Skills: Comparing Community Colleges and Private Occupational Colleges

This article examines the approach to teaching social skills in two kinds of colleges: community colleges, and private for-profit and nonprofit ‘‘occupational’’ colleges, with a focus on college credit programs that lead to applied associate’s degrees in a variety of business, health, computer, and technical occupational programs. Nearly all occupational faculty at both types of colleges believe that employers in these fields require certain social skills relevant to professional support occupations. Community college staff—with the exception of health programs—provide three reasons that they neither demand nor teach these social skills. In contrast, the ways in which private occupational colleges make these skills an explicit part of their curriculum is discussed. This study suggests that schools differ in whether they teach and cultivate social skills, which suggests a potentially important way that schools may shape students’ opportunities in the labor market and their social mobility. Contrary to Bowles and Gintis, these findings raise the disturbing possibility that community colleges may be actively contributing to the social reproduction of inequality by avoiding instruction in the cultural competencies and social skills required in today’s workplace.
Acyclic and frugal colourings of graphs

Given a graph G = (V,E), a proper vertex colouring of V is t-frugal if no colour appears more than t times in any neighbourhood and is acyclic if each of the bipartite graphs consisting of the edges between any two colour classes is acyclic. For graphs of bounded maximum degree, Hind, Molloy and Reed [14] studied proper t-frugal colourings and Yuster [19] studied acyclic proper 2-frugal colourings. In this paper, we expand and generalise this study. In particular, we consider vertex colourings that are not necessarily proper, and in this case, we find qualitative connections with colourings that are t-improper — colourings in which the colour classes induce subgraphs of maximum degree at most t — for choices of t near to d.
Massage increases satellite cell number independent of the age‐associated alterations in sarcolemma permeability

Massage is a widely accepted manual therapy used to modulate the inflammatory response of muscle and restore function, but prolonged compression of muscle potentially causes overt injury and damage to muscle fibers. Therefore, a balance exists between the positive effects of massage and the induction of mechanical damage and injury. In addition, skeletal muscle of aged individuals displays increased stiffness, and therefore, the response to massage is likely different compared with young. We hypothesized that the aged skeletal muscle exhibits increased sarcolemmal permeability when subjected to massage compared with young skeletal muscle. Male Brown Norway/F344 rats, 10 and 30 months of age, were each divided into control, non‐massaged (n = 8) and massaged (n = 8) groups. The right gastrocnemius muscle received one bout of cyclic compressive loading for 30 min at 4.5 N as a massage‐mimetic. Muscles were dissected and frozen 24 h after massage. Alterations in sarcolemma permeability were quantified by measuring the level of intracellular IgG within the muscle fibers. Immunohistochemistry was performed to determine IgG inside fibers and Pax7+ cell number as an indicator of stem cell abundance. Average IgG intensity was not different between control and massaged animals at either age. However, a significant shift to the right of the density histogram indicated that massaged animals had more fibers with higher IgG intensity than control at 10 months. In addition, Pax7+ cell number was significantly elevated in massaged muscles compared with control at both ages. One bout of massage did not induce overt muscle injury, but facilitated membrane permeability, which was associated with an increase in satellite cell number. Data suggest that the load applied here, which was previously shown to induce immunomodulatory changes, does not induce overt muscle injury in young and old muscles but may result in muscle remodeling. Funded by NIH grant AG042699 and AT009268.
Meat Packing and Processing Facilities in the Non-Metropolitan Midwest: Blessing or Curse?

Growth in the meat packing and processing industry in the Midwestern United States has generated a significant amount of debate regarding the costs and benefits of this type of economic development. This research employs 1990-2000 proprietary data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics' Longitudinal Database (LDB) to investigate the effects of this industry on social and economic outcomes in non-metropolitan counties of twelve Midwestern states. The empirical specification uses a difference-in-differences specification to measure the effect of industry growth on local economic growth, government expenditures, and crime. Propensity score matching is used as a check on possible non-random placement of meat packing and processing plants. Results suggest that as the meat packing industry's share of a country's total employment and wage bill rises, total employment growth increases. However, employment growth in other sectors slows, as does local wage growth. There is some evidence that slower wage growth swamps the employment growth so that aggregate income grows more slowly. We find no evidence that growth in the industry changes the growth rates for crime or government spending.