Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Use of Interactive Quizzes in Maths

In order to improve student learning and hence retention on Level 1 mathematics, we are piloting short interactive formative internet quizzes, replacing longer multiple choice tests (CMAs). The OU package “Open Mark” is used. Students receive instant appropriate feedback, instead of waiting days or weeks. Each quiz has about six questions. Students are allowed several attempts, with appropriate teaching feedback after each. Upon completing quiz, alongside the mark, students get relevant study advice, with references to appropriate course material. Examples will be demonstrated. Administrators can see all student attempts, helping in modifying questions and feedback and informing future initiatives. The quizzes are being evaluated using actual students “thinking aloud”. Extracts of these videos will be shown. User feedback suggests that the quizzes are helpful to student learning and enjoyable. Authoring and programming is time-consuming. However there is built-in variation, so questions may appear in different guises for subsequent users and repeat attempts. In the future, it is hoped to link the quiz feedback directly to pdf files of course materials and make these available on the OU’s “Open Content” web-site.
Semen cryopreservation and use of vitamins in the extender medium: literature review

The objective of this review was to present the main difficulties encountered in cryopreservation of semen, with oxidative stress being the most impacting of them, and to demonstrate the antioxidant potential of Vitamins C and E, as well as its use in cryopreserved semen dilution media. Semen cryopreservation is a technology of great impact in the national livestock industry and has been increasingly emphasized due to the advances of animal breeding biotechnologies, being the use of cryopreserved semen in artificial insemination, an important tool for the genetic improvement of several animal species and which has many advantages of its application, such as the ease of commercialization and transportation, control of sexually transmitted diseases, and mainly, the expressive genetic gain. Different media and additives are used in cryopreservation of the semen, seeking to confer greater cryoresistance to the spermatozoa during the freeze / thaw cycle. However, despite numerous research in the field, approximately 50% of sperm cells become unviable after the process. Despite the great advances made since the discovery of glycerol, studies on cryoprotectants and other additives such as antioxidants, in order to improve sperm viability, aiming to increase the yield of ejaculated doses and pregnancy rates are of great importance. As antioxidants used in seminal freezing media, stand out Vitamins C and E, which are non-enzymatic antioxidants. These vitamins are substances of low molecular weight, which act as possible removers of the agents that cause oxidative damage, or as repairers of the already initiated lesion, and have the potential to aid in the improvement of seminal viability after thawing.
Building-shielding loss modelling

An approach devised for shielding loss calculation and a model derived from it are outlined. The model handles a building of arbitrary dimensions occupied by wireless terminals with a given probability distribution and illuminated by a satellite. Two models for the probability distribution of the wireless terminals within a building are considered: uniform over the whole floor at a given height above it and uniform at some distance from the exterior wall also at a given height from the floor. Analytical expressions for the building shielding loss as averaged over a building of arbitrary dimensions as a function of the elevation angle and the building parameters, such as building dimensions, attenuation of walls, floors etc., are given. Numerical results for some relevant building models such as office-buildings, factories, simple houses etc., are also presented.
Machine learning techniques in a structural and functional MRI diagnostic approach in schizophrenia: a systematic review

Background Diagnosis of schizophrenia (SCZ) is made exclusively clinically, since specific biomarkers that can predict the disease accurately remain unknown. Machine learning (ML) represents a promising approach that could support clinicians in the diagnosis of mental disorders. Objectives A systematic review, according to the PRISMA statement, was conducted to evaluate its accuracy to distinguish SCZ patients from healthy controls. Methods We systematically searched PubMed, Embase, MEDLINE, PsychINFO and the Cochrane Library through December 2018 using generic terms for ML techniques and SCZ without language or time restriction. Thirty-five studies were included in this review: eight of them used structural neuroimaging, twenty-six used functional neuroimaging and one both, with a minimum accuracy >60% (most of them 75–90%). Sensitivity, Specificity and accuracy were extracted from each publication or obtained directly from authors. Results Support vector machine, the most frequent technique, if associated with other ML techniques achieved accuracy close to 100%. The prefrontal and temporal cortices appeared to be the most useful brain regions for the diagnosis of SCZ. ML analysis can efficiently detect significantly altered brain connectivity in patients with SCZ (eg, default mode network, visual network, sensorimotor network, frontoparietal network and salience network). Conclusion The greater accuracy demonstrated by these predictive models and the new models resulting from the integration of multiple ML techniques will be increasingly decisive for early diagnosis and evaluation of the treatment response and to establish the prognosis of patients with SCZ. To achieve a real benefit for patients, the future challenge is to reach an accurate diagnosis not only through clinical evaluation but also with the aid of ML algorithms.
Estudio de prevalencia de protección frente a sarampión en trabajadores sanitarios del Servicio Murciano de Salud

RESUMEN Fundamentos: En el mes de abril de 2017 se notificaron dos casos de sarampion en una de las zonas basicas de salud (ZBS) de la Region de Murcia. Los Servicios de Prevencion de Riesgos Laborales del Servicio Murciano de Salud (SMS) fueron instados a revisar el estado inmunologico de los trabajadores sanitarios nacidos a partir de 1971, de los centros de atencion primaria, hospitales de referencia y servicios de urgencias que dan cobertura a la zona afectada con el objetivo general de prevenir la aparicion de un posible brote de sarampion en este personal, comprobando la proteccion de estos trabajadores frente a esta enfermedad (el estado vacunal y/o el estado serologico (IgG)) y ofreciendo la vacuna a aquellos trabajadores no inmunes. El objetivo de este estudio fue describir la prevalencia de la proteccion frente a sarampion de los trabajadores sanitarios de la zona afectada. Metodos: Durante el periodo de enero a febrero de 2017, se revisaron las historias de los trabajadores, de los que disponiamos de datos, y posteriormente se citaron a los trabajadores de los que no teniamos informacion para que aportaran la cartilla de vacunacion (90 trabajadores) o para realizarles una serologia a los que carecian de ella (138 trabajadores). Resultados: Tras la revision de 408 historias clinicas se obtuvieron datos acerca de la vacunacion del 22,1% de los trabajadores y de serologias del 33,8%. El 91,5% de estos trabajadores estaba protegido frente al sarampion. Conclusiones: La cobertura entre nuestros trabajadores es menor a la propuesta por el “Plan de Eliminacion del Sarampion y la Rubeola”, por lo que recomendamos entre el personal sanitario, un programa de fomento de la vacunacion frente a dicha enfermedad.
Renal Functions of TRP Channels in Health and Disease

One key function of the kidneys is the ultrafiltration of plasma by the renal glomeruli in order to dispose of metabolic end products and excess electrolytes. However, in order to maintain body electrolyte homeostasis, the vast majority of filtrated salts and water are reabsorbed along the different segments of the renal tubular system. For instance, approximately 80% of total serum Mg2+ is filtered in the glomeruli with more than 95% being reabsorbed along the nephron. A vast array of ion channels and transporters is known to be involved in the filtration, secretion, and reabsorption of electrolytes.
Isolation and characterization of bacterial isolates from Lake Magadi

Microorganisms from soda lakes have attracted attention as a possible source of novel enzymes and metabolites for use in industrial applications. Isolation and characterization of bacteria from Kenyan soda lakes has been done mainly in Lakes Elmenteita, Bogoria and Nakuru. Only a few studies have been documented on Lake Magadi, a hyper saline lake with up to 30% salinity levels. This study sought to isolate alkaliphilic bacteria from Lake Magadi that could produce novel enzymes and antimicrobial compounds, and document for further exploitation. Nearly 55 isolates were obtained using different media prepared with filter-sterilised water from the lake, which were characterized and screened for production of extracellular enzymes and/or antimicrobial compounds. Bacteria retrieved grew well at pH ranging from 5 – 10, temperature range of 25 – 50 oC and sodium chloride range of 0- 30 %. The isolates produced amylases, lipases, proteases and esterases and exhibited a range of inhibitory effects on various test organisms. Analysis of partial sequences of 16S rRNA genes using Blast showed that 80 % of the isolates were affiliated to the genus Bacillus , while 20% were affiliated to members of Gammaproteobacteria . Five (5) isolates showed identity of 95 - 97 % similarity with the previously known sequences and could represent novel bacterial species, while 4 isolates had a sequence identity of 80 - 93% similarity to known organisms, and could represent novel genera. This study demonstrated that the extreme environment of Lake Magadi harbors novel alkaliphilic bacteria with potential for production of enzymes and antimicrobial compounds. Keywords: Soda lakes, Alkaliphiles, extreme environment, enzymes and antimicrobial compounds J. Trop. Microbiol. Biotechnol . 8:17-25 17
Tamper Resistance Simulation on Algorithm Level Design

Recently, side‐channel attacks have become a serious problem. These attacks estimate the secret keys of cryptography circuits embedded in hardware. In particular, the most threatening side‐channel attacks are differential power analysis and correlation power analysis, which use the correlation between information processing and power consumption, which are related to secret keys in cryptography circuits. Therefore, new measures are required to prevent confidential information in cryptography circuits from being leaked to side‐channel information, such as power consumption. When designing preventive measures, resistance to side‐channel attacks, for instance tamper resistance, must be evaluated. This study proposes a new simulation method by which tamper resistance can be verified in the algorithm and architecture design phases. Experimental results show the validity of the proposed simulation method. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Electr Eng Jpn, 186(2): 40–51, 2014; Published online in Wiley Online Library (wileyonlinelibrary.com). DOI 10.1002/eej.22342
Analysis of serum ferritin levels in non-diabetic, prediabetic and diabetic individuals

Introduction: Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is characterized by impaired insulin secretion, insulin resistance or both. In the initial asymptomatic phase there is hyperinsulinemia, as insulin resistance progress and beta cell function deteriorates ‘Prediabetes’ an intermediate hyperglycemic state prone for diabetic complications ensues. A chronic sub-clinical inflammation is associated with insulin resistance and it can be assessed using a pro-inflammatory marker like serum ferritin. Aim: We intend to evaluate serum ferritin levels in normoglycemics, intermediate hyper glycemics and overt cases of T2DM and also to investigate if any correlation exists between blood glucose and serum ferritin levels at these three different stages of glycemia. Materials and Methods: In accordance with World health organisation guidelines, we inducted forty seven pre-diabetics and thirty seven T2DM patients in the first and second groups of our study respectively. Twenty three healthy controls constituted the third group. Serum ferritin, fasting and 2 hour postprandial blood glucose were estimated in all subjects. Results: The mean ± SD of Log serum ferritin levels in prediabetic, diabetic group and Controls groups are 4.21±0.96, 4.25±1.07 and 3.59±0. 95µg/L respectively. Mean Log serum ferritin levels is significantly higher in pre-diabetics and diabetics with p=0.012. A positive and statistically significant association was noticed between serum ferritin and blood glucose levels when the subjects of the three groups were considered together (p=0.036) but not when the groups were considered separately. Conclusion: Serum ferritin levels are elevated in prediabetes and T2DM when compared to healthy controls and it reflects the inflammation associated with prediabetes and T2DM. Keywords: Blood glucose, Inflammation, Prediabetes, Serum ferritin, Type 2 diabetes mellitus.
Diagnostic Accuracy of a Three-point Compression Ultrasonography Performed by Emergency Medicine Resident for the Diagnosis of Deep Vein Thrombosis: a Prospective Diagnostic Study

Introduction: Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) is a common cause of admission to the emergency departments (ED). Doppler ultrasonography of the entire lower limb is the first-line imaging modality. But most EDs do not access to full-time radiologists which can lead to delayed diagnosis. Aim: The aim of this study was to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of three-point compression ultrasonography performed by emergency medicine resident for diagnosis of DVT. Methods: This prospective diagnostic study was carried out at Imam Khomeini Hospital in Sari from March 2018 to November 2018. For all patients with suspected lower extremity DVT, first bedside 3-point compression ultrasound were performed by a third year emergency medicine resident at ED. Then Doppler ultrasonography were performed by a radiologist in the radiology department, as a reference test. Sensitivity, specificity, and positive predictive value of the three-point compression ultrasound performed by emergency medicine resident was calculated. Results: Of the 72 patients enrolled in our study, 50% of the patients were male, with an average age of 36±19 years. The mean of patient admission time to perform ultrasonography by an emergency medicine resident and radiologist were 14.05±19 and 216±140.1 minutes, respectively. The two groups had a statistically significant difference (P<0.0001). In ultrasonography performed by emergency medicine resident and doper ultrasonography by radiologist, 91.67% and 36.1% of patients were diagnosed with DVT, respectively. Although the ultrasonography performed by emergency medicine resident has a relatively low sensitivity (53.8%), it has a good specificity (85.7%). The positive and negative predictive value was 70 and 75%, respectively. Conclusion: Although the results of this study indicate insufficient sensitivity of bedside three-point compression ultrasound performed by emergency medicine resident in diagnosis of lower limb DVT, the specificity, positive and negative predictive values and positive likelihood ratio were almost appropriate.
Health-Related Quality of Life in Patients with Biliary Atresia: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Objectives: In this systematic review and meta-analysis, for the first time, the existing evidence on health-related quality of life (HRQOL) was evaluated in patients with biliary atresia (BA) and compared with that of healthy population. Methods: A systematic search was done on PubMed, Scopus, Embase, Cochrane Library and Web of Science from 1990 up to April 2018 in order to identify all articles that assess the HRQOL in patients with BA. Meta-analysis was done using comprehensive metaanalysis and the standard difference of mean (SDM) was calculated. Results: A total of 188 publications were identified from the initial search. After removing duplicates and irrelevant studies, 32 articles remained for full-text evaluation. Out of this number, 22 articles were excluded due to non-relevance to the study scope leaving 10 studies for systematic review and three articles for meta-analysis. HRQOL was assessed using PedsQL4 in three studies, SF-36C in two studies and by assessing different parameters including social status, school, university, and/or sports performance in five studies. HRQOL in BA patients living with their own liver was significantly lower than that of the general population [SDM = -0.55 (95% CI: -0.69, -0.40)]. In the terms of PedsQL4 sub-scores, compared with healthy population, the levels of physical [SDM = -0.40 (95% CI: -0.55, -0.28)], social [SDM = -0.25 (95% CI: -0.40, -0.11)] and school functioning [SDM = -1.19 (95% CI: -2.35, 0.07)] were significantly lower in the group of biliary atresia.
Fingerprint image Pre- post processing Methods for minutiae extraction

A set of reliable techniques is presented in this paper. These techniques include enhancement and minutiae extraction that involve the clarity of the ridge and valley structures of the input fingerprint images based on the frequency and orientation of the local ridges and thereby extracting correct minutiae. Fingerprint image enhancement algorithms are evaluated and implemented to understand how the enhancement algorithm works and how well it is. Two types of features are presented in this job. (i) global ridge associated with central region of the fingerprint and (ii) minutiae associated with local ridge and furrows structure. Extraction of minutiae, involves a series of image enhancement such as normalization, ridge orientation estimation, filtering, thresholding, thinning and False minutiae removal. After applying image enhancement and minutiae extraction techniques on a set of images, we took as a sample, the results was perfect. The minutiae has been removed and a results, we got was in better condition. Nomenclatures:
The Internal Sinus Floor Elevation Procedure is Comparable to the Conventional Sinus Floor Elevation Procedure in Highly Atrophic Alveolar Ridges: Results Four Years after Loading in A Randomized, Controlled, Blind Pilot Study

To investigate whether endoscopically assisted internal sinusfloor elevation (EIS) is as good as the conventional opensurgical method (CSE) in terms of sufficient bone support forthe placement of dental implants and long-term implantsuccess. A split mouth model whereby 20 dental implants wereinstalled in 10 patients (five female and five male) following EISor CSE. No graft materials were used, only locally harvestedautogenous bone. Both surgical procedures were monitoredendoscopically at the time of implant placement and uponplacement of the healing abutment (three months). Panoramicradiographs were made pre- and postoperative, and after 36months in order to evaluate peri-implant bone. The averagepreoperative maxillary alveolar bone height at the implant site(first molar) was 4 mm. The average gain in bone height was 6mm using EIS and 5.5 mm with CSE respectively. Clinicalparameters revealed sufficient implant stability at the time ofplacement. Three implants failed during the healing period of12 weeks. The overall implant success rate was 85 percent.The overall success rate at the time of implant loading was 100percent. After loading, no further implant failure was observedover a four year period. Sinus floor elevation is a wellestablishedprocedure for augmentation of the atrophicmaxillary posterior region. Our results indicate that EIS is atleast as good as CSE. Endoscopically assisted surgery helpedprevent, diagnose, and manage sinus membrane perforations.After 48 months of loading, the clinical outcomes of the presentstudy showed that EIS and simultaneous implant placementresulted in low intraoperative trauma, sufficient implant stabilityupon placement, low incidence of postoperative symptoms,and a high success rate.
Bacteriological profile and antibiotic sensitivity in Chronic Suppurative Otitis Media

Chronic Suppurative Otitis Media is a chronic inflammation of middle ear presents with recurrent otorrhoea through a tympanic perforation, usually occurs after upper respiratory viral infections followed by invasion of pyogenic organisms. Our prospective study, conducted over a period of 10 months, includes ear discharge from 100 patients with chronic suppurative ottis media. Discharge collected in sterile swabs were sent immediately to microbiology laboratory and processed. Bacterial isolates were identified by standard methods and antibiotic susceptibility testing was done. Staphylococcus was the predominant organism followed by Pseudomonas sps. , and Escherichia Coli. Most of the organisms were sensitive to Cefotaxime followed by Amikacin. The aim of the study on aerobic microbes and their anti-biogram pattern was to prepare a protocol for empirical antibiotic therapy based on the study to shorten the period of infection. Keywords: Chronic suppurative otitis media, Bacterial isolates, Anti-boigram, Anti-biotic resistance
Reducing Safety-Critical Software Statistical Testing Cost Based on Importance Sampling Technique

Safety-critical software often includes some rarely executed critical operations that are often inadequately tested in statistical testing based reliability estimation. However, it is necessary to assess the reliability of safety-critical software to a high degree of confidence before it is deployed in the field. This paper discusses how to reduce safety-critical software statistical testing cost based on importance sampling technique. When both the critical operations and the entire software are adequately tested, the method can still compute the unbiased software reliability from the test results with much less test cases. Thus, the statistical testing cost of safety-critical software can be reduced effectively The simulated annealing algorithm for calculating optimum transition probabilities of the Markov chain usage model for reducing software statistical testing cost is also presented.
Endoscopic ultrasound guided fine needle aspiration in the diagnosis of intra-abdominal lesions

Background: Endoscopic ultrasound guided fine-needle aspiration cytology (EUS-FNA) in the diagnosis of intra-abdominal lesion is a safe and accurate procedure which is practiced in various parts of the world.12 However, this technique is very new in Bangladesh. To evaluate the diagnostic utility of endoscopic ultrasound guided fine needle aspiration (EUS-FNA) in the diagnosis of abdominal lesions. Methods: EUS-FNA was carried out on a total of ­48 cases during the study period. The lesions were categorized according to the site of FNA. Clinical impression was compared with the final cytological diagnosis and the percentage of non diagnostic smears was calculated. Results: Out of 48 cases, 10 cases (20.8%) were reported as inconclusive while a definite diagnosis was given in 38 cases (79.21%). The mean patient age was 47.68 years. There were 28 (58.33%) males and 20 (41.67%) females. The most common site biopsied was pancreas followed by abdominal lymph node. The average number of passes made was two. Conclusion: Endoscopic Ultrasound Guided Fine-Needle Aspiration in the diagnosis of intra-abdominal lesion is a useful procedure in the evaluation of deep seated lesions of gastrointestinal tract (GIT) and abdominal cavity. Bangladesh Med Res Counc Bull 2019; 45: 41-46