Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Fungus-mediated biological synthesis of gold nanoparticles: potential in detection of liver cancer

Background Nanomaterials are considered to be the pre-eminent component of the rapidly advancing field of nanotechnology. However, developments in the biologically inspired synthesis of nanoparticles are still in their infancy and consequently attracting the attention of material scientists throughout the world. Keeping in mind the fact that microorganism-assisted synthesis of nanoparticles is a safe and economically viable prospect, in the current study we report Candida albicans-mediated biological synthesis of gold nanoparticles. Methods and results Transmission electron microscopy, atomic force microscopy, and various spectrophotometric analyses were performed to characterize the gold nanoparticles. The morphology of the synthesized gold particles depended on the abundance of C. albicans cytosolic extract. Transmission electron microscopy, nanophox particle analysis, and atomic force microscopy revealed the size of spherical gold nanoparticles to be in the range of 20–40 nm and nonspherical gold particles were found to be 60–80 nm. We also evaluated the potential of biogenic gold nanoparticles to probe liver cancer cells by conjugating them with liver cancer cell surface-specific antibodies. The antibody-conjugated gold particles were found to bind specifically to the surface antigens of the cancer cells. Conclusion The antibody-conjugated gold particles synthesized in this study could successfully differentiate normal cell populations from cancerous cells.
Polyhedral structure of the 4‐node network design problem

This article studies the polyhedral structure of the 4‐node network design problem (NDP). Using a theorem from the previous work of this author, the facets of the 4‐node NDP can be translated into facets of larger size problems. The knowledge of complete polyhedral description of the 4‐node NDP is important because it implies complete knowledge of 4‐partition‐based facets of larger NDPs. After reviewing the previously known facets of the 4‐node NDP, a new class of facets is derived. An enumerative methodology is presented for determining whether a given set of inequalities provides a complete polyhedral description. By implementing this methodology in a computer code, it is determined that the known facets of the 4‐node NDP indeed provide a complete polyhedral description of the problem. Working of the proof methodology is illustrated with examples, and the results of the computer enumeration are reported. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. NETWORKS, 2009
Ammonia emissions from a naturally and a mechanically ventilated broiler house in Brazil

Summary of analysis of variance (ANOVA) for the regression of NH 3 emission rate (NH 3 ER, g bird -1 d -1 ) as a function of bird age (x, day) only (reduced model); the regression of NH 3 emission rate against bird age and type of barn (NVB or MVB) (full model) Table 3. Results from regression analysis for the relationship between bird age and NH 3 emission rate, according to the type of model (reduced and full) Parameter*s o (g bird -1 d ) 1 (g bird d -2 ) 2 (g bird -1 d -3 ) Reduced model -3.5 ± 0.4 0.24 ± 0.03 -0.0034 ± 0.0004Full model: MVB -4.0 ± 0.6 0.27 ± 0.04 -0.0040 ± 0.0006Full model: NVB- 3.2 ± 0.6 0.21 ± 0.04 -0.0028 ± 0.0006 *all coefficient estimates were significantly different than zero at a confidence level of 0.95 data from the MVB and NVB (full model) suggest that they are relatively similar to those obtained from the pooled data set (reduced model). For instance, the estimated values for the coefficient respective to the independent term, β o, MVB or β o, NVB , were -4.0 ± 0.6 and -3.2 ± 0.6 g bird
Future trust management framework for mobile ad hoc networks

In mobile ad hoc networks nodes should collaborate with each other to support the functions of the network. The trust management framework, which evaluates the trust of participating nodes, is used to force nodes to cooperate in a normal way. We make an effort to design a robust and attack-resistant trust management framework for the future. In this article we describe the vulnerabilities of and possible attacks on existing frameworks. An objective trust management framework is proposed to overcome these vulnerabilities. We provide a theoretical basis and skeleton for this framework. The performance evaluation and security analysis are provided showing the effectiveness and robustness of the OTMF compared with existing frameworks.
Predictive performance of universal termination of resuscitation rules in an Asian community: are they accurate enough?

Introduction Prehospital termination of resuscitation (TOR) rules have not been widely validated outside of Western countries. This study evaluated the performance of TOR rules in an Asian metropolitan with a mixed-tier emergency medical service (EMS). Methods We analysed the Utstein registry of adult, non-traumatic out-of-hospital cardiac arrests (OHCAs) in Taipei to test the performance of TOR rules for advanced life support (ALS) or basic life support (BLS) providers. ALS and BLS-TOR rules were tested in OHCAs among three subgroups: (1) resuscitated by ALS, (2) by BLS and (3) by mixed ALS and BLS. Outcome definition was in-hospital death. Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), negative predictive value and decreased transport rate (DTR) among various provider combinations were calculated. Results Of the 3489 OHCAs included, 240 were resuscitated by ALS, 1727 by BLS and 1522 by ALS and BLS. Overall survival to hospital discharge was 197 patients (5.6%). Specificity and PPV of ALS-TOR and BLS-TOR for identifying death ranged from 70.7% to 81.8% and 95.1% to 98.1%, respectively. Applying the TOR rules would have a DTR of 34.2–63.9%. BLS rules had better predictive accuracy and DTR than ALS rules among all subgroups. Conclusions Application of the ALS and BLS TOR rules would have decreased OHCA transported to the hospital, and BLS rules are reasonable as the universal criteria in a mixed-tier EMS. However, 1.9–4.9% of those who survived would be misclassified as non-survivors, raising concern of compromising patient safety for the implementation of the rules.
Disposition of Flavonoids via Enteric Recycling: Enzyme-Transporter Coupling Affects Metabolism of Biochanin A and Formononetin and Excretion of Their Phase II Conjugates

The purpose of this study was to continue our effort to determine how enzyme-transporter coupling affect disposition of flavonoids. The rat intestinal perfusion and Caco-2 cell models were used together with relevant microsomes. In perfusion model, isoflavone (i.e., formononetin and biochanin A) absorption and subsequent excretion of its metabolites were always site-dependent. Maximal amounts of intestinal and biliary conjugates excreted per 30 min were 31 and 51 nmol for formononetin, more than that for pure biochanin A (12 and 20 nmol). When a standardized red clover extract (biochanin A/formononetin = 10:7) was used, the results indicated that more metabolites of biochanin A than formononetin were found in the perfusate (36.9 versus 22.8 nmol) and bile (78 versus 51 nmol). In metabolism studies, rat intestinal and liver microsomes always glucuronidated biochanin A faster (p < 0.05) than formononetin, whereas intestinal microsomes glucuronidated both isoflavones faster (p < 0.05) than liver microsomes. However, rapid metabolism in the microsomes did not translate into more efficient excretion in either the rat perfusion model as shown previously or in the Caco-2 model. In the Caco-2 model, both isoflavones were rapidly absorbed, efficiently conjugated, and the conjugates excreted apically and basolaterally. More formononetin conjugates were excreted than biochanin A when used alone, but much more biochanin A conjugates were found when using the isoflavone mixture. In conclusion, efficiency of enzyme-transporter coupling controls the amounts of metabolites excreted by the intestine and liver and determines the relative contribution of enteric and enterohepatic recycling to the in vivo disposition of isoflavones.
Hemispherical digital photographs offer advantages over conventional methods for quantifying pathogen-mediated changes caused by infestation of Phytophthora cinnamomi

Estimates of canopy closure using hemispherical digital images, canopy cover using a point-intercept method, ground cover, number of plant species and total plant species cover were used to quantify the impact of Phytophthora cinnamomi in disease centres in Banksia shrubland, Banksia woodland and Eucalyptus marginata forest biomes of the South-West Botanical Province of Western Australia. Estimates of the time required to capture and analyse data and correlations were used to contrast the five methods. For canopy closure or cover, hemispherical digital images were on average, seven times faster to capture and analyse than the point-intercept method. For both canopy closure and ground cover, mean values from three point samples were not significantly different to mean values from transects across the disease front. Differences in canopy closure and ground cover between biomes and disease obtained from point sampling showed the same trends as transects. Canopy closure differed significantly between biome, being greatest for E. marginata forest, least for Banksia shrubland and intermediate for Banksia woodland. Ground cover was greatest for Banksia shrubland, least for E. marginata forest and intermediate for Banksia woodland. For all biomes there was significantly less canopy closure in diseased than adjoining healthy areas. There was no significant difference in ground cover between diseased and adjoining healthy areas of Banksia shrubland, but significantly less ground cover in diseased than adjoining healthy areas in the Banksia woodland and E. marginata forest. Canopy closure and ground cover are likely measuring different aspects of the impact of P. cinnamomi and, therefore, both should be measured when determining pathogen-mediated changes. Advantages of using hemispherical digital images over the other methods for determining temporal and spatial changes associated with P. cinnamomi infestation are discussed.
Genetic algorithm and neural network approaches to local access network design

This paper examines the utility of genetic algorithms and neural nets for optimization problems occurring in local access network design. It contrasts an existing Hopfield net approach to concentrator assignment with a genetic algorithm approach and finds that the genetic algorithm performs better, while offering greater generality. It describes how genetic algorithms may also be used to solve terminal layout problems, and introduces a representation and special-purpose operators for the solution of concentrator layout problems. <<ETX>>
Percutaneous renal biopsy under the guidance of ultrasound.

A new method for percutaneous renal biopsy under the guidance of ultrasound using a special biopsy transducer is described. The main advantage of the method is that the visualization of the kidneys is independent of renal function. Fifty patients have been biopsied using this method, the latter 25 in a consecutive series in which renal tissue was obtained from 24 patients.
Mycobacterium tuberculosis H37Rv Parietal and Cellular Lipoarabinomannans

Mannosylated lipoarabinomannans are multifaceted molecules. They have been shown to exert an immunosuppressive role in the immunopathogenesis of tuberculosis. They are also described as antigens of host double negative αβ T-cells. Delimitation of ManLAMs epitopes require knowledge of the precise structure of these molecules. The two major functional domains (the cap motifs and the phosphatidylinositol anchor) of the parietal and cellular ManLAMs ofMycobacterium tuberculosis H37Rv were investigated here. Using capillary electrophoresis, we established that parietal and cellular ManLAMs share the same capping motifs, mono-, di-, and trimannosyl units with the same relative abundance. By31P NMR analysis of the native LAMs in Me2SO-d 6, the major acyl-form of both parietal and cellular H37Rv ManLAM anchors, typified by the P3 phosphorus resonance, comprised a diacylglycerol unit. Three other acyl-forms were characterized in the cellular ManLAMs. Comparative analysis of the cellular Mycobacterium bovis BCG andM. tuberculosis ManLAM acyl-forms revealed the presence of the same populations, but with different relative abundance. The biological importance of the H37Rv ManLAM acyl-form characterization is discussed, particularly concerning the molecular mechanisms of binding of ManLAMs to the CD1 proteins involved in the presentation of ManLAMs to T-cell receptors.
Fractal Gait Patterns Are Retained after Entrainment to a Fractal Stimulus

Previous work has shown that fractal patterns in gait can be altered by entraining to a fractal stimulus. However, little is understood about how long those patterns are retained or which factors may influence stronger entrainment or retention. In experiment one, participants walked on a treadmill for 45 continuous minutes, which was separated into three phases. The first 15 minutes (pre-synchronization phase) consisted of walking without a fractal stimulus, the second 15 minutes consisted of walking while entraining to a fractal visual stimulus (synchronization phase), and the last 15 minutes (post-synchronization phase) consisted of walking without the stimulus to determine if the patterns adopted from the stimulus were retained. Fractal gait patterns were strengthened during the synchronization phase and were retained in the post-synchronization phase. In experiment two, similar methods were used to compare a continuous fractal stimulus to a discrete fractal stimulus to determine which stimulus type led to more persistent fractal gait patterns in the synchronization and post-synchronization (i.e., retention) phases. Both stimulus types led to equally persistent patterns in the synchronization phase, but only the discrete fractal stimulus led to retention of the patterns. The results add to the growing body of literature showing that fractal gait patterns can be manipulated in a predictable manner. Further, our results add to the literature by showing that the newly adopted gait patterns are retained for up to 15 minutes after entrainment and showed that a discrete visual stimulus is a better method to influence retention.
The Role of Flavonoids in Nodulation Host-Range Specificity: An Update

Flavonoids are crucial signaling molecules in the symbiosis between legumes and their nitrogen-fixing symbionts, the rhizobia. The primary function of flavonoids in the interaction is to induce transcription of the genes for biosynthesis of the rhizobial signaling molecules called Nod factors, which are perceived by the plant to allow symbiotic infection of the root. Many legumes produce specific flavonoids that only induce Nod factor production in homologous rhizobia, and therefore act as important determinants of host range. Despite a wealth of evidence on legume flavonoids, relatively few have proven roles in rhizobial infection. Recent studies suggest that production of key “infection” flavonoids is highly localized at infection sites. Furthermore, some of the flavonoids being produced at infection sites are phytoalexins and may have a role in the selection of compatible symbionts during infection. The molecular details of how flavonoid production in plants is regulated during nodulation have not yet been clarified, but nitrogen availability has been shown to play a role.
GM Plan: a gate matrix layout algorithm based on artificial intelligence planning techniques

Gate matrix layout is formulated as a planning problem where a plane (the solution steps) is generated to achieve a goal (the gate matrix layout) that consists of interacting subgoals. Each subgoal corresponds to the placement of a gate to a slot, or to the routing of a net connecting gates. The interaction among subgoals is managed with two artificial-intelligence planning techniques: hierarchical planning and metaplanning. A distance measure is defined and used to arrange the subgoals into prioritized classes in the hierarchical planning phase. Two metaplanning policies-graceful retreat and least impact-are used to decide which subgoal is to be achieved within the same priority class and how it can be achieved. In doing so, GM Plan successfully combines gate placement and net routing of the gate matrix layout into one process and has the potential to deliver better results. <<ETX>>
Toward a Model of Customer Experience - An Action Research Study within a Mobile Telecommunications Company

Retaining profitable and high-value customers is a major strategic objective for many companies. In mature mobile markets where growth has slowed, the defection of customers from one network to another has intensified and is strongly fuelled by poor customer experience. In this light, this research-in-progress paper describes a strategic approach to the use of Information Technology as a means of improving customer experience. Using action research in a mobile telecommunications operator, a model is developed that evaluates disparate customer data, residing across many systems, and suggests appropriate contextual actions where experience is poor. The model provides value in identifying issues, understanding them in the context of the overall customer experience (over time) and dealing with them appropriately. The novelty of the approach is the synthesis of data analysis with an enhanced understanding of customer experience which is developed implicitly and in real-time.
Decadal Relationship between the Stratospheric Arctic Vortex and Pacific Decadal Oscillation

AbstractUsing reanalysis datasets and numerical simulations, the relationship between the stratospheric Arctic vortex (SAV) and the Pacific decadal oscillation (PDO) on decadal time scales was investigated. A significant in-phase relationship between the PDO and SAV on decadal time scales during 1950–2014 is found, that is, the North Pacific sea surface temperature (SST) cooling (warming) associated with the positive (negative) PDO phases is closely related to the strengthening (weakening) of the SAV. This decadal relationship between the North Pacific SST and SAV is different from their relationship on subdecadal time scales. Observational and modeling results both demonstrate that the decadal variation in the SAV is strongly affected by the North Pacific SSTs related to the PDO via modifying the upward propagation of planetary wavenumber-1 waves from the troposphere to the stratosphere. The decreased SSTs over the North Pacific tend to result in a deepened Aleutian low along with a strengthened jet stre.
Analgesic and cytotoxic activity of Acorus calamus L., Kigelia pinnata L., Mangifera indica L. and Tabernaemontana divaricata L.

Objectives: The aim of the study was to evaluate analgesic and cytotoxic activity of Acorus calamus L. , Kigelia pinnata L. , Mangifera indica L. , Tabernaemontana divaricata L. extracts by using acetic acid–induced writhing method in mice and brine shrimp lethality assay. Materials and Methods: The ethanolic extracts of the plants were obtained by simple maceration method and were subjected to standardization by using pharmacognostical and phytochemical screening methods, which were followed by acetic acid writhing and brine shrimp lethality test methods. Dose selection was made on the basis of acute oral toxicity study (10–1000 mg/kg body weight). Results and Conclusion: In analgesic test, M. indica L. extract produced 28.16% and 22.02% writhing protection at the doses of 250 and 500 mg/kg body weight in mice, respectively. While the T. divaricata L. extract produced 22.02% and 33.93%, K. pinnata L. extract produced 11.55% and 47.29% and A. calamus L. extract produced 15.16% and 54.51% of writhing protection at the same doses. The percent mortality (mean ± SD) was found to be 58.7 ± 25.22, 56.25 ± 22.88, 52.50 ± 24.37, and 61.25 ± 26.66 with M. indica L. , T. divaricata L. , K. pinnata L. , and A. calamus L. , respectively. And the LC50 and LC90 values were found to be 100 and 300 μg/mL for M. indica L. and that were (200 and 350 μg/mL), (100 and 350 μg/mL) and (50 and 300 μg/mL) for T. divaricata L. , K. pinnata L. , and A. calamus L. , respectively. Thus it can be concluded that bark of M. indica L. , leaves of T. divaricata L. , bark of K. pinnata L. , and roots of A. calamus L. have significant analgesic and cytotoxic activity and can be preferred in the treatment of pain and tumor.
Potential Value of Genomic Copy Number Variations in Schizophrenia

Schizophrenia is a devastating neuropsychiatric disorder affecting approximately 1% of the global population, and the disease has imposed a considerable burden on families and society. Although, the exact cause of schizophrenia remains unknown, several lines of scientific evidence have revealed that genetic variants are strongly correlated with the development and early onset of the disease. In fact, the heritability among patients suffering from schizophrenia is as high as 80%. Genomic copy number variations (CNVs) are one of the main forms of genomic variations, ubiquitously occurring in the human genome. An increasing number of studies have shown that CNVs account for population diversity and genetically related diseases, including schizophrenia. The last decade has witnessed rapid advances in the development of novel genomic technologies, which have led to the identification of schizophrenia-associated CNVs, insight into the roles of the affected genes in their intervals in schizophrenia, and successful manipulation of the target CNVs. In this review, we focus on the recent discoveries of important CNVs that are associated with schizophrenia and outline the potential values that the study of CNVs will bring to the areas of schizophrenia research, diagnosis, and therapy. Furthermore, with the help of the novel genetic tool known as the Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats-associated nuclease 9 (CRISPR/Cas9) system, the pathogenic CNVs as genomic defects could be corrected. In conclusion, the recent novel findings of schizophrenia-associated CNVs offer an exciting opportunity for schizophrenia research to decipher the pathological mechanisms underlying the onset and development of schizophrenia as well as to provide potential clinical applications in genetic counseling, diagnosis, and therapy for this complex mental disease.
Design and Implementation of Load Balancing of Distributed-system-based Web Server

With the rapid growth of both information and users, how to effectively improve the quality of network service becomes an urgent problem to be addressed. Load balancing is to overcome this problem in an effective way. At present it is mainly achieved by the load-balancing hardware and software, but there are also many problems, such as unscientific and inaccurate algorithm, imperfect and impractical load-balancing system design, and so on. The designing of a load-balancing system stated in this paper has certain advantages and practical significance to solve the problems of web server load balancing.