Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Maturing Development of Gut Microbiota in Commercial Piglets during the Weaning Transition

Early weaned piglets are vulnerable to diarrhea because of weaning stress and immaturity of intestinal tract. Compelling evidence suggests that gut microbiota is vital to host health. However, it is not well understood on the composition and succession of piglet gut microbiota during the weaning transition. In our two trials, total 17 commercial piglets were studied in a pig farm in Jiangxi Province, China. Fresh feces were collected for four times (10 days before weaned, weaned day, 10 days after weaned, 21 days after weaned) by rectal massage. Fecal bacterial composition was assessed by 16S rRNA gene V3–V4 regions sequencing by Illumina Miseq platform. The results showed that the gut microbiota of piglets shifted quickly after weaned and reached relatively stable level in 10 days after weaned. The alpha diversity increased significantly with the age of piglets. The microbiota of suckling piglets was mainly represented by Fusobacterium, Lactobacillus, Bacteroides, Escherichia/Shigella, and Megasphaera. This pattern contrasted with that of Clostridium sensu stricto, Roseburia, Paraprevotella, Clostridium XIVa, and Blautia, which were major representative genera after weaned. In summary, we delineated the development of piglet gut microbiota during the weaning transition. This study helps us understand the maturing development of gut microbiota in commercial piglets.
A micromechanics-based damage model for compressive behavior analysis of impacted composite laminates

The compressive strength of composite laminates decreases seriously after being subjected to impact loading, which is an important item to be considered in the usage of composite material. In this paper, a micromechanics-based damage model is proposed to study the compressive behavior of impacted composite laminates. The micro stresses of fiber and matrix are calculated by stress amplification factors and then used to judge the failure mechanisms according to corresponding physical failure criteria. A progressive damage model based on different failure statuses of constituents is established to study the degradation of material properties. The bi-linear cohesive model is used in the research of delamination onset and propagation. The compressive behaviors of quasi-isotropic composite laminates subjected to different impact energies are investigated by this proposed method. Good agreements in terms of structure responses, failure mechanisms, and residual compressive strengths are obtained between numerical results and experimental data. The matrix cracking and delamination caused by impact loading are responsible for the initiation and propagation of buckling, which leads to the final collapse of entire laminates. Based on the numerical investigations of material parameters, the increment of mode II interlaminar fracture toughness is capable of improving the residual compressive strength significantly.
Can electoral popularity be predicted using socially generated big data?

Abstract Today, our more-than-ever digital lives leave significant footprints in cyberspace. Large scale collections of these socially generated footprints, often known as big data, could help us to re-investigate different aspects of our social collective behaviour in a quantitative framework. In this contribution we discuss one such possibility: the monitoring and predicting of popularity dynamics of candidates and parties through the analysis of socially generated data on the web during electoral campaigns. Such data offer considerable possibility for improving our awareness of popularity dynamics. However they also suffer from significant drawbacks in terms of representativeness and generalisability. In this paper we discuss potential ways around such problems, suggesting the nature of different political systems and contexts might lend differing levels of predictive power to certain types of data source. We offer an initial exploratory test of these ideas, focussing on two data streams, Wikipedia page views and Google search queries. On the basis of this data, we present popularity dynamics from real case examples of recent elections in three different countries.
Distributed consensus estimation for diffusion systems with missing measurements over sensor networks

In this paper, the problem of distributed consensus estimation with randomly missing measurements is investigated for a diffusion system over the sensor network. A random variable, the probability of which is known a priori, is used to model the randomly missing phenomena for each sensor. The aim of the addressed estimation problem is to design distributed consensus estimators depending on the neighbouring information such that, for all random measurement missing, the estimation error systems are guaranteed to be globally asymptotically stable in the mean square. By using Lyapunov functional method and the stochastic analysis approach, the sufficient conditions are derived for the convergence of the estimation error systems. Finally, a numerical example is given to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed distributed consensus estimator design scheme.
Frequencies and spatial distributions of Cryptosporidium in livestock animals and children in the Ismailia province of Egypt

SUMMARY Faecal samples from 804 cattle and buffaloes and 165 diarrhoeal children of Ismailia province were investigated by an immunochromatographic screening test and PCR to determine prevalences and distributions of Cryptosporidium spp. Results were analysed statistically for clustering of animal and human cases. Cryptosporidium herd prevalence was 73·3% and individual animal prevalence 32·3%. C. parvum was the dominant species in animals (65·7%). Young calves watered with canal or underground water were at particular risk of infection. Detection rates were higher when calves showed diarrhoea, fever and dehydration. Human Cryptosporidium prevalence was 49·1%. C. hominis dominated in humans (60·5%), followed by C. parvum (38·3%). Living in villages, drinking underground water and having contact with animals were risk factors. Cluster analysis revealed differences in the distribution of infections between animals and humans and suggests different transmission dynamics.
Affective assessment in the learning of names by fifth- and sixth-grade children.

Abstract Forty fifth- and sixth-grade children were given a list of names which they had prerated for Reinforcement Value in a free recall format. The prediction was made that high self-esteem children will learn their liked names more rapidly than their disliked names, but that low self-esteem children would show the reverse tendency. Although an RV-positive effect is noted in the sample, the expected reversal did not occur. A confounding factor proved to be intelligence, since it was impossible to divorce self-esteem from IQ in the sample investigated. The presentation closes with a discussion of the “logical learning theory” on which RV study is based, and the implications that this theory has for the role of self-induced behavior.
Determinants of peak V(O2) in peripheral arterial occlusive disease patients.

Peripheral arterial occlusive disease (PAOD) patients with intermittent claudication are functionally limited and deconditioned. This study examined whether peak aerobic capacity (V(O2) peak) was associated with PAOD severity, muscle mass, and comorbidities in 109 PAOD patients (93 men and 16 women) aged 48-86 years. The V(O2) peak (1.12+/-0.34 L/min), percentage body fat (30.6+/-8.3%), lean tissue mass of the total body (51.4+/-8.4 kg), lean tissue mass of the legs (16.6+/-3.0 kg), and appendicular skeletal mass (22.8+/-4.2 kg) were determined. The lean tissue mass of the total body (r = .44), lean tissue of the legs (r = .43) and resting ankle/brachial systolic pressure index (ABI; r = .41) correlated with peak V(O2) (all p < .001). None of the comorbidity variables (obesity, arthritis, coronary artery disease, hypertension, diabetes, and smoking history) were significantly associated with peak V(O2) except smoking status. The final model for the prediction of peak V(O2) included lean tissue mass of the legs, resting ABI, smoking status, and ABI x smoking status (r2 = .37,p < .001). In older patients with intermittent claudication, lean tissue mass is an important determinant of physical performance independent of PAOD severity and smoking status. Prevention of muscle atrophy may preserve ambulatory function and peak exercise capacity in older PAOD patients.
Formant-based analysis of vowels in Modern Standard Arabic—Preliminary results

Although of the importance of analyzing vowel phonemes in the Modern Standard Arabic (MSA), it has not been paid a considerable attention in the published literature yet. Consequently, a formant-based analysis for the six vowels of MSA in connected speech was carried out in this work. The values of the first three formant frequencies were captured. The present results were compared to some previously published results conducted on MSA and other Arabic dialects. The comparison was performed from geometric perspective using the Euclidean distance. The results of the geometric comparison were found to be consistent with the visual inspection of the vowel triangles.
[Relationship of concentration of lactoferrin and lysozyme in saliva and dental caries in primary dentition].

OBJECTIVE To explore the relationship between the concentrations of lactoferrin and lysozyme in saliva and dental caries in primary dentition among Chinese children. METHODS Forty children with high dmft score (dmft > or = 5) and 40 caries-free children (dmft = 0) were sampled and assigned into two groups. Total salivary proteins was measured by means of bicinchoninic acid. Sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) was performed to analyze the images of target straps. Lactoferrin and lysozyme were detected using Western blotting method. RESULTS The total salivary protein in high dmft group [(852.02 +/- 206.14) mg/L] was lower than that of caries-free group [(1032.44 +/- 221.99) mg/L, P < 0.001]. The ratio of 77,000 protein in high dmft group [(12.50 +/- 7.73) IA/microg] was significantly higher than that of the caries-free children [(8.71 +/- 4.28) IA/microg, P = 0.009], while there was no significant difference for 14,500 protein between them (P = 0.137). The ratio of lactoferrin was higher in high dmft group [(229.04 +/- 197.14) IA/microg] than that in caries-free children [(144.07 +/- 99.91) IA/microg, P = 0.018], while no significant difference for lysozyme between the two groups (P = 0.091). CONCLUSIONS Saliva protein is closely related to caries in primary dentition. Lactoferrin may be one of the important components.
'Candidatus phytoplasma ziziphi', a novel phytoplasma taxon associated with jujube witches'-broom disease.

Phylogenetic relationships of five jujube witches'-broom (JWB) phytoplasma isolates from four different districts, and other phytoplasmas, were investigated by 16S rDNA PCR amplification and sequence analysis. The 16S rDNA sequences of any pair of the five isolates of JWB phytoplasmas were > 99.5% similar. The JWB phytoplasma 16S rDNA sequences were most closely related to that of the elm yellows (EY) phytoplasma in 16S-group VIII. Phylogenetic analysis of the 16S rDNA sequences from the JWB phytoplasma isolates, together with sequences from most of the phytoplasmas archived in GenBank, produced a tree in which the JWB isolates clustered as a discrete subgroup. The uniqueness of the JWB phytoplasma appears to be correlated with a specific insect vector (Hishimonus sellatus) and the host plant (Zizyphus jujuba), or with a specific geographical distribution. The unique properties of the JWB phytoplasma sequences clearly indicate that it represents a novel taxon, 'Candidatus Phytoplasma ziziphi'.
A PARALLEL SECOND-ORDER ADAPTIVE MESH ALGORITHM FOR REACTIVE FLOW IN GEOCHEMICAL SYSTEMS

We present a second-order accurate adaptive algorithm for solving reactive transport flow in geochemical systems. A Strang-splitting approach is used to numerically decouple the transport component and the reaction component of the problem. The transport component is solved using a second-order accurate IMPES-like algorithm that exhibits excellent control of numerical dispersion. The numerical scheme for the reaction component uses reaction network details from the chemistry module of TOUGHREACT, COREREACT, and VODE, a high-order ODE integrator, to maintain second-order accuracy of the algorithm. The algorithm is implemented within an adaptive refinement framework that uses a nested hierarchy of logically rectangular grids with simultaneous refinement of the grids in both space and time. The integration algorithm on the grid hierarchy is a recursive procedure in which coarse grids are advanced in time, fine grids are advanced multiple steps to reach the same time as the coarse grids, and the data at different levels are then synchronized. Numerical examples are presented to demonstrate the algorithm's accuracy and convergence properties. We conclude with a simulation of a reactive salt dome problem.
Seroprevalence of Human Cytomegalovirus (HCMV) infection in pregnant women and outcomes of pregnancies with active infection.

OBJECTIVE To determine the prevalence of cytomegalovirus in pregnant women and types of overt congenital infection in neonates. METHODS This cross-sectional study was conducted at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences and Federal Government Services Hospital in Islamabad, Pakistan, from March 2010 to June 2011, and comprised blood samples of pregnant women. Seroprevalence of human cytomegalovirus, immunoglobulin G and immunoglobulin M was determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay while its deoxyribonucleic acid was detected by nested polymerase chain reaction.The congenital human cytomegalovirus infection was also identified in newborn babies from actively infected pregnant women. SPSS 18 was used for data analysis. RESULTS Of the 409 pregnant women enrolled, 399(97.55%) were seropositive for cytomegalovirus immunoglobulinG and 52(12.71%) for immunoglobulinM, while cytomegalovirus deoxyribonucleic acid was detected in 82(20%). Of the cytomegalovirus immunoglobulinM-positive women, sera of 40(80%) had immunoglobulinG avidity >50%. The remaining 12(23%) sera had avidity assay value <50%. Among the 82(20%) infected pregnant women, 70(85.4%) were successfully followed up. Among them, the virus was isolated from 41(58.5%) newborns babies, of which 15(21%) were symptomatic while 26(47.2%) were asymptomatic. Of the former, 4(26.6%) had hepatosplenomegaly. CONCLUSIONS Human cytomegalovirus infection in pregnant women was the main reason of congenital defects among neonates.
Context Aware Trace Clustering: Towards Improving Process Mining Results

Process Mining refers to the extraction of process models from event logs. Real-life processes tend to be less structured and more flexible. Traditional process mining algorithms have problems dealing with such unstructured processes and generate spaghetti-like process models that are hard to comprehend. An approach to overcome this is to cluster process instances (a process instance is manifested as a trace and an event log corresponds to a multi-set of traces) such that each of the resulting clusters correspond to a coherent set of process instances that can be adequately represented by a process model. In this paper, we propose a context aware approach to trace clustering based on generic edit distance. It is well known that the generic edit distance framework is highly sensitive to the costs of edit operations. We define an automated approach to derive the costs of edit operations. The method proposed in this paper outperforms contemporary approaches to trace clustering in process mining. We evaluate the goodness of the formed clusters using established fitness and comprehensibility metrics defined in the context of process mining. The proposed approach is able to generate clusters such that the process models mined from the clustered traces show a high degree of fitness and comprehensibility when compared to contemporary approaches.
Copyright and musicians at the digital margins

While there is research into consumer attitudes to copyright and downloading, and the music industry has made clear its own views in evidence to the Hargreaves Review and other forums, relatively little is known about musicians’ attitudes to copyright. This article reports on those musicians who are negotiating the new terrain created by digitization and its accompanying business models. Are their attitudes to copyright simply determined by their financial self-interest and a sense of ownership of their music, or do they see copyright as a restriction of their creative freedom? Using the results of a questionnaire and semi-structured interviews with UK musicians, we show how a variety of factors – including generic conventions, knowledge and experience, and wider social values – contribute to attitudes to copyright. Although knowledge of, and interest in, copyright can be driven by financial self-interest, other considerations are in play. These findings have, as we explain, implications both for copyright policy and for an understanding of creative practice in a digital economy. If the assumption is that copyright is designed to serve the interests and facilitate the creativity of musicians, this view is not always shared by the intended beneficiaries.
Single-Feed Ultra-Wideband Circularly Polarized Antenna With Enhanced Front-to-Back Ratio

This communication presents a single-feed ultra-wideband circularly polarized (CP) antenna with high front-to-back ratio (FBR). The antenna is composed of two orthogonally placed elliptical dipoles printed on both sides of a substrate. To realize high FBR, a novel composite cavity is also proposed and integrated with the presented crossed dipoles, which effectively reduces the backlobe of the crossed dipoles. Simulation results are in good agreement with the measured results that demonstrate an impedance bandwidth from 0.9 to 2.95 GHz (106.5%) and a 3-dB axial ratio (AR) bandwidth from 1 to 2.87 GHz (96.6%). The measured FBR is about 30 dB across the whole global navigation satellite system (GNSS) band. Compared with other reported single-feed wideband CP antennas, the antenna has advantages such as a wider CP bandwidth and lower backlobe radiation.
Modeling the time-varying microstructure of simulated sleep EEG spindles using time-frequency analysis methods

The time-varying microstructure of sleep spindles may have clinical significance and can be quantified and modeled with a number of techniques. In this paper, sleep spindles were regarded as AM-FM signals modeled by six parameters. The instantaneous envelope (IE) and instantaneous frequency (IF) waveforms were estimated using four different methods, namely Hilbert Transform (HT), Complex Demodulation (CD), Wavelet Transform (WT) and Matching Pursuit (MP). The six model parameters were subsequently estimated from the IE and IF waveforms. The average error, taking into account the error for each model parameter, was lowest for HT, higher but still less than 10% for CD and MP, and highest (greater than 10%) for WT, for three different spindle model examples. The amount of distortion induced by the use of a given method is also important; distortion was the greatest (0.4 sec) in the case of HT. Therefore, in the case of real spindles, one could utilize CD and MP and, if the spindle duration is more than 1 sec, HT as well
The New Public Management Theory in the British Health Care System

This article analyzes health care reforms in the United Kingdom following the introduction of New Public Management (NPM) theory–inspired reforms. NPM has taken root deeply in the United Kingdom. This article looks at its impact on health care markets on the performance of health care organizations and on patients. It further seeks to address whether NPM prevents wastage and opportunism in health care. And finally, this article seeks to confirm whether rationality and accountability are greater under NPM or not. This article concludes that NPM reforms have failed to deliver on their own goals. There have been significant undesirable side effects and misfits between policy announcements and NPM implementation. Still, NPM adoption in health care has contributed to changing the Anglo-Saxon model of capitalism.
The small untranslated RNA SR1 from the Bacillus subtilis genome is involved in the regulation of arginine catabolism

Whereas about 70 small non‐coding RNAs have been found in the Escherichia coli genome, relatively little is known about regulatory RNAs from Gram‐positive bacteria. Here, we demonstrate that the recently identified small untranslated RNA SR1 from the Bacillus subtilis genome is a regulatory RNA involved in fine‐tuning of arginine catabolism. 2D protein gel electrophoresis indicated three possible SR1 targets that are regulated by the transcriptional activator AhrC, which was shown to be the primary target of SR1. In vitro pairing studies and an in vivo reporter gene test demonstrated a specific interaction between SR1 and ahrC mRNA. This interaction did not lead to degradation of ahrC mRNA, but inhibited translation at a post‐initiation stage. Our data show that the Hfq chaperone was not required for the stabilization of SR1 in vivo. The amount of SR1 was increased upon addition of l‐arginine and l‐ornithine, but not l‐citrulline or l‐proline.
The Impact of Motivation, Perception and Attitude Toward Consumer Purchasing Decision: a Study Case of Surabaya and Jakarta Society on Carl's Junior

Psychological factors such as consumer motivation, perception and attitude are believed to be the main decider of consumer purchasing decision. Those psychological factors will process all the stimulators from the marketers then affect the entire consumer decision-making process. Carl’s Junior is one of the most happening restaurants that able to attract many Surabaya and Jakarta citizen dare to queue just to enjoy a burger. This research wants to find out the impact of consumer motivation, perception an attitude toward consumer purchasing decision as well as to compare Surabaya and Jakarta consumer behavior on purchasing Carl’s Junior. Consumer motivation is here divided into hierarchy of needs, rational motivation and emotional motivation. Consumer perception is here divided into perceived image, perceived quality and perceived risk. Multiple regression test is used to process the result and the researcher use simple random sampling by spreading 100 questionnaires to each Jakarta and Surabaya Carl’s Junior consumers. The result of the research shows that there is significant impact of consumer motivation, perception and attitude toward consumer purchasing decision and there are similarity and differences consumer behavior between Surabaya and Jakarta consumer. Keywords: Consumer behavior, motivation, perception, attitude, consumer purchasing decision.
Effect of microscopic Coulomb interactions on concentration dependence mobility of charge carrriers in organic materials

The filling of deep states is considered usually to be the reason of increase of the mobility of disordered organic materials with increasing concentration. However, at moderate concentrations the effect of microscopic Coulomb interactions (MCI) could be significant, because these interactions can reduce the activation energy of a hop. It is shown, that MCI results in significant additional increase of mobility along with concentration, in addition to the effect of the filling of deep states. The results are in qualitative agreement with existing theoretical and experimental studies.