Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Which test is best for diagnosing peanut allergy in South African children with atopic dermatitis?

BACKGROUND Diagnosing peanut allergy based on sensitisation alone leads to an unacceptable rate of overdiagnosis. OBJECTIVE To define parameters that may help differentiate peanut allergy from asymptomatic sensitisation in a cohort of South African (SA) children with atopic dermatitis (AD). It is the first study in SA to utilise oral food challenge tests and analyse peanut component patterns. METHODS This was a prospective, observational study at a paediatric university hospital in Cape Town, SA. Children with AD, aged 6 months - 10 years, were recruited randomly. They were assessed for sensitisation and allergy to peanut by questionnaire, skin-prick tests (SPTs), immuno solid-phase allergen chip (ISAC) tests, ImmunoCAP component tests to Ara h 1, 2, 3, 8 and 9, and incremental food challenges. RESULTS One hundred participants (59 Xhosa (black Africans) and 41 of mixed race, median age 42 months) were enrolled. Overall, 44% of patients were peanut sensitised and 25% had a true peanut allergy. SPTs and ImmunoCAP Ara h 2 produced the highest areas under the receiver operating characteristic curve for predicting peanut allergy in peanut-sensitised patients. The ISAC test was less sensitive, more specific and produced significantly lower median values than ImmunoCAP tests. Ara h 2 was the most useful component in differentiating allergy from tolerance in both ethnic groups, being positive in 92% of allergic and 40% of sensitised but tolerant children (p<0.001). There was little additional contribution from Ara h 1 and 3. Ara h 8 and 9 were associated with tolerance. Commonly used 95% positive predictive values (PPVs) for SPTs, peanut-specific IgE and Ara h 2 levels fared suboptimally in our population. Maximum PPVs for this study population were found at SPT 11 mm, peanut IgE 15 kU/L and ImmunoCAP Ara h 2 of 8 kU/L, but these adjusted levels still had suboptimal PPVs in Xhosa subjects. Severe peanut allergy was associated with increased median peanut IgE and Ara h 2. CONCLUSIONS The component Ara h 2 was useful for differentiating allergy from tolerance in both ethnic groups in this SA cohort. Ninety-five percent PPVs for peanut allergy tests may need to be revised, especially in Xhosa patients. An SPT result ≥11 mm as well as Ara h 2 ≥8 kU/L had the best predictive value for peanut allergy.
Predicting Carriers of Ongoing Selective Sweeps without Knowledge of the Favored Allele

Methods for detecting the genomic signatures of natural selection have been heavily studied, and they have been successful in identifying many selective sweeps. For most of these sweeps, the favored allele remains unknown, making it difficult to distinguish carriers of the sweep from non-carriers. In an ongoing selective sweep, carriers of the favored allele are likely to contain a future most recent common ancestor. Therefore, identifying them may prove useful in predicting the evolutionary trajectory — for example, in contexts involving drug-resistant pathogen strains or cancer subclones. The main contribution of this paper is the development and analysis of a new statistic, the Haplotype Allele Frequency (HAF) score. The HAF score, assigned to individual haplotypes in a sample, naturally captures many of the properties shared by haplotypes carrying a favored allele. We provide a theoretical framework for computing expected HAF scores under different evolutionary scenarios, and we validate the theoretical predictions with simulations. As an application of HAF score computations, we develop an algorithm (PreCIOSS: Predicting Carriers of Ongoing Selective Sweeps) to identify carriers of the favored allele in selective sweeps, and we demonstrate its power on simulations of both hard and soft sweeps, as well as on data from well-known sweeps in human populations. Author summary Methods for detecting the genomic signatures of natural selection have been heavily studied, and they have been successful in identifying genomic regions under positive selection. However, methods that detect positive selective sweeps do not typically identify the favored allele, or even the haplotypes carrying the favored allele. The main contribution of this paper is the development and analysis of a new statistic (the HAF score), assigned to individual haplotypes. Using both theoretical analyses and simulations, we describe how the HAF scores differ for carriers and non-carriers of the favored allele, and how they change dynamically during a selective sweep. We also develop an algorithm, PreCIOSS, for separating carriers and non-carriers. Our tool has broad applicability as carriers of the favored allele are likely to contain a future most recent common ancestor. Therefore, identifying them may prove useful in predicting the evolutionary trajectory — for example, in contexts involving drug-resistant pathogen strains or cancer subclones.
Ascidians from Rocas Atoll, northeast Brazil

Rocas Atoll is the only one of its kind in the South Atlantic—and the first Brazilian marine biological reserve. This is the first report about the ascidians from Rocas. A total of 12 species were found, 5 of them not hitherto described: Ascidia viridina sp. nov., Didemnum rochai sp. nov., Leptoclinides crocotulus sp. nov., Polysyncraton maurizeliae sp. nov., and Trididemnum rocasensis sp. nov.). One Caribbean species, Didemnum halimedae, was also discovered in the region for the first time. Further, this is the first record of Didemnum digestum in the Atlantic. The results indicate a high degree of endemism in the ascidian fauna from Rocas Atoll, where didemnids are presently the most important members.
Color and texture associations in voice-induced synesthesia

Voice-induced synesthesia, a form of synesthesia in which synesthetic perceptions are induced by the sounds of people's voices, appears to be relatively rare and has not been systematically studied. In this study we investigated the synesthetic color and visual texture perceptions experienced in response to different types of “voice quality” (e.g., nasal, whisper, falsetto). Experiences of three different groups—self-reported voice synesthetes, phoneticians, and controls—were compared using both qualitative and quantitative analysis in a study conducted online. Whilst, in the qualitative analysis, synesthetes used more color and texture terms to describe voices than either phoneticians or controls, only weak differences, and many similarities, between groups were found in the quantitative analysis. Notable consistent results between groups were the matching of higher speech fundamental frequencies with lighter and redder colors, the matching of “whispery” voices with smoke-like textures, and the matching of “harsh” and “creaky” voices with textures resembling dry cracked soil. These data are discussed in the light of current thinking about definitions and categorizations of synesthesia, especially in cases where individuals apparently have a range of different synesthetic inducers.
An Economic Theory of the Evolutionary Origin of Property Rights

We model the emergence of an innate, biological sense of property rights where resource scarcity and output contestability reign. Preferences evolve such that, in evolutionarily stable equilibrium, an object is valued more by an individual who possesses it, or has produced it, than if he is neither possessor nor producer. In a distributional contest for the object, the possessor/producer will devote more effort to retaining it than an interloper will to expropriating it. Asymmetry in preferences for an object between possessor/producer and interloper, and consequent asymmetry of efforts defending or expropriating it, constitute our concept of innate property rights.
Chaotic mixing and transport in Rossby-wave critical layers

A simple, dynamically consistent model of mixing and transport in Rossby-wave critical layers is obtained from the well-known Stewartson–Warn–Warn (SWW) solution of Rossby-wave critical-layer theory. The SWW solution is thought to be a useful conceptual model of Rossby-wave breaking in the stratosphere. Chaotic advection in the model is a consequence of the interaction between a stationary and a transient Rossby wave. Mixing and transport are characterized separately with a number of quantitative diagnostics (e.g. mean-square dispersion, lobe dynamics, and spectral moments), and with particular emphasis on the dynamics of the tracer field itself. The parameter dependences of the diagnostics are examined: transport tends to increase monotonically with increasing perturbation amplitude whereas mixing does not. The robustness of the results is investigated by stochastically perturbing the transient-wave phase speed. The two-wave chaotic advection model is contrasted with a stochastic single-wave model. It is shown that the effects of chaotic advection cannot be captured by stochasticity alone.
Lattice Study of Planar Equivalence: The Quark Condensate

We study quenched SU(N) gauge theories with fermions in the two-index symmetric, antisymmetric and the adjoint representations. Our main motivation is to check whether at large number of colors those theories become nonperturbatively equivalent. We prove the equivalence assuming that the charge-conjugation symmetry is not broken in pure Yang-Mills theory. We then carry out a quenched lattice simulation of the quark condensate in the symmetric, antisymmetric and the adjoint representations for SU(2), SU(3), SU(4), SU(6), and SU(8). We show that the data support the equivalence and discuss the size of subleading corrections.
Navigating Buildings in "Desk-Top" Virtual Environments: Experimental Investigations Using Extended Navigational Experience

Participants learned the layout of large-scale "virtual buildings" through extended navigational experience, using "desk-top" (i.e., nonimmersive) virtual environments (VEs). Experiment 1 recreated a study performed in a real building (P. W. Thorndyke & B. Hayes-Roth, 1982). After overcoming initial disorientation, participants ultimately developed near-perfect routefinding abilities. Their ability to judge directions and relative distances was similar to that found with the real building. Two further experiments investigated the effect of localized landmarks. Colored patterns had no effect on participants' route-finding accuracy. However, participants were more accurate in their route finding when familiar objects were used as landmarks than when no landmarks were used. The implications of the findings for the design of VEs are discussed. Virtual environment (VE) systems are being
Taxonomy of cloud computing services

Cloud computing is a highly discussed topic, and many big players of the software industry are entering the development of cloud services. Several companies want to explore the possibilities and benefits of cloud computing, but with the amount of cloud computing services increasing quickly, the need for a taxonomy framework rises. This paper describes the available cloud computing services, and proposes a tree-structured taxonomy based on their characteristics, to easily classify cloud computing services making it easier to compare them.
Effort-based learning and decision making

In the literature on healthy humans, effort is poorly studied and an extension from an animal literature is just emerging. I tested an hypothesis that physical effort is a non-trivial aspect of motivated behaviour; it serves as a cost and interacts with outcomes. To do this I conducted four experimental studies and extended the range of costs to include pain. In my first experiment, I develop a functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI) task assessing willingness to expend effort. I show that physical effort discounts value of actions and that activity in dorsal striatum is associated with effort of selected actions. In addition to influencing choice, effort may be influenced by affective outcomes. In my second experiment, I develop a behavioural instrumental learning task examining how reward and punishment influence learning about effortful response. I show that it is easier to expend effort to gain reward and to withdraw effort to avoid punishment, but not the other way around; in other words it is more difficult to expend effort to avoid punishment and to withdraw effort to gain reward. Results from reinforcement learning modelling account for this tendency in terms of a pavlovian influence on effort. On the one hand, outcome has an influence in effort while, on the other, effort may modulate neural signalling of action anticipation and outcome delivery. In my third experiment, I develop an fMRI cue-predictive instrumental task investigating brain responses for effort anticipation and outcome evaluation. I show that activity in anterior cingulate cortex and dorsal striatum is sensitive to anticipated effort and highlight an effort modulation on activity in ventromedial prefrontal cortex and ventral striatum associated with expected outcomes. Finally, I extend my investigation of costly behaviour in effort to pain by showing an influence of context effects in pain avoidance behaviour. In summary, within this thesis I demostrate that physical effort as a cost is non-trivial in that it i) discounts value, ii) is sensitive to pavlovian influences, iii) is neurally anticipated and iv) modulates outcome signalling. I show the viability of various experimental paradigms to assess costly behaviours driven by effort and extend this endeavour by studying cost-driven pain avoidance. These experiments forge new research directions for understanding action and decision making as well as show promise for testing aberrant populations that often present with pathology that may reflect under- and over-motivated actions (e.g., apathy and perseveration).
Virtual Drive: A Complete V2X Communication and Radar System Simulator for Optimization of Multiple Antenna Systems

Vehicle-to-X (V2X) communication as well as automotive radar are fast growing areas of consumer interest. This gives rise to a challenge to a well-working communication systems in handling the V2X radio channel. The two most important components influencing the channel are the antennas and the fast changing environment, resulting in a time-variant behavior of the channel. Therefore, finding the optimal antenna configuration to ensure the best performance is a difficult task. A possible solution is the employment of measurement campaigns, but they are expensive, time consuming, and provide no repeatability. An alternative approach, based on simulations, is presented in this article. This tool, called “Virtual Drive,” consists of an environment and a traffic model and calculates the multipath propagation with a 3D ray-tracing tool. This combination yields a “virtual drive” through arbitrary scenarios and allows for the optimization of antenna configurations that are to be investigated. The different components of the Virtual Drive are described and the accuracy of the software tool is examined by a comparison with measurements. Finally, the manifold capabilities of such a software tool are demonstrated using the example of vehicular antenna optimization for cars and of radar system optimization.
Some speculations about black hole entropy in string theory

The classical Bekenstein entropy of a black hole is argued to arise from configurations of strings with ends which are frozen on the horizon. Quantum corrections to this entropy are probably finite unlike the case in quantum field theory. Finally it is speculated that all black holes are single string states. The level density of strings is of the right order of magnitude to reproduce the Bekenstein entropy.
International Conference on Information Systems ( ICIS ) 2010 INVESTIGATION OF THE NETWORK CONSTRUCTION BEHAVIOR ON SOCIAL NETWORKING SITES

By enabling connections between individuals, Social Networking Sites, such as Facebook, promise to create significant individual as well as social value. Encouraging connections between users is also crucial for service providers who increasingly rely on social advertising and viral marketing campaigns as important sources of their revenue. Consequently, understanding user’s network construction behavior becomes critical. However, previous studies offer only few scattered insights into this research question. In order to fill this gap, we employ Grounded Theory methodology to derive a comprehensive model of network construction behavior on social networking sites. In the following step we assess two Structural Equation Models to gain refined insights into the motivation to send and accept friendship requests – two network expansion strategies. Based on our findings, we offer recommendations for social network providers.
Are SMEs meeting the challenge of integrating e-commerce into their businesses? A review of the development, challenges and opportunities

While e-commerce technology has spread rapidly throughout large firms in the developed world, growth among Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) has not been as pervasive. This paper discusses the current state of e-commerce development in SMEs, outlines challenges faced by many SMEs and proposes several options for e-commerce integration. Specific opportunities in the areas of customer service and relationship management, supply chain management and e-commerce support are discussed.
CRISPR-Cas9 Mediated Gene-Silencing of the Mutant Huntingtin Gene in an In Vitro Model of Huntington’s Disease

Huntington’s disease (HD) is a fatal neurodegenerative genetic disease characterized by a loss of neurons in the striatum. It is caused by a mutation in the Huntingtin gene (HTT) that codes for the protein huntingtin (HTT). The mutant Huntingtin gene (mHTT) contains extra poly-glutamine (CAG) repeats from which the translated mutant huntingtin proteins (mHTT) undergo inappropriate post-translational modifications, conferring a toxic gain of function, in addition to its non-functional property. In order to curb the production of the mHTT, we have constructed two CRISPR (clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeat)-Cas9 (CRISPR associate protein) plasmids, among which one nicks the DNA at untranslated region upstream to the open reading frame (uORF), and the other nicks the DNA at exon1-intron boundary. The primary goal of this study was to apply this plasmid into mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) extracted from the bone-marrow of YAC128 mice, which carries the transgene for HD. Our results suggest that the disruption of uORF through CRISPR-Cas9 influences the translation of mHTT negatively and, to a lesser extent, disrupts the exon1-intron boundary, which affects the translation of the mHTT. These findings also revealed the pattern of the nucleotide addition or deletion at the site of the DNA-nick in this model.
Relation between foot arch index and ankle strength in elite gymnasts: a preliminary study

Background: Gymnasts usually start intensive training from early childhood. The impact of such strenuous training on the musculoskeletal system is not clear. Objectives: To evaluate the relation between muscle strength of the ankle joint and foot structure in gymnasts. Methods: The study population comprised 20 high level male gymnasts and 17 non-athletic healthy male controls. Arch indices were measured using a podoscope. Ankle plantar/dorsiflexion and eversion/inversion strengths were measured using a Biodex 3 dynamometer within the protocol of concentric/concentric five repetitions at 30°/s velocity. Results: The mean arch index of the right and left foot of the gymnasts and the controls were respectively: 31.4 (29.1), 34.01 (34.65); 60.01 (30.3), 63.75 (32.27). Both the arch indices and the ankle dorsiflexion strengths were lower in the gymnasts. Although no correlation was found between strength and arch index in the control group, a significant correlation was observed between eversion strengths and arch indices of the gymnasts (r = 0.41, p = 0.02). Conclusions: Whether or not the findings indicate sport specific adaptation or less training of the ankle dorsiflexors, prospective data are required to elucidate the tendency for pes cavus in gymnasts, for whom stabilisation of the foot is a priority.
Fluency: Time for a Paradigm Shift

Pauses in spontaneous speaking constitute a rich source of data for several disciplines. They have been used to enhance automatic segmentation of speech, classification of patients with acquired communication disorders, the design of psycholinguistic models of speaking, and the analysis of psychological disorders. Unfortunately, however, although pause analysis has been with us for more than 40 years, their interpretation has been compromised by several problems [6]. The first problem is that the pause distribution is skewed, making mean duration a poor measure of central tendency. The second problem is that there are at least two components to the pause duration distribution, a problem that has been confounded by the fact that most authors have assumed that short pauses can be ignored. The third problem is that many scholars have used an arbitrary criterion to separate the pause components, thereby adopting statistics that reflect errors of commission or omission. In this paper we review recent work that resolves each of these issues and illustrates the application of the new paradigm to a variety of problems. Our research indicates that, first, there are at least two pause duration distributions, each of which may be sensitive to theoretically interesting variables; second, the distributions are log-normal, thereby opening the way to appropriate measures of central tendency and dispersion, and, third, the distributions can be reliably separated by application of signal detection theory, and the proportion of misclassifications minimised and estimated. This paper reviews recent research using the new approach to pause analysis.
Simultaneous Determination of the Cosmic Ray Ionization Rate and Fractional Ionization in DR 21(OH)

We present a new method for the simultaneous calculation of the cosmic ray ionization rate, ζH2, and the ionization fraction, χe, in dense molecular clouds. A simple network of chemical reactions dominant in the creation and destruction of HCNH+ and HCO+ is used in conjunction with observed pairs of rotational transitions of several molecular species in order to determine the electron abundance and the H3+ abundance. The cosmic ray ionization rate is then calculated by taking advantage of the fact that, in dark clouds, it governs the rate of creation of H3+. We apply this technique to the case of the star-forming region DR 21(OH), where we successfully detected the (J = 3→ 2) and (J = 4→ 3) rotational transitions of HCNH+. We also determine the C and O isotopic ratios in this source to be 12C/13C = 63 ± 4 and 16O/18O = 318 ± 64, which are in good agreement with previous measurements in other clouds. The significance of our method lies in the ability to determine N(H3+) and χe directly from observations, and estimate ζH2 accordingly. Our results, ζH2 = 3.1 × 10−18 s−1 and χe = 3.2 × 10−8, are consistent with recent determinations in other objects.