Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Understanding Bacteriophage Specificity in Natural Microbial Communities

Studying the coevolutionary dynamics between bacteria and the bacteriophage viruses that infect them is critical to understanding both microbial diversity and ecosystem functioning. Phages can play a key role in shaping bacterial population dynamics and can significantly alter both intra- and inter-specific competition among bacterial hosts. Predicting how phages might influence community stability and apparent competition, however, requires an understanding of how bacteria-phage interaction networks evolve as a function of host diversity and community dynamics. Here, we first review the progress that has been made in understanding phage specificity, including the use of experimental evolution, we then introduce a new dataset on natural bacteriophages collected from the phyllosphere of horse chestnut trees, and finally we highlight that bacterial sensitivity to phage is rarely a binary trait and that this variation should be taken into account and reported. We emphasize that there is currently insufficient evidence to make broad generalizations about phage host range in natural populations, the limits of phage adaptation to novel hosts, or the implications of phage specificity in shaping microbial communities. However, the combination of experimental and genomic approaches with the study of natural communities will allow new insight to the evolution and impact of phage specificity within complex bacterial communities.
Classification of three varieties of peach fruit using artificial neural network assisted with image processing techniques.

Peaches are rich in a variety of vitamins and minerals such as carbohydrates, organic acids, pigments, phenolics, vitamins, volatiles, antioxidants and little amounts of proteins and lipids. Iran was Seventh country of the peach producers in the world in 2010. Quality is one of the important factors in marketing of agricultural products. Grading machines have great importance in the quality inspection systems. Most of the current grading machines operate based on machine vision systems to detect blemishes and defects of products, where one image or more are taken for each individual object and the results of processing will decide the quality of the object. Grading and sorting of agricultural products using machine vision in conjunction with pattern recognition techniques, including neural networks, offers many advantages over the conventional optical or mechanical sorting devices. This paper aims to introduce a system that is using machine vision algorithms and Neural Network classifier to classify three varieties of peach fruit. Three cultivars, namely, Anjiri peach cultivar and Shalil Nectarine cultivar, varieties of Iran and Elberta peach cultivar variety of United states were randomly handpicked in two stage of growth, immature and mature on 30 July 2011 and 30 agues 2011 from an orchard located at the Miandoab, west Azerbaijan, Iran, and for each peach cultivar and stage of growth 45 fruits were randomly selected from picked peaches. Image processing technology in the agricultural research has made significant development. An image-capturing system was designed to provide an enclosed and uniform light illumination and to obtain standard images from the samples. The images were sent via a USB capture device to a computer provided with image acquisition and processing toolboxes of MATLAB software (Version R2011a, The Math Works Inc., MA, USA) to visualize, acquire and process the images directly from the computer. Some qualitative information is extracted from the objects to be analyzed in the images. This information was used as inputs to the algorithms for classifying the objects into different categories. In this study feature vector that consider as network input consist of 12 components of color spaces and three components of shape features. After network was trained, confusion matrices for mature and immature fruits were obtained. Total classification accuracy was 98.5% and 99.3% for mature and immature fruits respectively.
How Does Traffic Density Influence Cyclists ’ Gap Choices ?

 Abstract— In this paper we report on an experiment examining how traffic density influences the choice of whether or not to cross a gap while riding a bicycle. Ten-and 12-year olds and adults crossed a single stream of traffic at 12 intersections riding our immersive bicycling simulator. On the first and last four intersections, the gaps between vehicles were randomly distributed between 1.5 and 5.0 s. On the middle four intersections, subjects encountered a series of small, uncrossable gaps before a crossable gap appeared. The results confirm the results of earlier experiments showing that children and adults chose the same size gaps, but children ended up with less time to spare than adults when they cleared the path of the oncoming car. The results also show that both children and adults were willing to accept much smaller gaps when they had to wait for a long time before a minimally acceptable gap appeared. In addition, children and adults were more willing to accept tight gaps during the last four intersections than during the first four intersections. Thus, risky choices made in dense traffic persisted at subsequent intersections, even when traffic was sparser and larger gaps were available.
Notch Regulates Cytolytic Effector Function in CD8+ T Cells1

The maturation of naive CD8+ T cells into effector CTLs is a critical feature of a functional adaptive immune system. Development of CTLs depends, in part, upon the expression of the transcriptional regulator eomesodermin (EOMES), which is thought to regulate expression of two key effector molecules, perforin and granzyme B. Although EOMES is important for effector CTL development, the precise mechanisms regulating CD8+ effector cell maturation remains poorly understood. In this study, we show that Notch1 regulates the expression of EOMES, perforin, and granzyme B through direct binding to the promoters of these crucial effector molecules. By abrogating Notch signaling, both biochemically as well as genetically, we conclude that Notch activity mediates CTL activity through direct regulation of EOMES, perforin, and granzyme B.
Modelling school participation based on the theory of planned behaviour / Modelamiento de la participación escolar basado en la teoría del comportamiento planificado

This study evaluated a predictive model of school participation based on Ajzen’s theory of planned behaviour. Attitudes towards social justice, perceived control and subjective norm on school participation were tested, mediated by the behavioural intention in favour of social justice in a sample of 443 secondary school students. The proposed model showed good fit (χ2 = 597.740, df = 342; RMSEA = .041). The behavioural intentions towards social justice and perceived behavioural control were directly related to school participation. An indirect effect of perceived control on participation was detected, mediated by behavioural intention, but no evidence was found of the indirect effect of either attitude or norm on school participation.
Synthesis of C3/C1-Substituted Tetrahydroisoquinolines

A broad biological screening of the natural alkaloid N-methylisosalsoline (2) extracted from Hammada scoparia leaves against a panel of human and parasitic proteases revealed an interesting activity profile of 2 towards human 20S proteasome. This outcome suggests that the 1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinoline skeleton may be exploited as a template for the development of novel anticancer agents. In this article, we report the synthesis and chemical characterization of a new series of isosalsoline-type alkaloids (10–11) with variations at N2 and C3 positions with respect to the natural Compound 2, obtained by a synthetic strategy that involves the Bischler-Napieralski cyclization. The substrate for the condensation to the tetrahydroisoquinoline system, i.e., a functionalized β-arylethyl amine, was obtained through an original double reduction of nitroalkene. The synthetic strategy can be directed to the construction of highly substituted and functionalized 1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinolines.
Loading and maintenance dose algorithms for phenprocoumon and acenocoumarol using patient characteristics and pharmacogenetic data.

AIMS Polymorphisms in CYP2C9 and VKORC1 influence patients' phenprocoumon (PHE) and acenocoumarol (ACE) dose requirements. To provide physicians with tools to estimate the patient's individual dose, we aimed to develop algorithms for PHE and ACE. METHODS AND RESULTS In two Dutch anticoagulation clinics, data on age, sex, height, weight, co-medication, coumarin derivative doses, and international normalized ratio values were obtained from 624 patients taking PHE and 471 taking ACE. Single nucleotide polymorphisms relevant to coumarin derivative dosing on the CYP2C9 and VKORC1 genes were determined. Using multiple linear regression, we developed genotype-guided and non-genotype-guided algorithms to predict the maintenance dose with patient characteristics and genetic information. In addition, loading doses were derived from the calculated maintenance doses. We performed external validation in an independent data set with 229 PHE and 168 ACE users. CYP2C9 and VKORC1 genotype, weight, height, sex, age, and amiodarone use contributed to the maintenance dose of PHE and ACE. The genotype-guided algorithms explained 55.9% (PHE) and 52.6% (ACE) of the variance of the maintenance dose, the non-genetic algorithms 17.3% (PHE) and 23.7% (ACE). Validation in an independent data set resulted in an explained variation of 59.4% (PHE) and 49.0% (ACE) for the genotype-guided algorithms and for 23.5% (PHE) and 17.8% (ACE) for the non-genotype-guided algorithms, without height and weight as parameters. CONCLUSION To our knowledge, these are the first genotype-guided loading and maintenance dose algorithms for PHE and ACE using large cohorts. The utility of these algorithms will be tested in randomized controlled trials.
Spectral and power efficiency of IEEE802.11n MIMO-OFDM WLAN systems using space-multimode-polarization diversity compact stacked circular microstrip antenna arrays

Recent developments in wireless communication systems in indoor environments require high data rates and high transmission qualities especially for multimedia applications in wireless local area network (WLAN) systems. The support of high data rate multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) spatial-multiplexing communication in orthogonal frequencydivision multiplexing WLAN systems conforming to IEEE802.11n standard requires the use of compact antennas with low correlation ports. In this paper, we analyse a MIMO array consisting of higher-order space-multimode-polarization diversity stacked circular microstrip patch uniform linear antenna arrays (SMP-SCP-ULAs) to exploit SMP diversity for use in WLAN systems. Using higher number of antenna ports in lower space and low cross-polar discrimination values between each transmit and receive antenna, SMP-SCP-ULA yields higher multiplexing gain and satisfies more restrictive size constraints in clustered MIMO systems. The performance gains of higher-order modal SMP-SCP-ULA are presented in terms of modal correlation, ergodic spectral efficiency, average bit error rate and compactness gain with respect to dipole and circular microstrip patch uniform linear arrays. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
PCA disjoint models for multiclass cancer analysis using gene expression data

MOTIVATION Microarray expression profiling appears particularly promising for a deeper understanding of cancer biology and to identify molecular signatures supporting the histological classification schemes of neoplastic specimens. However, molecular diagnostics based on microarray data presents major challenges due to the overwhelming number of variables and the complex, multiclass nature of tumor samples. Thus, the development of marker selection methods, that allow the identification of those genes that are most likely to confer high classification accuracy of multiple tumor types, and of multiclass classification schemes is of paramount importance. RESULTS A computational procedure for marker identification and for classification of multiclass gene expression data through the application of disjoint principal component models is described. The identified features represent a rational and dimensionally reduced base for understanding the basic biology of diseases, defining targets for therapeutic intervention, and developing diagnostic tools for the identification and classification of multiple pathological states. The method has been tested on different microarray data sets obtained from various human tumor samples. The results demonstrate that this procedure allows the identification of specific phenotype markers and can classify previously unseen instances in the presence of multiple classes.
Circulating miR-483-3p and miR-21 is highly expressed in plasma of pancreatic cancer

Several recent studies have revealed that microRNAs (miRNAs) have a role in carcinogenesis and cancer development, and that it is stably detectable in plasma/serum. The aim of this study was to test whether miR-483-3p as well as miR-21 could be plasma biomarkers for PDAC. The plasma samples were obtained from three groups including 32 pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) patients, 12 patients with intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm (IPMN) patients and 30 healthy controls (HC). We evaluated the plasma miR-483-3p and miR-21 expression level by quantitative RT-PCR. We compared the differences in the plasma level of these miRNAs among the three groups, and investigated the relevance of their plasma expression level to the clinical factors in PDAC. The expressions of miR-483-3p and miR-21 were detected in all examined plasma samples. The plasma expression levels of these miRNAs were significantly higher in PDAC compared to HC (P<0.01). The plasma miR-483-3p expression was significantly higher in PDAC patients than IPMN patients (P<0.05). The plasma miR-21 level was associated with advanced stage (P<0.05), metastasis to lymph node and liver (P<0.01), and shorter survival (P<0.01) of the PDAC patients. Together, these findings suggest that measurement of the plasma miR-483-3p level is useful for discriminating PDAC from IPMN, and that the plasma miR-21 level predicts outcome of PDAC patients.
Sensitivity to painful and nonpainful electrocutaneous stimuli in monkeys: effects of anterolateral chordotomy

Four Macaca nemestrina monkeys were trained to pull a manipulandum to escape electrocutaneous stimulation (ES) applied to either leg. The intensities of stimulation which the monkeys chose to escape were those that humans identify as painful. The duration of escape trials was inversely related to stimulus intensity, and the force of escape responses was directly related to ES intensity. Reflexive responses were elicited by stimulus intensities below and above the escape threshold, and the force of the flexion reflexes was a negatively accelerating function of stimulus magnitude. The monkeys were also trained to respond, for water reinforcement, to cued, low-intensity ES. The stimulus intensities detected for water reinforcement were 50–100 X less than the escape thresholds. Following unilateral, anterolateral chordotomy, all monkeys demonstrated a large reduction in percentage of escape responding to stimulation of the contralateral leg. When the animals did escape contralateral stimulation, the latencies to respond were longer than preoperatively. The percentage and latency of escape responses to stimulation of the ipsilateral leg were not changed following chordotomy. Despite the depression of contralateral pain reactivity, the animals continued to respond to low levels of stimulation on the detection task, demonstrating that anterolateral chordotomy reduced the painfulness of strong stimulation without eliminating sensibility for low levels of stimulation. However, postoperative detection thresholds were consistently higher contralaterally than ipsilaterally. This effect resulted from slight contralateral decreases and significant ipsilateral increases in sensitivity to low levels of ES (relative to preoperative values). Thus, contralateral axons in the anterolateral column contribute to detection of light cutaneous stimulation, and chordotomy appears to disinhibit inputs from large myelinated afferent fibers to ipsilateral neurons in the spinal gray matter caudal to the lesion. The strictly contralateral slowing and reduction in percentage of pain reactivity by chordotomy correlated with reports from human patients. However, reflexive measures did not suffice as indicants of pain sensitivity. The chordotomies produced bilateral attenuations of reflexive amplitudes. Also, the force of operant escape responses was reduced with stimulation of either side. Thus, the disfacilitation of motoric reactions extended both rostral and caudal to the spinal lesions that interrupted propriospinal axons in the vicinity of the ventral horns.
Change in Expression of Survivin Caused by Using Oxaliplatin in HCT116 Colon Cancer Cells

Purpose Oxaliplatin is a third-generation platinum compound, and it has no nephrotoxicity and has reduced bone marrow toxicity. Cancer cells that are resistant to cisplatin are sensitive to oxaliplatin. Oxaliplatin is used widely for the treatment of colon cancers. Recently, oxaliplatin was reported to inhibit the expression of survivin, which protects cell apoptosis. However, there are no reports on the expressions of survivin variants and the changes in intracellular localization of survivin in cancer cells. We studied the expression of survivin caused by oxaliplatin in HCT116 colon cancer cells, and we observed the localization of survivin in the mitotic phase. Methods We treated the HCT116 colon cancer cells with 2.0 µM of oxaliplatin, and we studied the expressions of survivin protein, and survivin mRNA variants, as well as the changes in intracellular localization, by using the Western blot method, RT-PCR, immunocytochemistry, and flowcytometry. Results Oxaliplatin inhibits the expression of the survivin protein and survivin mRNA in HCT116 colon cancer cells. The expression of the survivin-2B variants, which have no antiapoptotic activity but control cell mitosis by localization on a microtubule, is reduced continuously 2 days after treatment with oxaliplatin. In immunocytochemistry, expression of survivin in the cytoplasm is reduced and especially is not expressed in microtubules and contractile rings. Conclusion One of the mechanisms of oxaliplatin is to inhibit the expression of and to change the localization of survivin. Based on these results, we suggest that changes in the expression of survivin variants and in their localization are two effects of oxaliplatin.
The Impact of Charismatic Leadership on the Organizational Performance in Travel Agencies

إن هدف أی منظمة لیس فقط هو أن تظل قائمة ولکن أیضا أن تحافظ وتدعم هذا البقاء بتطویر أدائها. ولتلبیة الاحتیاجات اللازمة للقدرة على المنافسة فی الأسواق عالیة الجودة، یجب على تلک المنظمات الاستمرار فى تحسین أدائها وفى هذا الصدد، تشیر الدراسات السابقة إلى أن دور الریادة یعتبر أحد العوامل الهامة لتحقیق وتحسین أداء أی منظمة، رکزت الدراسة الحالیة على القیادة الکاریزمیة الممیزة نظرا لما یتوقعه سلفا من أن هذا النمط هو الأکثر تأثیرا فى إعلاء قیمة الأداء وتشکیل ثقافة تلک الهیئات بطرق متعددة. لقد أجریت العدید من الدراسات لتوضیح الأنماط المختلفة للقیادة. إلا أن هذه الدراسات لم تقدم أى توضیح لکیفیة تسبب القیادة الکاریزمیة فی إحداث تغیرات فى الأداء التنظیمى. تناقش الدراسة الحالیة تأثیر القیادة الکاریزمیة على الأداء التنظیمى فی الشرکات السیاحیة المصریة لکی یتم تحقیق أفضل أداء. یهدف هذا البحث إلى تحسین الأداء بتشجیعهم وتقدیم أفضل النماذج للقیادة المتمثلة فى القیادة الکاریزمیة ونماذج الرؤساء والمرؤوسین المنتجین، حیث یجب تطبیق نموذج القیادة الکاریزمیة بسهولة وبصورة جذابة حتى یحظى بالقبول.
The Endorsement of Paranormal and New Age Belief as a Unique Form of Coping

The Psychodynamic Functions Hypothesis (PFH; Irwin, 2009) suggests that paranormal belief develops as a response to experiences of diminished control in childhood, often as a result of trauma or maltreatment. This can become re-activated during adulthood when life is seen to be chaotic or unpredictable as a form of coping. Despite this, only five studies have examined the association between paranormal belief and traditional coping, with mixed results. The current research sought to identify and explore the notion of paranormal coping. Qualitative interviews confirmed the existence of paranormal coping, provided a number of concepts for further exploration, and allowed for item generation for a paranormal coping questionnaire. Exploratory factor analysis revealed a five-factor model, of paranormal coping, which was not confirmed by subsequent data. After several rounds of data collection, and the development and rejection of a three-factor model, a four-factor model of paranormal coping (Cognitive-Orientated Coping, Avoidance-Orientated Coping, Lack of Control, and Practitioner Authenticity) demonstrated the most acceptable model fit. This model was validated using standardised questionnaires and demonstrated good internal subscale reliability. Subsequent analyses partly supported Irwin’s (2009) PFH, however there were some limitations with regards to the measure of perceived childhood control. Individual paranormal coping subscales were also differentially associated with thinking styles, supporting previous research linking paranormal belief with reasoning ability. The current research is particularly important given the prevalence of paranormal belief in the general population. Likewise, understanding the coping mechanisms used by adults who experienced trauma or maltreatment in childhood is essential to provide them with the most appropriate support.
Beyond Monoamines-Novel Targets for Treatment-Resistant Depression: A Comprehensive Review

Major depressive disorder (MDD) is a leading cause of disability worldwide. Current first line therapies target modulation of the monoamine system. A large variety of agents are currently available that effectively alter monoamine levels; however, approximately one third of MDD patients remain treatment refractory after adequate trials of multiple monoamine based therapies. Therefore, patients with treatment-resistant depression (TRD) may require modulation of pathways outside of the classic monoamine system. The purpose of this review was thus to discuss novel targets for TRD, to describe their potential mechanisms of action, the available clinical evidence for these targets, the limitations of available evidence as well as future research directions. Several alternate pathways involved in the patho-etiology of TRD have been uncovered including the following: inflammatory pathways, the oxidative stress pathway, the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, the metabolic and bioenergetics system, neurotrophic pathways, the glutamate system, the opioid system and the cholinergic system. For each of these systems, several targets have been assessed in preclinical and clinical models. Preclinical models strongly implicate these pathways in the patho-etiology of MDD. Clinical trials for TRD have been conducted for several novel targets; however, most of the trials discussed are small and several are uncontrolled. Therefore, further clinical trials are required to assess the true efficacy of these targets for TRD. As well, several promising novel agents have been clinically tested in MDD populations, but have yet to be assessed specifically for TRD. Thus, their applicability to TRD remains unknown.