Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Effect of Cooking Methods and Fat Levels on the Physico-chemical, Processing, Sensory and Microbial Quality of Buffalo Meat Patties

Buffalo meat patties with two fat levels, F1 (15% added fat) and F2 (5% added fat and 3% tapioca starch), were cooked in a pre-heated hot air oven (HO) at 175±2°C for 15 min, in a microwave oven (MO) for 70 sec and by pressure cooking (PC) at 15 psi pressure for 10 min. and compared for physico-chemical, processing, sensory and microbiological quality attributes. F2 had significantly (p<0.05) higher value for the moisture and moisture protein ratio than F1. However, MO and PC patties had significantly (p<0.05) higher moisture content than HO-cooked buffalo meat patties irrespective of fat content. Highest fat percentage was in MO patties while the minimum was in PC patties. Moisture and fat retention and cooking yield were highest in MO patties irrespective of added fat content in the formulation. Cooking yield and dimensional parameters were better maintained in F2 than F1. Sensory scores viz. appearance and color, flavour, juiciness and texture for HO patties were better than other cooking methods. Sensory panelists rated overall acceptability of HO patties very good to excellent, whereas PC and MO patties were rated as good to very good irrespective of fat content. Microbiological quality was comparable in both groups irrespective of cooking methods used.
Use of a ventilatory support system (BiPAP) for acute respiratory failure in the emergency department.

STUDY OBJECTIVES Bilevel pressure ventilation has had proven success in the treatment of acute respiratory failure (ARF). The purpose of this study was to identify patient characteristics early in the course of acute illness that can predict the successful use of bilevel pressure ventilation. METHODS Ventilatory assistance using a ventilatory support system (BiPAP model ST-D; Respironics; Murrysville, PA) was considered a treatment option for stable patients with ARF. The system was titrated to patient comfort. Once stable settings had been achieved for 30 min, a posttrial arterial blood gas (ABG) measurement was obtained. Patient charts were reviewed for pretrial and posttrial ABG levels, along with demographics, APACHE (acute physiology and chronic health evaluation) II score, Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS), and length of stay (LOS) data. RESULTS Bilevel pressure ventilation trials were performed on 58 patients. In 43 patients (74.1%), the trials were successful. Of the 15 patients (25.9%) in whom the trials were not successful, 13 patients required intubation. The pretrial ABG levels did not predict success, as there were no significant differences between the success and failure groups for pH and PaCO2, respectively: 7.26 vs 7.26 mm Hg and 75.3 vs 72.8 mm Hg. After 30 min, posttrial ABG levels for pH and PaCO2 predicted successful avoidance of intubation: 7.34 vs 7.27 mm Hg (p < 0.002) and 61.9 vs 73.0 mm Hg (p < 0.04), respectively. There were no significant differences between the success and failure groups in age, gender, GCS, or APACHE II. There were differences between the success and failure groups for LOS data (ventilator days, ICU days, and hospital days): 1.8 vs 10.4 days (p < 0.01), 4.2 vs 12.3 days (p < 0.02), and 7.5 vs 15.6 days (p < 0.02), respectively. CONCLUSION Successful treatment with bilevel pressure ventilation could not be predicted by pretrial data (including pH and PaCO2) obtained in the emergency department; however, a successful outcome could be determined quickly with a 30-min trial. Successful treatment with bilevel pressure ventilation significantly reduced LOS data. CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS Our inability to predict success based on initial data supports the use of bilevel pressure ventilation trials for all stable patients with ARF. If the patient's condition fails to improve within 30 min, intubation and mechanical ventilation is indicated.
Dynamic succession of soil microbial community during continuous cropping of Astragalus membranaceus Bge. var. mongholicus (Bge.)

Background. Continuous cropping disturbs the balance between the microbes beneficial to a plant and the pathogenic microorganisms in the rhizosphere soil, which has both a direct and indirect adverse effect on soil and plant health. It is highly significant to understand the mechanism of the obstacle found in continuous cropping and to search for a reasonable rotation model to solve the problem of continuous cropping. Astragalus membranaceus Bge. var. mongholicus (Bge.) (A. mongholicus) is a critical traditional Chinese herb, which is negatively affected by continuous cropping. Previous studies on the root rot pathogens of A. mongholicus have been conducted, while reports on the effects of A. mongholicus on the health of soil affected by continuous cropping are lacking. Methods. In this study, we observed the microbial community structure and the diversity of the rhizosphere soil under continuous cropping for 1, 3, and 6 years using the pyrosequencing approach, and compared this to bulk soil, using A. Mongholicus as the experimental material. The 16S rDNA and ITS amplicon sequencing techniques were used to detect the composition and diversity of bacteria and fungi in the rhizosphere soil and the bulk soil of A. Mongholicus. The diversity of the bacterial community and the structures of the rhizosphere and bulk soils were compared. The dynamics of the soil enzyme activity were also analyzed. Results. The results of this study illustrated that the continuous cropping of A. mongholicus caused a decline in the root dry weight, the ratio of root-top, and also influenced the growth of the root system of A. mongholicus. Continuous cropping and the sampling time shifts the diversity and structure of the microbial community in the rhizosphere soil of A. mongholicus, showing that the diversity of the microbial community in the A. mongholicus rhizosphere soil was decreased with an increase in the replanting years, while the structure of the microbial community deteriorated. The relative abundance of pathogenic fungi, Fusarium, Erysiphe, Rhizobiales, and Burkholderiales as well as bacteria related to nodulation were enriched in the A. mongholicus rhizosphere soil at different sampling stages. The beneficial bacteria decreased with the increasing years of continuous cropping during growth, which resulted in the microecological imbalance in the A. mongholicus rhizosphere, caused serious replanting diseases of continuous cropping. A decline in soil urease and invertase activities was observed after 6 years of continuous cropping. Our experimental results suggest that continuous cropping has a significant impact on soil bacterial and fungal community development, and that an increase in replanting years resulted in more negative impact on rhizosphere soil health and A. mongholicus growth.
Two-dimensional kinematics of SLACS lenses – I. Phase-space analysis of the early-type galaxy SDSS J2321−097 at z≈ 0.1

We present the first results of a combined VLT VIMOS integral-field unit and Hubble Space Telescope (HST)/ACS study of the early-type lens galaxy SDSS J2321-097 at z = 0.0819, extending kinematic studies to a look-back time of 1 Gyr. This system, discovered in the Sloan Lens ACS Survey, has been observed as part of a VLT Large Programme with the goal of obtaining two-dimensional stellar kinematics of 17 early-type galaxies to z approximate to 0.35 and Keck spectroscopy of an additional dozen lens systems. Bayesian modelling of both the surface brightness distribution of the lensed source and the two-dimensional measurements of velocity and velocity dispersion has allowed us, under the only assumptions of axisymmetry and a two-integral stellar distribution function (DF) for the lens galaxy, to dissect this galaxy in three dimensions and break the classical mass-anisotropy, mass-sheet and inclination-oblateness degeneracies. Our main results are that the galaxy (i) has a total density profile well described by a single power law p alpha r(-gamma') with gamma' = 2.06(-0.06)(+0.03); (ii) is a very slow rotator (specific stellar angular momentum parameter lambda(R) = 0.075); (iii) shows only mild anisotropy (delta approximate to 0.15); and (iv) has a dark matter contribution of similar to 30 per cent inside the effective radius. Our first results from this large combined imaging and spectroscopic effort with the VLT, Keck and HST show that the structure of massive early-type galaxies beyond the local Universe can now be studied in great detail using the combination of stellar kinematics and gravitational lensing. Extending these studies to look-back times where evolutionary effects become measurable holds great promise for the understanding of formation and evolution of early-type galaxies.
Significant Performance Improvement in AlGaN Solar-Blind Avalanche Photodiodes by Exploiting the Built-In Polarization Electric Field

We present improved AlGaN solar-blind avalanche photodiodes (APDs) with a separate absorption and multiplication (SAM) structure by introducing a polarization electric field with the same direction as reverse bias field in the multiplication region. This polarization electric field can be realized by reducing the Al composition of the p-AlGaN layer in a conventional p-i-n-i-n SAM-APD structure. After employing a reduced-Al-composition p-AlGaN instead of the commonly used p-AlGaN, the polarization enhanced APD exhibits a markedly lower avalanche breakdown voltage and a near two times higher avalanche gain up to 2.1 × 104 compared with its conventional counterpart. In addition, X-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy results show that a moderate reduction of Al composition in the p-AlGaN layer does not degrade the crystalline quality of the polarization enhanced APD structure resulted from lattice mismatch, which guarantees the polarization enhanced effect.
Insomnia among community dwelling elderly in Alexandria, Egypt.

BACKGROUND Insomnia is a common problem in the elderly population. Poor sleep quality is associated with decreased memory and concentration, increased risk of falls, cognitive decline, and higher rate of mortality. Inadequate sleep hygiene such as irregular sleep schedules, use of stimulants, and daytime naps may predispose to insomnia. AIM The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of insomnia among community dwelling elderly in Alexandria and to assess some of the risk factors and comorbid conditions related to insomnia. PARTICIPANTS AND METHODS This is a cross-sectional study conducted among 380 elderly people taken from different clubs in Alexandria using a predesigned structured interview questionnaire. Data on sociodemographic characteristics, medical history, and personal and sleeping habits were collected. The Insomnia Severity Index was used to assess insomnia and the Depression Anxiety Stress Scale was used to measure depression, anxiety, and stress. RESULTS One-third (33.4%) of the elderly suffered from insomnia. On logistic regression, the most independent factors that were significantly associated with insomnia were number of chronic diseases [odds ratio (OR)=7.25 for having ≥5 diseases], being female (OR=2.37), anxiety (OR=1.91), watching television in bed before sleeping (OR=1.90), depression (OR=1.74), nocturia (OR=1.13), and daily sunlight exposure (OR=0.57). CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS Insomnia is a common problem among the elderly in Alexandria. Female sex, chronic diseases, mental health problems, and bad sleep hygiene practice increase the risk for insomnia. Improving knowledge among the elderly about the prevalence and risk factors of insomnia could help the development of effective public health prevention and intervention programs for better sleep quality.
ToP: A Trend-of-Disease-Progression Procedure Works Well for Identifying Cancer Genes from Multi-State Cohort Gene Expression Data for Human Colorectal Cancer

Significantly expressed genes extracted from microarray gene expression data have proved very useful for identifying genetic biomarkers of diseases, including cancer. However, deriving a disease related inference from a list of differentially expressed genes has proven less than straightforward. In a systems disease such as cancer, how genes interact with each other should matter just as much as the level of gene expression. Here, in a novel approach, we used the network and disease progression properties of individual genes in state-specific gene-gene interaction networks (GGINs) to select cancer genes for human colorectal cancer (CRC) and obtain a much higher hit rate of known cancer genes when compared with methods not based on network theory. We constructed GGINs by integrating gene expression microarray data from multiple states – healthy control (Nor), adenoma (Ade), inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and CRC – with protein-protein interaction database and Gene Ontology. We tracked changes in the network degrees and clustering coefficients of individual genes in the GGINs as the disease state changed from one to another. From these we inferred the state sequences Nor-Ade-CRC and Nor-IBD-CRC both exhibited a trend of (disease) progression (ToP) toward CRC, and devised a ToP procedure for selecting cancer genes for CRC. Of the 141 candidates selected using ToP, ∼50% had literature support as cancer genes, compared to hit rates of 20% to 30% for standard methods using only gene expression data. Among the 16 candidate cancer genes that encoded transcription factors, 13 were known to be tumorigenic and three were novel: CDK1, SNRPF, and ILF2. We identified 13 of the 141 predicted cancer genes as candidate markers for early detection of CRC, 11 and 2 at the Ade and IBD states, respectively.
Influence of a sport-specific training background on vertical jumping and throwing performance in young female basketball and volleyball players.

AIM The purpose of this study was to evaluate the influence of 3 years of sport-specific training background (SSTB) on vertical jumping and throwing performance in young female basketball and volleyball players. METHODS Thirty-one healthy adolescent girls, of which 11 age-matched control subjects [C], 10 basketballers (BP) and 10 volleyballers (VP) participated to the study. The throwing performance was assessed by seated backward overhead ball throw (SBOMBT) and seated chest pass throw (SCPT) using a 3-kg rubber medicine ball. Instead, the vertical jumping performance was evaluated by squat jump (SJ) and countermovement jump with (CMJ-AS) and without arm swing (CMJ) using Optojump system (Microgate srl, Italy). RESULTS During SJ and CMJ with and without arm swing VP group showed a higher vertical jump performance than BP and C ones. In particular we showed that VP exhibited a higher flight time and jump height than C (P<0.05) in SJ, CMJ and CMJ-AS tests. Players showed higher performances than C in SCPT and SBOMBT. However, we found only a significant difference (P<0.05) in the comparison between BP and C during SCPT. Moreover, we found significant correlations between SBOBMT performances and CMJ-AS jump heights in C (r= 0.60; p= 0.02) and VP (r= 0.81; p<0.01) groups compared to BP one (r= -0.47; p= 0.08). CONCLUSION These data suggest that 3 years of SSTB might be able to promote significant neuromuscular adaptations in volleyball and basketball athletes' maximal power compared to age-matched control subjects.
Tropical Pacific Influence on the Source and Transport of Marine Aerosols to West Antarctica

AbstractThe climate of West Antarctica is strongly influenced by remote forcing from the tropical Pacific. For example, recent surface warming over West Antarctica reflects atmospheric circulation changes over the Amundsen Sea, driven by an atmospheric Rossby wave response to tropical sea surface temperature (SST) anomalies. Here, it is demonstrated that tropical Pacific SST anomalies also influence the source and transport of marine-derived aerosols to the West Antarctic Ice Sheet. Using records from four firn cores collected along the Amundsen coast of West Antarctica, the relationship between sea ice–modulated chemical species and large-scale atmospheric variability in the tropical Pacific from 1979 to 2010 is investigated. Significant correlations are found between marine biogenic aerosols and sea salts, and SST and sea level pressure in the tropical Pacific. In particular, La Nina–like conditions generate an atmospheric Rossby wave response that influences atmospheric circulation over Pine Island Bay.
Social and psychological consequences of infertility and assisted reproduction–what are the research priorities?

The lifetime prevalence of infertility in representative population-based studies from industrialised countries is 17–28%, and on average, 56% of individuals affected seek medical advice. Infertility, as well as being a medical condition, has a social dimension; it is a poorly-controlled, chronic stressor with severe long-lasting negative social and psychological consequences. Although infertility can lead to severe strain in a couples' relationship, it can also have a potentially positive effect. Appraisal-oriented coping strategies including emotional coping are associated with reduced stress in infertility. Long-term studies of involuntary childless women following unsuccessful treatment show that although most adjust well psychologically, their childlessness is a major theme of their lives. Most studies are based on cross-sectional studies among couples seeking fertility treatment and focus on individual characteristics, for example, stress level, anxiety and symptoms of depression. There is a lack of studies investigating the impact of infertility and its treatment on social relations and of studies which have used the couple as the unit of analysis. More large-scale, long-term prospective cohort studies which address the social as well as psychological consequences of infertility are needed.
Spatially Extended [P II] 1.188 μm and [Fe II] 1.257 μm Emission Lines in a Nearby Seyfert Galaxy NGC1068 Observed with OAO/ISLE

We present J -band long-slit spectroscopic observation of NGC 1068 classified as a Seyfert 2 galaxy. J -band observations with OAO/ISLE provide clear detection of spatially extended [Fe II] 1.257� ma nd [P II] 1.188� m lines. We found that [Fe II] 1.257 � m=[P II] 1.188 � m increases with distance from a central continuum peak. Observed line ratios around the nucleus (continuum peak) are consistent with a typical value expected from photoionization models, while the ratios at 3 00 –4 00 (210–280 pc) east and west of the nucleus are slightly higher than this. In the off nucleus region of NGC 1068 we also found a possible association between [Fe II] 1.257� m=[P II] 1.188� ma nd the radio continuum. This suggests a mild contribution of shock ionization induced by a radio jet outside nucleus while
Hierarchical Clustering for Identifying Crosscutting Concerns in Object Oriented Software Systems

Crosscutting concerns are parts of a program that affect or crosscut other concerns. Usually these concerns cannot be cleanly decomposed from the rest of the system, and they are mixed with many core concerns from the system leading to code scattering and code tangling, and, also, to systems that are hard to explore and understand. Identifying crosscutting concerns automatically improves both the maintainability and the evolution of the software systems. Aspect mining is a research direction that tries to identify crosscutting concerns in already developed software systems, without using the aspect oriented paradigm. The goal is to identify them and then to refactor them to aspects, to obtain a system that can be easily understood, maintained and modiﬁed. In this paper we are focusing on the problem of identifying crosscutting concerns in object oriented software systems using a hierarchical agglomerative clustering approach. We experimentally validate our approach on the open source case study JHotDraw and on a real software system. A comparison of our approach with similar existing work is also provided.
The role of inflammation in contrast-induced nephropathy

Objective: Global incidence of contrast-induced nephropathy (CIN) is 2–5%, but a recent Kenyan study highlighted a local incidence of 12–14% without offering an explanation for the higher incidence. This study proposes that inflammatory states confer a higher relative risk for development of CIN. Our objective was to determine the risk of developing CIN given the presence of an inflammatory state in patients in Kenya. Methods: Prospective cohort study of patients undergoing a contrast-enhanced CT (CECT) scan in a private university teaching hospital in Kenya and having no known risk factors for CIN. 423 patients were recruited and grouped into those without inflammation (unexposed) having serum C-reactive protein (CRP) levels ≤5 mg dl−1 and those with evidence of inflammation having CRP levels >5 mg dl−1. Serum creatinine (SCr) was measured before the CECT and 48 h following the CECT with CIN diagnosed by an increase of >25% in the SCr from the baseline. Relative risk was determined and multiple logistic regression analysis performed on biophysical variables and contrast volume to assess their effect on development of CIN. Results: Patients with high CRP levels had a relative risk of developing CIN of 2.16 compared with those with normal levels of CRP (p = 0.016). No statistically significant association was seen between biophysical variables or volume of contrast and development of CIN. Conclusion: Ongoing inflammation doubles the likelihood of development of CIN. Advances in knowledge: This study highlights the importance of inflammation as a risk factor in the development of CIN.
Multiple profile evaluation using a single test suite in random testing

Using an integral formulation of random testing for regular continuous input, we present an approximate solution that enables highly accurate estimations of the results for arbitrary operational profiles, using strategically chosen input in a single test suite. The current approach, building on the Lagrange interpolation and Gaussian integration theorems, thus solves the longstanding issue of the necessity of unique test suites for fundamentally different operational profiles in random testing. Empirical comparisons are furthermore performed for a total of 27 profiles on five seeded faults in a numerical routine and a straightforward modulus fault. Using a high enough expansion in the approximation, the resulting failure frequencies and variances became statistically identical with the "ordinary" evaluations in all cases. It thus becomes possible to eliminate any extra test cases and still keep full accuracy when changing between operational profiles.
Bio-Rad’s Bio-Plex® suspension array system, xMAP technology overview

The Bio-Plex® system utilizes xMAP technology to permit the multiplexing of up to 100 different analytes. Multiplex analysis gives researchers the ability to look at analytes simultaneously providing more information from less sample volume in less time than traditional immunoassay methods. Similar to ELISA, xMAP utilizes an antibody sandwich for detection but differs from ELISA in capture substrate and detection method. Rather than a flat surface, Bio-Plex® assays make use of differentially detectable bead sets as a substrate capturing analytes in solution and employs fluorescent methods for detection. These bead sets identify the analytes and detection antibodies are used to measure the quantity of analyte. The use of differentially detectable beads enables the simultaneous identification and quantification of many analytes in the same sample.